Secretary Rumsfeld Interview with KTAR “Real Life with David Leibowitz”

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Secretary Rumsfeld Interview with KTAR “Real Life with David Leibowitz”

Q: First the Schlesinger report, then the Fay report came out as well. Both of those reports at least somewhat critical of the secretary of defense and his office. And Donald Rumsfeld joins us now here at Real Life with David Lebowitz.



Mr. Secretary, welcome to the program. And what brings you to town?



SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Well, I was down in Yuma this – first of all, I’ve been in New Mexico and I was over in Crawford Monday meeting with the President. And this morning, I went down to Yuma and met with the Marines and I’m en route back to New Mexico and stopped in here to speak to the Greater Chamber.



Q: I understand you also met with the governor of Arizona. We had her on the program just a few minutes ago. She had told us that she was going to speaking to you about the Arizona National Guard and her concerns with deployment. How did that go for you?



SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Well, we had a good talk. We talked about that and several other subjects of interest to the governor and I walked through what the plans are with respect to the Guard and Reserve and how we’re in the process of rebalancing the active components of the U.S. military wit the Reserve components, so that we have certain skill sets move to the active force, the skill sets that tend to be called up more often, which is really unfortunate for the folks in those skill sets. So we need more of those on active duty, so we don’t have to call up the Guard and Reserve’s office. And that rebalancing is taking place right now, particularly within the Army, but also within the other services.

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040826-secdef1229.html