Rumsfeld told reporters this week that he would not rule out raising the number of forces in Iraq as the country’s parliamentary elections approach in December. “It would not be a surprise to me that the commanders would want to have some sort of an overlap there,” explained Rumsfeld.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3