Politics

Rumsfeld Rides Again

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 11, 2001 / 7:35 AM EST / CBS

The United States must develop capabilities to protect itself and allies against missile attack, terrorism, and growing threats to satellites and information systems, President-elect Bush's nominee for defense secretary said Thursday.

Donald Rumsfeld testified at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee that the cumbersome Cold War force of the world's sole remaining superpower must be refashioned to face new threats. Bush has promised to develop a National Missile Defense (NMD) as soon as possible despite bitter opposition from Russia and China.

"Effective missile defense - not only homeland defense but also the ability to defend U.S. allies abroad and our friends - must be achieved in the most cost-effective manner that modern technology offers," Rumsfeld said in his opening statement.

"We must develop the capabilities to defend against missiles, terrorism and newer threats against our space assets and information systems. The American people, our forces abroad and our friends and allies must be protected against the threats with which modern technology and its proliferation confront us..." he added.

Rumsfeld is expected to win Senate Armed Services Committee support for his second stint as defense secretary.

"He's going to fly through like a stealth aircraft through enemy defenses, unscathed and with high impact," Patrick Cronin of the U.S. Institute of Peace said Wednesday. "But they'll try to pin him down on priorities ... because you just can't pay for everything."

But he'll face tough questions. Among the biggest concerns, Democrats say, is how fast the new administration will want to move on the proposed missile defense program that President-elect Bush supports.

A veteran of Republican administrations going back to the Nixon years, Rumsfeld, 68, has been widely hailed as a candidate of great experience and ability. Among previous posts was his 14 months as secretary of defense under President Ford from late 1975 to early 1977.

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Out of government, Rumsfeld has remained involved in big defense issues. He led a national commission that examined the risk of missile attacks against the United States and another that looked at possible threats to U.S. satellites.

But among some 30 policy questions put to him in a pre-hearing questionnaire, Democrats said one of the most important is how Rumsfeld sees missile defense fitting in with a host of other stated priorities, such as modernizing the Army and boosting military salaries, particularly in a slowing economy.

"He has bitten off a very big chunk," said William H. Kincade, American University professor of international relations. "I would say there's an opportunity for a budgetary train wreck and that's going to take a lot of sorting out."

Sen. John Warner of Virginia, the committee's top Republican, said the new administration deserves time to do that sorting.

"He's prepared to give good straightforward answers," Warner said Wednesday. "But how much more defense spending? He's not prepared to do that until he's made a good analysis."

Warner said the hearing would likely explore when the United States should send its troops into harm's way and what changes the new administration might make in deciding how they are deployed.

Bush has said he believes the United States should limit its participation in peacekeeping.

Other issues include how Rumsfeld would maintain strong relations with allies, who oppose a U.S. national missile defense system and are worried about Bush's position on peacekeeping

"Members of Congress will try to challenge him to come clean on how he expects to keep our alliance strong," said Cronin, adding that Rumsfeld "knows the importance of allies and will try to emphasize the role they will play."

Pentagon officials say Rumsfeld set a record in the 1970s in serving as a roving ambassador for the department more than any of his predecessors had done.

"He brings to this office a great deal of experience and I'm confident he can establish strong ties with our allies," Warner said.