Bush wants Rumsfeld, Cheney on job

He rejects calls for Cabinet shakeup

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Wednesday that he wants Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney to remain with him until the end of his presidency, extending a job guarantee to two of the most-vilified members of his administration.

"Both those men are doing fantastic jobs, and I strongly support them," Bush said in an interview with The Associated Press and others.

Democrats and Republicans alike have called for Rumsfeld's resignation, arguing that he has mishandled the war in Iraq where more than 2,800 members of the U.S. military have died since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Cheney has faced sharp criticism for his hardline views. In recent polling, less than 40 percent of respondents had a favorable view of Cheney and about a third had a favorable view of Rumsfeld.

Bush addressed several other topics. Among his comments, as transcribed by the White House:

* On North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's decision to return to six-party nuclear negotiations:

"I would hope he is sincere. ... We're about to find out. I mean it's -- the party -- the talks are getting ready to start. And he said they want back, and they're coming back. ... The conditions for him being able to get help to improve his country is a verifiable handing over of weapons and getting rid of his [nuclear] program. Verifiability is going to be a crucial part of any agreement with North Korea."

* On the Nov. 7 elections:

"I believe we'll hold the House and Senate, and the reason why is I believe when people get in that booth, they're going to ask two questions -- one, who best to protect us, and secondly, how best to keep the economy growing. And I understand the pundits have got the race over. But I don't believe it's over until everybody votes. And I believe that people are concerned about the amount of taxes they pay, and I know many people are concerned about whether or not this country is secure against attack."

* On Iraq:

"No question October was a tough month. We lost 103 soldiers. It was a tough month because we were on the offense. It was a tough month because the enemy was on the offense. ...

"What we're interested in is a young democracy surviving and Iraq to be an ally in the [fight against terrorism] so that al-Qaeda can't have a safe haven, al-Qaeda won't be able to realize its ambitions, so that there's an example for freedom in the neighborhood. And that's -- we'll achieve that objective if we don't leave."