"Let me be clear. We have the forces, the capabilities and the intention to fully prosecute the global war on terror while responding to this unprecedented humanitarian crisis here at home," Rumsfeld told a Pentagon news conference.

"We can and will do both. It is important to remember that there are more than 300,000 National Guard, soldiers and airmen who are not deployed overseas. And they are available for relief and security efforts in the United States should they be necessary."

About 140,000 US troops are in Iraq and another 20,000 in Afghanistan.

Violence in both countries had been rising ahead of elections even before Hurricane Katrina struck the US gulf coast August 29, flooding New Orleans and devastating coastal communities in Louisiana and Mississippi.

After a slow start, national guard and active duty military forces have poured into the region to assist local and federal authorities with the hurricane's aftermath.

US military officials have said a major military presence is going to be required for months in the region.

Some 58,000 troops were in the region as of Tuesday, General Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Among them were 41,000 national guard troops from around the country, and 17,000 active duty forces.

They include ground troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the 1st and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces.

When Katrina hit brigades from the Louisiana and Mississippi National Guards were among the national guard troops serving in Iraq. The Louisiana brigade is being sent home early so that its members can deal with family crisis.

Asked whether the military's response to the Kartrina disaster had been hindered by the Iraq deployment, Rumsfeld shot back: "It's just flat wrong. Anyone who's saying that doesn't understand the situation."

Myers concurred, pointing to the decision to bring back the Louisiana and Mississippi guard units as evidence of the military's flexibility.

The general also denied that the hurricane relief operation had caused the military to scale back plans for a temporary military buildup in Iraq to protect an October 15 referendum on a new constitution.

"That's wrong, too," he said." The plan that we've had in effect will stay in effect. Those that need to deploy are deploying. Troop levels are going to be what the commanders wanted and what they've asked for."

The questions arose after Lieutenant General John Vines, a top commander in Iraq, told reporters last week that the size of the US force in Iraq would be increased by only some 2,000 troops to 140,000 during the election period.

Pentagon officials had said that the force was expected to surge in size to about 160,000 for the elections. They said the tours of some redeploying units would likely be extended or other units would be rotated into the country somewhat ahead of schedule.

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