Yahoo! News - U.S. May Drop Bid for New U.N. Resolution: "the administration has been sending contradictory signals about whether a larger force is needed in Iraq.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told a Veteran of Foreign Wars convention in San Antonio on Monday that the United States 'can afford whatever military force level is necessary and appropriate for our national security.'
He said that if Gen. John Abizaid, who heads the U.S. Central Command, believes additional troops are needed, 'he will have additional troops, let there be no doubt about it.' "

Rumsfeld is shifting responsibility for troop deaths to his subordinate, Gen. Abizaid. Now its Abizaid who is at fault for not requesting more troops. Rumsfeld will give him whatever he asks for, so he's not responsible. That's real leadership; tell your subordinate he can't have more resources, he's got to make do with what Rumsfeld gave him. And then publicly say, "Oh, he can have whatever he needs." Right!
- posted by geoff @ #