WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made a surprise visit to Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison yesterday and promised troops that he and the overall military mission in Iraq will survive the detainee-abuse scandal.
In a bold and high-stakes move, the embattled defense boss left a bitter partisan inquiry on prisoner abuses on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Then he secretly flew 15 hours aboard an Air Force plane straight to a 30-minute tour of the grim prison.
Many of the prison’s 3,000 Iraqi prisoners rushed to the wire fences as Rumsfeld toured the compound in an armored bus. Some shook their fists and gave thumbs-down gestures.
Two held up a sign saying, “What are you going to do about this scandal?” according to pool reporters at the scene.
Rumsfeld told U.S. troops that recent allegations of sexual abuse and humiliation of Iraqi prisoners “sullied our reputation,” adding, “We’ll get through this” and finish the mission in Iraq.
“In recent months, we’ve seen abuses here under our responsibility, and it’s been a body blow for us,” Rumsfeld said in a cramped meeting room.
“It doesn’t represent America. It doesn’t represent American values. It doesn’t represent the values of you here in this room.
“But one day you are going to look back and you’re going to be proud of your service and you are going to say it was worth it,” Rumsfeld said.
The visit came as Rumsfeld is continuing to debate whether or not he can continue to be effective as defense secretary amid widespread calls for his resignation in the wake of the scandal, according to aides.
But Rumsfeld told reporters on the plane to Iraq that he made the dramatic trip not to save his job.