White House Pushes Out Head of Armed Forces

The increasing weakness of the Bush administration was exposed again today with the forced retirement of General Peter Pace as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff over the Iraq war.

Robert Gates, the defence secretary, told a Pentagon press conference Gen Pace was being sacrificed because the Whie House's assessment was that they could not get his reconfirmation through the senate.

Mr Gates said it had been his intention to reconfirm him but after taking soundings in the Senate, he ruefully had to accept it was not possible.

He told the press conference the confirmation hearing would have been looking at the past - what had happened in Iraq - rather than forward-looking.

Mr Gates said he has recommended Admiral Mike Mullen, currently chief of naval operations, to become the next chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

He said Adml Mullen has the "vision, strategic insight and integrity to lead

Gen Pace has been in his post for six years, covering the Iraq war.