But it may also be because Mr Rumsfeld is halfway through a transformation of America's military, from a lumbering force of infantry and armoured divisions built to face the Soviets into a lighter, faster, supposedly smarter, technology-driven machine for the wars of tomorrow.

ECONOMIST: Bush makes room for Rice | The

The force likely to be redeployed, mainly armoured infantrymen from the Black Watch regiment, is on standby to fight fires in the south.

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That bought new transport planes and helicopters for the air force, and M-777 howitzers and heavy-armoured transport trucks and engineering vehicles for the army, the better to withstand roadside bombs. (The navy has been less fortunate.) The first Canadian soldiers to arrive in Afghanistan in 2002 wore green camouflage designed for forests, because the army had sold its sand-coloured uniforms.

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On being promoted to colonel he was appointed to chief of staff 1st (UK) Armoured Division in 1995 before returning to Bosnia a year later as part of Nato's Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) for a further six-month tour.

BBC: Profile: Major General John McColl