Democratic Lawmakers Urge Firing of Rumsfeld

Leading Democratic lawmakers urged President Bush to consider changing the civilian leadership at the Pentagon, one week after Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld warned against fascism and appeasement as he defended U.S. policies in Iraq.

Rumsfeld drew heavy criticism from Democrats after telling an American Legion convention in Salt Lake City that “it is apparent that many have still not learned history’s lessons.”

In a letter released Monday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada as well as 10 other congressional Democratic leaders told the president that considering making such a change would show he recognized the problems his policies “have created in Iraq and elsewhere.”