Rumsfeld and Myers make surprise trip to Iraq
From Wolf Blitzer
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It was behind the walls of Abu Ghraib where U.S. soldiers abused Iraqi prisoners and it was behind these same walls where U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has now paid a surprise visit.
"The people who engaged in abuses will be brought to justice. The world will see how a free system, a democratic system, functions and operates, transparently, with no cover ups," Rumsfeld said Thursday at the prison.
He toured the facility, once used by Saddam Hussein's regime, and was briefed by U.S. military commanders, before heading over to a town hall-style meeting with U.S. troops at what's called Camp Victory, near the Baghdad airport.
Despite the enthusiastic reception, the specter of Abu Ghraib hovered over the event as well.
"In recent day, there has been a focus on a few who have betrayed our values and sullied the reputation of our country. Like each of you, I'm sure, and like most Americans, I was stunned. It was a body blow," said Rumsfeld.
While assuring the troops the Pentagon would get to the bottom of the investigation and punish all those involved, Rumsfeld also made clear his disdain for the news media and its coverage of the scandal.
"I've stopped reading the newspapers," he said, and was answered with laughter and applause.
And despite calls for his resignation, he assured the troops he had no such intention.
"It's a fact. I am a survivor," said Rumsfeld.
But just as Rumsfeld was trying to buck up the troops, it was also clear they were bucking him up as well.
Responding to questions, he said he welcomed a new U.N. resolution that might further internationalize the military effort in Iraq encourage perhaps 15 more nations to send troops there.
"I'm encouraged. I think you'll find we will get additional forces," Rumsfeld said.
For security reasons, the secretary, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard Myers, and a team of Pentagon lawyers gave no advance notice of the overnight trip.
Aboard the aircraft during the 15-hour flight, Rumsfeld denied it was simply designed to deal with the angry fallout from the prisoner abuse scandal.
"If anyone thinks I am there to throw water on the fire, they are wrong," he said.
And on releasing publicly more of those prison pictures, he offered this:
"My first choice would be to release them but it's my understanding at present time the people who have an obligation to take into account privacy issues, legal requirements under privacy laws, and Geneva conventions are advising against it."
