Disowning Rumsfeld

There is an interesting article in the Military Times about the Pentagon rethinking the drawdown of troops in Europe.

The article claims that "The idea of cutting troops from 68,000 in 2001 to 28,000 by 2012 was part of an initiative by former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to transform the military into a leaner, more cost-effective force," but it was really all spite.

Rumsfeld began this policy when the most of the governments of Europe were unwilling to follow him into Iraq. It's a part and parcel of his "old Europe" slam.

Gates realizes that reality prevents this.