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| Friday, 5 November 2004 |
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Bush looks for change and continuity in new cabinet WASHINGTON, Thursday (AFP) US President George W. Bush's re-election could herald a new look for his administration, with expectations that he will reshuffle his cabinet while maintaining enough continuity to tackle his priorities: Iraq and the war on terror. The biggest change could be in his diplomatic team, with Secretary of State Colin Powell, 67, widely tipped to leave his post. Powell was known to have strong differences with Bush on key areas of foreign policy and was often seen as being cut out of some major decision making, having come off worse in a battle with the Pentagon for influence with the president's inner circle. A possible successor to Powell is John Danforth, the US ambassador to the United Nations, whose name has frequently been linked with the job, even though he was appointed to his current post just a few months ago. Danforth, 68, is a conservative known for his diplomatic skills. He would likely exert a moderate line, essential to smoothing over cracks in international partnerships because of the Iraq war. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, 72, is not expected to last through a second Bush administration, although observers say he may well remain at the Pentagon helm for another year in the hope of overseeing some amelioration of the situation in Iraq. Bush backed Rumsfeld amid calls for the secretary's resignation in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. One possible replacement is Bush's national security adviser, Condoleeza Rice - a move that would make her the first woman to run the Pentagon. She has also been linked with the Secretary of State post. Rice, 49, has indicated that she would like to give up her current job and has even hinted at leaving the administration entirely in favour of a return to university life. Her successor as national security adviser would likely be her deputy, Steve Hadley, 54, with the architect of the Iraq war, Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, another possible candidate. On the domestic front, John Snow, 65, is expected to stay on as secretary of the treasury, as Bush's priority in his second term will be to make his tax cuts permanent and to reform the US tax code. At the Justice Department, John Ashcroft, 62, appointed to please the Republican Party's right wing, is widely expected to depart. His replacement could be Tom Ridge, 59, the Homeland Security Secretary, or Rudolph Giuliani, 60, the New York City mayor at the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Giuliani could also replace Ridge if he moves to the Justice Department or returns to private life. Other possible scenarios include Bush replacing Ashcroft with Marc Racicot, 56, who directed his victorious re-election campaign, or Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, 57. US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick is a possible replacement for Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, although there is speculation that he might return to private life. |
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