Who will be the next SecDef?

• Position: Washington Pulse - Brief Article

Should Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld survive the Iraqi prisoner-abuse scandal and remain at the Pentagon through the November election, speculation is rampant inside the Beltway on who might replace him next year.

If George W. Bush is reelected, many insiders note, Rumsfeld, age 72, may not hang around for a second term. One source suggested three contenders: Curt Weldon, Gordon England and Sean O'Keefe.

As vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., is one of the most knowledgeable members of Congress when it comes to defense matters. Gordon England is currently secretary of the Navy. "This administration really likes England," said the source. Sean O'Keefe, NASA administrator, gets high marks for his role in guiding the agency through the 2003 Space...