No sooner was he forced to step down last week as American defence secretary following Republican losses in the mid-term elections than others began baying for his blood.

• 随着共和党在美国中期选举中败北，拉姆斯菲尔德上周被迫从美国国防部长位置上下台，没过多久就有另外一些人开始对他穷追猛打。