Former US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld dies at 88

Donald Rumsfeld, former US defense secretary who led the nation into war in Afghanistan and Iraq during the presidency of George W Bush, has died at the age of 88 in New Mexico.

Following his death, his family said in a statement, “History may remember him for his extraordinary accomplishments over six decades of public service, but for those who knew him best… we will remember his unwavering love for his wife Joyce, his family and friends, and the integrity he brought to a life dedicated to the country.”

Mourning his demise, former US president Bush on Wednesday said in a statement that Rumsfeld is a “very good man.”

“A man of intelligence, integrity, and almost inexhaustible energy, he never paled before tough decisions, and never flinched from responsibility,” Bush said. His statement had no mention of the controversial decision to attack Iraq.

“We mourn an exemplary public servant and a very good man.”

Born in Chicago, early in his life, Rumsfeld became an accomplished wrestler and played as a defensive back on an American football team when he went to Princeton University.

Soon after he served as a pilot and flight instructor in the Navy during the early days of the Cold War, before being elected to Congress at the age of only 30.

Representing Illinois, Rumsfeld was initially known for his moderation and supported civil rights measures for African-Americans. But he quickly turned his attention to military affairs and became deeply concerned about the conduct of the Vietnam War.

He had been the youngest person ever to become defense secretary in 1975 at the age of 43.

In 2001, when was yet again tapped to become the defense secretary, he became the oldest at the time.

He was in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 when airliners commandeered by Al-Qaeda hijackers flew into the World Trade Center in New York and then the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people in the deadliest terrorist attack ever on US soil.

In less than a month, he launched US forces in a war against Al-Qaeda that toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in December 2001 and redesigned the military for the “war on terrorism,” pulling back forces ready for traditional combat in Europe.