Bush shown Iraq abuse photos, again backs Rumsfeld

8.00am - By CHARLES ALDINGER

WASHINGTON - President George W Bush has strongly backed Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against calls for his resignation and has viewed more graphic photos of Iraqi prisoner abuse that has infuriated the Arab world and damaged US credibility.

The White House and Pentagon said on Monday after Bush met Rumsfeld and military leaders at the Pentagon that the Defence Department was considering making public videos and photos of the abuse.

Bush told reporters after the meeting, at which he was shown the photographs, that he continued to stand firmly behind Rumsfeld despite calls by some Democrats for the secretary to resign over the humiliation of naked Iraqi prisoners. Rumsfeld said last week that he would not quit "simply because people try to make a political issue out of it."

The independent Army Times newspaper, widely read in the US military, on Monday rebuked Rumsfeld and Gen Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for "a failure of leadership," adding that accountability might mean "relieving top leaders from duty in a time of war."

Appearing before the cameras with Rumsfeld, Bush said, "Thank you for your leadership. You are courageously leading our nation in the war against terror."

"You're doing a superb job. You're a strong secretary of defence and our nation owes you a debt of gratitude," he added.

Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita told reporters after the meeting that officials "hadn't ruled" in or out release of the photos.

Di Rita said the pictures included "inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature," but provided no details. He also did not specify the content of the pictures Bush viewed.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush had seen more than a dozen photographs and that careful consideration was being given to "privacy concerns" and "ongoing criminal investigations" in deciding whether to release the material.

"The president's reaction was one of deep disgust and disbelief that anyone who wears our uniform would engage in such shameful and appalling acts. It does not represent our United States military and it does not represent the United States of America," McClellan said.

McClellan added that "the Pentagon recognises the importance of congressional oversight," suggesting that members of the US Congress will be allowed to see them.

A senior defence official, who asked not to be identified, told reporters Bush was shown "a sample" of new abuse photographs not yet released to the public.

Other pictures of Iraqi prisoners being humiliated by Americans at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad were broadcast by CBS television two weeks ago, triggering deep anger in Iraq and the Arab world. Bush last week apologised for the abuse and vowed to punish those responsible.

"Because America is committed to the equality and dignity of all people, there will be a full accounting for the cruel and disgraceful abuse of Iraqi detainees," Bush said at the Pentagon after he, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell were briefed on US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The conduct that has come to light is an insult to the Iraqi people and an affront to the most basic standards and decency," Bush added.

Bush noted that seven US troops already had been charged in an ongoing investigation, adding that "the Iraqi people need to know that our coalition is fully committed to their independence, that we are fully committed to their national dignity."

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq