Rumsfeld (L), was the youngest and most senior US Secretary of Defense.Donald Rumsfeld, the former US Defense Secretary, was one of the key architects of the Iraq War. He has passed away at the age 88.He was an important proponent of President George W Bush's "war against terror"After the 9/11 attacks, US forces began a campaign against Afghanistan and invaded Iraq in 2003.Rumsfeld quit in 2006 after the fallout from the conflict but he always maintained his record.Bush reacted to the news by calling him a "very good man" and "exemplary public servant", who "never shied away from taking responsibility".Rumsfeld's family confirmed that he passed away at his home in Taos, New Mexico on Tuesday.They released a statement saying that they were saddened by the loss of Donald Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld was an American statesman, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and husband.Pic.twitter.com/AlKYxVvqgF Donald Rumsfeld (@RumsfeldOffice), June 30, 2021Rumsfeld was born in Chicago in 1932. His political and private career spans decades.He arrived in Washington DC in 1960s, and held various positions under Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon.He was the youngest person to be appointed defense secretary in 1975 and then he was the oldest to hold the position during President Bush's second term.Rumsfeld argued for the invasion of Iraq ahead of the March 2003 invasion. Rumsfeld argued that Iraqi weapons mass destruction were a threat to the world. However, no such weapons have ever been found.He was asked in 2002 about evidence of Iraqi weapons-of-mass destruction. This was one of his most memorable moments. He answered with a laugh about "known knowns", and "known unknowns"However, Rumsfeld largely maintained his defiance over his record even after he resigned from office. Rumsfeld wrote a memoir in 2011 in which he defends his decision to go to war in Iraq, but also expressed regret for some of his remarks.
