from the sec of defense, as reported by Reuters :

Posing challenging questions to the military Joint Chiefs of Staff and others in the memo, dated Oct. 16 and released on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the United States had no yardstick for measuring progress in the anti-terrorism war launched after September 2001 attacks.

The Pentagon and the White House said the memo properly raised issues for Pentagon leaders to consider.


COST-BENEFIT RATIO

He challenged Pentagon leaders to consider and discuss troubling issues, including whether or not the United States was capturing or killing terrorists at a faster rate than they were being created by extremists.

"The U.S. is putting relatively little effort into a long-range plan, but we are putting a great deal of effort into trying to stop terrorists. The cost-benefit ratio is against us! Our cost is billions against the terrorists' costs of millions."

Rumsfeld, speaking to reporters after a closed briefing for senators, said the memo was an effort to raise questions.