US President George W. Bush said today he expected Donald Rumsfeld to stay on as defence secretary for the rest of his presidency after rejecting election-year demands the Pentagon chief resign over Iraq.
In campaigns for next Tuesday's elections, in which Republicans are in danger of losing control of the US Congress, many Democrats have called for Mr Rumsfeld to resign.
Some Republicans have also expressed doubts about his leadership after an October of unrelenting violence and 104 US troop deaths - the highest toll in nearly two years.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
Mr Rumsfeld survived previous attempts to force him to step down and appeared to have done so again as Mr Bush gave him high praise for his performance in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and in transforming the US military.
"He's handled all three at the same time. And I'm pleased with the progress we're making," Mr Bush said in an Oval Office interview.
Asked if he was expecting Mr Rumsfeld to stay on through the end of his presidency, which ends in January 2009, Mr Bush said, "Yes, I am."
New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer said in response: "With all due respect, the president just doesn't get it. We need a change in the Iraq strategy but with Rumsfeld running the show we'll never get it."
Mr Bush also played down reported strains in relations with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over war strategy, saying he spoke to him last week and that
"I didn't find many differences of opinion when I talked to him."