Fifty-eight percent of readers responding last week to The York Dispatch Web Poll indicated that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign.

Two weeks ago, several retired general officers lodged public criticism of Rumsfeld's leadership in the war in Iraq and said a change of leadership in the Defense Department was necessary.

Forty-two percent of readers responding to the survey indicated that Rumsfeld should remain in his post.

Democratic opponents of the administration have called the resignation vital to the United States' attempt to resolving military problems in Iraq.

Calls for Rumsfeld to step down increased over the weekend, with former presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and retired Army Maj. Gen. John Baptiste, who commanded the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004-2005, calling for a resignation.