Republicans Complain About Rumsfeld's Review.

• Author: Book, Elizabeth G.
• Position: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld - Brief Article

"The Republican leadership on the House Armed Services Committee has held the line on defense for eight years; we're not going to get shut out now," said a senior congressional aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. He noted that sweeping change in force structure, force management and defense policy are not easy tasks and "will require heavy lifting by the Hill."

The Pentagon's new leadership has not been quick to start building relationships with the Armed Services and Appropriations Committee members in the House of Representatives, who will play an important role in the implementation of Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld's review, according to the aide. At a recent two-hour meeting on Capitol Hill with members of the Armed Services Committee, "nothing was resolved," the aide said. "We came to the meeting with two questions: Are you going to get rid of the two-war readiness strategy, and when are we going to see the budget?" he said. Rumsfeld did not address either issue.

"My boss has a great personal level of respect for Rumsfeld, and we all really feel that he has assembled an 'A' team. But he might be squandering relationships in Congress by not talking to us about the review," the aide said.

Rumsfeld's undertaking, an across-the-board strategic defense review, has been clothed in secrecy since his installation as secretary of defense in January. "What should be happening now is that we...