Senator Collins Joins McCain

Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine criticizes Rumsfeld. It seems Rumsfeld's time is over!

P.S. Republican Senator Lott from Mississippi also criticized Rumsfeld, however White House continues defending him.

Here is the whole news from Yahoo!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House defended embattled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against a rising tide of criticism from President George W. Bush's Republican allies in the US Congress.

"The president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a great job, and that's why he asked him to continue serving during this time of war,"

spokesman Scott McClellan said.

"We must continue to use all means on all fronts to defeat the terrorists. And Secretary Rumsfeld is an important person in our efforts to prevail in this global struggle of ideologies,"

said the spokesman.

Asked whether Bush was aware that prominent Republicans were increasingly questioning Rumsfeld's fitness for office, McClellan replied: "We look at the news just like you do."

Republican Senators John McCain, who was a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam, Chuck Hagel, a fellow veteran and longtime Rumsfeld critic, and others have criticized Rumsfeld publicly this week.

The tone sharpened markedly following remarks last week by Rumsfeld during a visit with troops in Kuwait, where he had a difficult exchange with a soldier who asked about the lack of armor for US military vehicles in Iraq.

"You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time,"

the defense secretary said in comments widely quoted in the US media.

P.P.S. By the way, my post script is longer than the original text!!