Richard Perle, a leading advocate of war with Iraq and a member of the independent Defense Advisory Board that advises Rumsfeld, told CNN the review was still under way when the September 11 attacks occurred.
Two high-powered Americans, Richard Armitage, the deputy secretary of state, and Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, were on their way to the region to push General Musharraf to keep the terrorists in check, and to urge India to reciprocate.
With new threats liable to come from anywhere at any time, Mr Rumsfeld and his aides believe that the best way to meet them is not with big, clunky bases deep in friendly territory.
For the time being, at least, there is little in Washington to stop Mr Rumsfeld chasing America's foes all the way to Baghdad.
If his allies will not meet him half way, then Mr Rumsfeld will no doubt have the president's ear again.
President Bush told Rumsfeld on Wednesday that he was "not satisfied" at the way he received information about the allegations, a senior administration official told CNN, and members of Congress are complaining they were not informed of the investigation of the abuses.
What's not is that for the three years, every few days, far from the white-hot camera lights, Rumsfeld and his wife Joyce have quietly made their way to Walter Reed Medical Center.
In its gruesome way, the video showing the beheading of Mr Berg allowed Republicans to close ranks behind Mr Rumsfeld as the week wore on.
Most press reports have in some way insinuated that other people presently or formerly associated with the office of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney who have concerns about or responsibility for the Iran portfolio have also been of interest to the FBI.
His ties to Mr Bush go back a long way: when Mr Bush first ran (unsuccessfully) for Congress, Mr Rumsfeld was one of the people who bankrolled his campaign.
"It was some time after Secretary Rumsfeld became aware of it, " McClellan said, indicating the president was informed of the allegations in a general way, but he didn't learn of the severity of the abuses until last week.
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