Bush backs Rumsfeld, sees lack of Iran leverage

President Bush yesterday defended Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld against congressional critics and conceded the United States cannot force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

In a year-end press conference, Mr. Bush expressed confidence in Mr. Rumsfeld, who has come under fire for his handling of the war in Iraq.

“I believe he’s doing a really fine job,” the president said in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. “And I believe that in a new term, members of the Senate and the House will recognize what a good job he’s doing.”

Mr. Bush said Mr. Rumsfeld will be needed in the second term to help deal with threats such as Iran and North Korea. But the president acknowledged that the United States does not have many tools to end Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, now that Washington has imposed sanctions.

“We’re relying upon others, because we’ve sanctioned ourselves out of influence with Iran,” he said. “In other words, we don’t have much leverage with the Iranians right now.”

Several members of Congress, including some Republicans, have accused Mr. Rumsfeld of insensitivity in responding to complaints from troops who lack sufficient armor in Iraq. Others have criticized him for not personally signing condolence letters to the families of fallen soldiers, a practice he has promised to change.

“Sometimes perhaps his demeanor is rough and gruff,” Mr. Bush said. “But beneath that rough and gruff, no-nonsense demeanor is a good human being who cares deeply about the military, and deeply about the grief that war causes.”

As if to make Mr. Bush’s point, Mr. Rumsfeld issued a holiday message of support to the 138,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

“I thank you for your courage,” he said. “I thank you for your commitment. And to your families and loved ones, I extend my deepest appreciation for your sacrifices.”

The tone was more conciliatory than the one that critics said he adopted Dec. 8, when he told troops in Kuwait: “You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.”

Mr. Rumsfeld had been responding to a complaint from Spc. Thomas Wilson of the Tennessee National Guard that soldiers had to dig through junk piles to reinforce vehicles on the way into Iraq.

Mr. Rumsfeld’s response was viewed as callous by many Democrats and journalists. Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, announced he had no confidence in Mr. Rumsfeld, a sentiment echoed by fellow Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Trent Lott of Mississippi.

Yesterday, the president hinted that Mr. Rumsfeld would be mending some fences on Capitol Hill.

“I know the secretary understands the Hill,” Mr. Bush said. “He has been around in Washington a long period of time and he will continue to reach out to members of the Hill, explaining the decisions he has made.”

As for complaints about Mr. Rumsfeld using a machine to affix his signature to condolence letters, Mr. Bush defended the secretary in unusually personal terms.

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