John Kerry, U.S. senator and political candidate, in response to the Schlesinger panel report on Abu Ghraib:
"By failing to plan to win the peace, by failing to make sure our troops received the proper training, equipment, reinforcement and command guidance, and by failing to take corrective actions once all of this became apparent, Secretary Rumsfeld did not demonstrate the leadership required from a Secretary of Defense."That is why today I am calling on Secretary Rumsfeld to resign effective immediately."
James Schlesinger -- formerly Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Energy and Director of Central Intelligence -- chairman of the independent panel investigating Abu Ghraib:
You've raised the question of the secretary of Defense.Let me say that his resignation would be a boon to all of America's enemies, and consequently I think that it would be a misfortune if it were to take place.
The secretary set out the policies -- if you read the testimony of General Sanchez and General Abizaid before the Armed Services Committee, they very specifically were asked, "What guidance did you seek from the Office of the Secretary of Defense?" Answer: "We sought no guidance. They provide us with policy. We in the Army implement that policy." So they were not seeking guidance from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
One must recognize that the secretary of Defense gave guidance with regard to policy. He altered that policy in the -- he rescinded that initial policy as a result of the protests that came up from various lawyers in the Pentagon. He adjusted the policy, and I think that his conduct with regard to this issue has been exemplary.
Harold Brown -- formerly president of CalTech and Secretary of Defense -- who co-chaired the independent panel investigating Abu Ghraib:
Clearly the secretary of Defense is -- has a responsibility for everything that happens in the department. But if you look at what Secretary Rumsfeld has done in these matters, he was extremely careful about the issue of treatment of prisoners during interrogation. He instituted very stringent rules. Now, abuses nevertheless occurred, and they occurred, as the others have said, at levels -- at various levels in the department. The military -- uniformed military bear most of the responsibility.And I think that overall, Secretary Rumsfeld has handled this extremely well. If the head of a department had to resign every time anyone down below did something wrong, it would be a very empty Cabinet table.
John Kerry: opportunist and would-be enabler of "America's enemies." Just like in 1971.
Posted by Alan at August 25, 2004 05:46 PM