So Don Rumsfeld leaves a memo. He reveals that the war is not going well. He thinks its time for a shift in strategy. He's leaving office in two days and wants the world to know that he has come up with a new plan. It also reveals, to an otherwise unsuspecting public that the administration is actively receiving and open to new suggestions.
This impresses the fact on us that the administration has at least one blueprint for change.The fact that the administration leaks the document, days before the release of the Baker report is an attempt to neutralize a potentially negative hit to the President's image. Maybe if they were less worried about spin control and covering their asses we would get more positive work done.