- Joined
- Feb 29, 2004
- Messages
- 1,628
- Points
- 248
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has offered his "deepest apologies" to Iraqi inmates mistreated by US troops.
Mr Rumsfeld told Congress he bore responsibility for the issue.
But he strongly denied the Pentagon had not taken "swift, corrective" action - and ordered an inquiry into his deparment's handling of the abuse.
Mr Rumsfeld said only when he saw the abuse photos on Thursday - and there were many more than those aired - did he realise how grave the situation was.
Faced by calls to step down he said: "Needless to say, if I thought I could not be effective, I would resign in a minute."
He added that he would not resign "simply because people try to make a political issue out of it".
BBD Read More
Mr Rumsfeld told Congress he bore responsibility for the issue.
But he strongly denied the Pentagon had not taken "swift, corrective" action - and ordered an inquiry into his deparment's handling of the abuse.
Mr Rumsfeld said only when he saw the abuse photos on Thursday - and there were many more than those aired - did he realise how grave the situation was.
Faced by calls to step down he said: "Needless to say, if I thought I could not be effective, I would resign in a minute."
He added that he would not resign "simply because people try to make a political issue out of it".
BBD Read More
