As defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld strongly resisted increasing the size of the army, convinced that he needed to transform the US military into a lighter, more agile force to meet the threats of the 21st century.

However, less than a week after Mr Rumsfeld finished his six controversial years at the Pentagon, President George W. Bush on Wednesday repudiated his former defence secretary by asking Robert Gates, the new Pentagon chief, to start expanding the size of the army and marine corps.