AP - A half-dozen members of a military families group in Alaska are calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. They are upset with Rumsfeld's portrayal of events in Iraq and have asked U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to call for the secretary's resignation. The requesters are part of the Alaska chapter of Military Families Speak Out.


Call for the secretary's resignation.

Rumsfeld met with families of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team shortly after the brigade's tour in Iraq was extended. The letter says Rumsfeld told families that the 172nd's arrival in Baghdad had contributed to a 40 to 50 percent decrease of civilian deaths there. Group members now question those figures.

A Washington Post article says morgues in Baghdad reported that the death toll nearly tripled in August and that deaths from car bombings and mortar attacks are not included in the military's count. The letter says Rumsfeld was "wrongfully deceptive" in his August remarks about civilian casualties.

Murkowski spokesman Kevin Sweeney says it's not now Congress' role to pass judgment on military leaders carrying out the policies of the administration. He says replacing Rumsfeld is not going to end the war or end the debate and Murkowski sees no need to remove Rumsfeld.

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