US President George W. Bush expressed on Monday confidence in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who has been under renewed criticism for his handling of Iraq from lawmakers.

"I believe he's doing a really fine job," Bush said at a news conference during which he reviewed his policy in 2004 and addressed agenda for the next year. He said he was "very pleased" when Rumsfeld agreed to stay on during his second-term.

Bush pointed out that Rumsfeld has managed the Pentagon during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, worked to transform the US military to meet the new threat facing the United States, and reshaped the US military base structure overseas.

Rumsfeld, who has been under fire for the post-war situation in Iraq, faced a new round of criticism for his recent remarks to a US soldier going to Iraq who complained that they did not have enough resources to protect themselves.

During a town hall-style meeting with Iraq-bound US troops in Kuwait on Dec. 8, Rumsfeld was asked by Specialist Thomas Wilson, a Tennessee national guardsman, why soldiers had to scrounge through scrap piles for "hillbilly armor" to bolt to their trucks.

"You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time," Rumsfeld responded.

The comment prompted Senator John McCain, a prominent Republican lawmaker, to say he had no confidence in the defense secretary. Last week, other Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Trent Lott of Mississippi, joined in.

Over the weekend, the criticism intensified with the disclosure that Rumsfeld had not personally been signing condolence letters to the families of soldiers killed in Iraq. Pentagon officials said the defense secretary had used an automated signing machine to ensure the letters were delivered quickly.

Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska told CBS News program "Face the Nation" on Sunday that he had "no confidence in Rumsfeld's leadership," adding that problems in Iraq were "all of the accumulation of bad judgement."

Bush joined some Republican lawmakers, including Senator John. W. Warner of Virginia, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who have rushed to dampen Republican criticism of Rumsfeld.

"I know how much he cares for the troops," Bush said at the news conference while answering a question over the automated letter signing. "He's a good decent man. He's a caring fellow," Bush said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2004)