Rumsfeld responds to critics

President Bush has rejected calls for the defense secretary to step down.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and his top military leader on Tuesday issued their strongest rebuttal to date of recent comments by retired generals criticizing Iraq war planning and calling on Rumsfeld to resign.
In particular, Rumsfeld said he didn't recall retired Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold raising any objections to the war planning when he was working in the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"He never raised an issue publicly or privately when he was here that I know of," said Rumsfeld. "An awful lot of people around here were not shy about giving their views. ... But in terms of why he would come up with this now, I just can't speak to that."
Rumsfeld said the criticism doesn't affect his ability to do his job.
Concerns
Newbold, in Time magazine, said he was outspoken in his criticism before the war, saying the "zealots' rationale for war made no sense." From 2000 until October 2002, Newbold served as director of operations for the Joint Chiefs. The United States invaded Iraq in March 2003.
At least two other retired generals have raised similar concerns in recent weeks about the administration's war policies, including Gen. Anthony Zinni, former U.S. Mideast commander.
To date, President Bush has rejected calls for Rumsfeld to step down. The defense secretary has served in that job since 2001.
Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said military leaders, during dozens of prewar meetings, laid out a number of questions and concerns about whether there were enough troops and resources for the invasion.
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