The White House on Saturday dismissed an editorial to be published Monday in four independent publications urging U.S. President George W. Bush to replace Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

The editorial, to be published in the Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Time and the Marine Times, says Rumsfeld has "lost the support and respect of the military leadership" over his policy on Iraq, calling on Bush to fire him.

White House spokesman Tony Snow dismissed the editorial as a "shabby piece of work," "sort of a caricature" and the work of writers who were "grandstanding."

Bush was informed about the editorial and his reaction was to "shrug if off," Snow told reporters on the president's airplane en route to Waco, Texas.

The editorial, titled "Time for Rumsfeld to Go," says that generals of the U.S. army in Iraq "have asked their bosses for more troops" all while Rumsfeld "has assured us that things are well in hand."

"Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large," the editorial says.

"His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt," it says.

Bush reaffirmed his confidence in both Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney last week, and expressed his intention to keep the two in their posts through the end of his term.

Source: Xinhua