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  Rumsfeld bumps up U.S. forces by 30,000
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Last EditedUser 13  Jan 29, 2004 12:24pm
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News DateThursday, January 29, 2004 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionRumsfeld bumps up U.S. forces by 30,000
Emergency increase, a change of course, stuns House committee

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, responding to unusual criticism from a three-star general that the Army is too small to meet its global commitments, has authorized an emergency increase of 30,000 troops, Congress was told yesterday.

Rumsfeld, who had scoffed only last week at the assertion by Lt. Gen. John M. Riggs, a decorated Vietnam veteran who is in charge of building an Army for the future, invoked emergency powers to push the number of troops above the congressionally approved limit of 482,000, known in military parlance as "end strength."

Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army's chief of staff, revealed Rumsfeld's change of course in testimony yesterday before the House Armed Services Committee, many of whom had been pressing to boost the Army's strength by 40,000 soldiers, or the equivalent of two divisions.

"The secretary of defense, I've presented him with the plan," said Schoomaker, who like Rumsfeld had previously denied any increase was needed. "He's given me the authority, he's given me the headroom under his current authorities, to grow the army, not to raise the end-strength but to grow the army, to give me the bump that I need

The testimony appeared to surprise committee members.
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