Full Release - IRmep

Hand Rumsfeld His Walking Papers
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http://www.dia.ic.gov/adminlEARLYBIRD/04083I1e20040831316426.html
Top military officials ignored the mistreatment ofprisoners until the graphic photographs ofnaked
prisoners piled in a pyramid at Abu Ghrail? horrified the public. ,
Red Cross reports about prison abuses fell on deatears at the P~ntagon until the administration ..was faced'
with exposure.
Several reviews ofthe military mistreatment ofprisoners have been under way but the Schl~singer
was the first to assign any responsibility to the highest levels ofthe Pentagon.
panel
IIThere is both institutional and personal responsibility at higher levels, II the Schles~nger
report said.
Schlesinger said the prisn problems were "well known ll and corrective actions "could have been taken. ,
and should have been taken~ II
Despite all ofthis, the report concluded that Rumsfeld and other-senior leaders, including Air Force Gen.
Richard Myers, chairman ofthe Joint Chiefs"ofStaft; should not be forced to resign.
Since he is a Washington "establishment" figure who headed the Pentagon in the Nixon era, Schlesinger
was not about to go any higher than a brigade commailder to parcel out responsibility.
Schlesinger said Rumsfeld's resignation would be "a boon to all ofAmerica's enemies and consequently,
I think that it wQuld 'be a misfortune ifit were to take place. It
Wrong. It would show the world that Americans are not afraid to topple leaders when the country is
dishonored on their watch. For those who have lived under totalitarian rule, a challenge to the leadership
could have dire consequences. But.that's not our system. In a democracy, public servants must be held
accountable.
Rumsfeld should have thrown in the towel months ago for this scandal.
In the run-up to the invasion ofIraq, the Rumsfeld coterie bragged about the "shock and awe" ofthe
p'anned U.S. invasion. The secretary has since lost some ofhis swagger and is no longer a]\T rock ~tar.
As the gravity ofthe scandal gradually sunk in around the world, Rumsfeld has become virtually
invisible to the public.
Rumsfeld stands indicted by the very panel that he appointed to assess responsibility. The fact that the
S'chlesinger panel vee~ed sharply atthe last curve and said Rumsfeld should keep his job can't bury the
reality that they traced the footprints right to Rumsfeld's office.
It's time for him to take responsibility for this scandal. It's time for him to leave office.
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