U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday rejected criticism of a plan to remove U.S. troops from Europe and Asia, saying the United States had no intention of abandoning allies to establish a "Fortress America." "There is nothing in it that even begins to approximate 'Fortress America,'" Rumsfeld said a day after President George W. Bush announced the movement home of 60,000 to 70,000 troops over 10 years in a reorganization to make the military more mobile for the war on terrorism. "The Cold War is over. We are not expecting a Soviet tank attack across the north German plain and it is appropriate to adjust that force posture" globally, the secretary told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry have attacked Bush's announcement as a campaign ploy and an example of the administration's willingness to go it alone on issues from invading Iraq to the environment. Rumsfeld responded to concerns voiced by Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona during an Armed Forces Committee hearing on another issue. --More 2314 Local Time 2014 GMT
