The departure of Donald Rumsfeld as defense chief was certainly long overdue, but that doesn't make the decision any less welcome as a move toward a course correction in the Iraq war.

No doubt, the secretary of defense doesn't deserve the exclusive blame for the failed efforts to stabilize Iraq, but as the Pentagon's man in charge of what remains primarily a military operation, the buck does stop at his desk. President Bush's move to take a new tack is a hopeful sign, particularly with the nomination of a seasoned pragmatist who has been involved recently in discussions on moving forward in Iraq.

Robert Gates does arrive on the steps of the Capitol with some baggage, of course. His selection will be scrutinized by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, who opposed Gates' renomination (and ultimate confirmation) as CIA chief 15 years ago. At that time, Gates was tarred by the scandal over the Iran-Contra arms sale, and Levin was concerned that Gates had lapsed in his duty to uncover the truth.

However, Levin has pledged to keep an open mind, acknowledging that Gates' views very well may have changed.

That's a rational way to approach the current crossroads. Senators need to examine Gates' credentials carefully, but this time the focus should be on how well his background has prepared him to lead the U.S. through the Iraq minefield.

That aspect looks promising. Gates has been working with former Secretary of State James Baker and others in the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan commission established by the Bush administration, to chart a new course, so the terrain should be familiar.

And he's not the idealogue that Rumsfeld is, which suggests that he will be more responsive to feedback from the military officers and forces on the ground. That kind of cooperation is essential to success.

The president may have taken sage advice from new sources, not the least of whom were the voters who expressed such alarm about U.S. efforts in Iraq in Tuesday's election.

Now the elected representatives of those voters will have to share the president's burden and become more like partners than detractors in the search for a lasting solution.