Free Republic

Despite what he called a "spike" in the operational tempo in Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today he hopes stress from increased operations will not lead to increased troop strength in the country. "We hope and believe that the current stress that is being put on the force is a spike … a temporary increase, rather that what would prove to be a plateau," he told reporters during a Pentagon briefing. "Very simply, we do not expect to have 100,000 (or) 120,000 troops in a single country permanently deployed." For troops under the stress of increased military...