President Bush came to the defense of his embattled defense secretary today, telling reporters that he knows Donald Rumsfeld’s heart, and that Donald Rumsfeld cares for American troops.

It was an odd thing for an American president to ahve to vouch for in his secretary of defense. But Rumsfeld is under a torrent of crticism right now. His handling of teh war in Iraq has drawn the wrath of a parade of Republican senators claiming “no confidence” in the flinty secretary.

A new poll shows Americans, by a wide margin, wish he would step down. Tonight, we look at attitudes inside the U.S. military toward their controversial civilian boss.

Tonight, On Point: Donald Rumsfeld and the force in uniform

Guests:

Tom Ricks, military corresondent for The Washington Post

Colonel (Ret.) Patrick Lang, U.S. Army

Pat Towell,senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Analysis, for
25 years, he was senior defense reporter at Congressional Quarterly

Fred Ikle, member of Rumsfeld’s Defense Policy Board, former undersecretary of defense for policy under President Reagan