With respect..you're missing the point..the "flap" aboutthese letters is part of an attempt to take Rummy down..rather, to force Bush to replace him..it could have been anything. Rummy is NOT at fault here..rather his staffer who OK the use of the auto-pen. Rummy probably never even realizzed that he wasn't persoanlly signing all the codolence letters..the man has a lot on his plate..and a brutal schedule...Nevertheless, what makes the guy, IMHO, a GREAT SecDef..is that instead of blaming the oversight on a staffer, he stepped up and took responsibility..said it was his faulty. That's what leaders do..
Plus .. what was the procedure in the SecDef's office during Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, etc.??