Full Release - IRmep

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FBI's Pentagon Probe Is Another Burden For Rumsfeld
http11www.dia.~/adminlEARLYBIRDI0408301c200408303.~861.html
.. • As for the possible political implications for Rumsfelrl at the height ofapresidential election campaign,
Di Rita said, "I would not try to predict how the political season will affect,this."
Early in his tenure at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld spoke out publicly against the unauthorized release of
classified information. He undertook a special investigation when some elements ofPentagon planning
for war in Iraq leaked to the news me4ia in 2002.
In his 3 1/2 years as secretary, Rumsfeld has had a sometimes rocky relationship with Congress. When
the administration began a global fight against terrorism in response to the attac"s ofSept. iI, 2001, ~is
stock rose quickly and he gain~d popularity for his tough approach.
But as the insurgency in Iraq took hol~ in the summer of2003 and the casualty toll for American troops
mounted - more than 950 have be~n killed - Rumsfeld became a target ofcriticism on Capitol Hill.
A Time magazine poll released Saturday said.39% ofthose surveyed approve ofthe job Rumsfeld has
done and 37% disapprove., They were split on whether President Bush should replace Rumsfeld : 49%
said Rumsfeld should go and 48% preferred that he stay.
Rumsfeld, 72, took much political heat when the Abu Ghraib prisoner scandal came to light in April with
photographs ofU.S. soldiers abusing and sexually.humiliating Iraqi prisoners.
Two official investigations found that the highest levels ofthe Defense Department shared blame for
management lapses that may have contributed to the problems at Abu Ghraib. ~ut those reviews found
no evidence to sugg~st that Rumsfeld.ordered, encouraged or condoned any abuse ofiraqis.
To the suggestion that Rumsfeld resign over the abuse scandal, former Defense Secretary James
Schlesinger said last week that such a development would be a "boon to all ofAmerica's enemies.II
Schlesinger headed an in~ependent
panel that looked into the abuse. Asecond panelist, former DefeQse
Secretary'Harold Brown, agreed that Rumsfeld acted appropriately.
"lfthe head ofa department had to resign every time anyone'down below did something wrong, it would
be a ver;. empty Cabinet table" Brown said.
That was just days before news broke ofthe FBI investigation at the Pentagon.
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