But Rumsfeld didn't want other forces included ...

Rice turned to the allies who were clamoring to participate. Getting as many of them invested with military forces in the war was essential. The coalition had to have teeth. She did not want them all dressed up with no place to go. "The Aussies, the French, the Canadians, the Germans want to help, " she said. "Anything they can do to help. The Aussies have Special Forces in Tampa," Frank's headquarters. "We ought to try to use them".

"We'll prepare a paper on this," Rumsfeld said, stalling.

Powell smiled at Rice as if to say, See what I have to deal with.

Rumsfeld recovered. "We want to include them if we can".

But Rumsfeld didn't want other forces included for cosmetic reasons. Some German battalion or a French frigate could get in the way of his operations. The coalition had to fit the conflict and not the other way around. They could not invent roles. Maybe they didn't need the French frigate.