Yahoo! News - Senators Hesitant to Replace Rumsfeld
WASHINGTON - The chairmen of two key Senate committees are countering statements of no-confidence in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld voiced by a growing number of lawmakers over conduct of the war in Iraq.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the Armed Services Committee chairman, said a change of civilian leadership at the Pentagon now would be too disruptive, given the scheduled Jan. 30 elections in Iraq. "We should not at this point in time entertain any idea of changing those responsibilities," he told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, added, "We really can't go through that ordeal" now of finding a successor. Rumsfeld "should be held accountable, and he should stay in office," Lugar said.

But Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said he had no confidence in Rumsfeld, although he stopped short of calling on the secretary to step down. "I find it astounding. ... Things are worse than they've ever been" in Iraq, Hagel said on CBS' "Face the Nation." He said it was up to President Bush whether to replace Rumsfeld.

Seems 'ol Rummy is the lightning rod at this point, what with more media stories such as the "auto-pen controversy" coming out all the time. I wonder if they leave him in there for that very reason, drawing attention away from Bush, who, ultimately, should be held accountable.