Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld admitted on Sept. 23 that
military end strength might have to be jogged up if
transformation does not fully succeed. “If we need to
increase the size of the force, we need to increase the
size of the force, and I’m all for it,” Rumsfeld told the
Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing. “It would
pain me to do it when we have so many portions of the force
that aren’t being properly used, and I’d much prefer to
see us do that,” said Rumsfeld. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
said, “It’s clear, at least to most observers, that we don’t
have sufficient personnel, despite the efficiencies which
you have so well and graphically described.” Sen. Jack Reed,
D-R.I., referring to a Defense Science Board study that
declared the number of troops inadequate, said the armed
forces might be “running off a cliff.”
