President Bush needs a new team to chart a different course in Iraq, starting with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Monday.

"Secretary Rumsfeld is a very strong leader, and I don't think he listens to many people,'' said the Democratic senator in a question and answer session after a luncheon speech to the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. "It's a problem, and his way hasn't worked so we need to try another way.''

It was the first time she had called for Rumsfeld to be replaced. In her speech, Feinstein said the United States needs to "transition the mission'' by reducing the number of American soldiers in Iraq so that the U.S. military can fight terror more effectively in other countries such as Afghanistan.

Feinstein was warmly received by an audience of 350 at the San Jose Hyatt. Her speech ranged over numerous issues including immigration and bringing BART to San Jose.

On an immigration issue of particular concern to Silicon Valley, Feinstein said she supported an increase in the number of H1-B visas, under which companies can bring in highly skilled foreign workers. Raising the cap is a favored cause of the high-tech industry.

Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the leadership group, said the immigration debate tends to focus on undocumented immigrants, overlooking the extent to which "this valley's economy was built by highly skilled, high-wage foreign students and workers.''

Three years into the war in Iraq, Feinstein said it's time to "change the American mission to a logistical and training one'' that would enable Iraqis to take over security in their country. U.S. soldiers in Iraq should be reduced from 130,000 to 80,000 by year's end, she said.

In answer to questions after the speech, she said, "I think the president should put in a new team.''

In Washington on Monday, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., also said it was time for Rumsfeld to "be told to go home,'' according to the Associated Press.

Responding to Feinstein's San Jose remarks, Blair Jones, a White House spokesman said, "The president is confident in Secretary Rumsfeld's leadership. As the president recently said, we are implementing a strategy that will lead to victory in Iraq.''

On an issue close to the heart of the leadership group, Feinstein called herself "a longtime supporter of bringing BART to Silicon Valley.'' She praised San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales for his efforts to extend the transit system south from Fremont.

The leadership group is an enthusiastic promoter of a half-cent sales tax increase that will be on the June ballot. Although the tax revenue would not be restricted to any specific use, the ballot language says money could be spent on a variety of projects, from trauma and emergency services to health insurance for uninsured children to "transportation improvements.'' BART presumably would get a share.

At the luncheon, Rep. Mike Honda, D-Campbell, made an appeal on behalf of the tax.

On Monday morning, Feinstein visited the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge to mark the third anniversary of a project that is converting salt evaporation ponds back to natural marshes. Feinstein played a central role in purchasing the ponds for public use.