Outing U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Friday that the war in Iraq cannot be won "militarily," but he asserted that U.S. policy there can succeed "if we have the patience."
Addressing Pentagon employees in a farewell-style speech, Rumsfeld warned that U.S. failure in Iraq would have "dire consequences" in that country and the broader Middle East, and he said pulling out U.S. troops "precipitously" would be "a terrible mistake."
The 74-year-old veteran politician listed a series of accomplishments during his tenure, ranging from fighting "terrorists all across the globe" to aiding millions of victims of natural disasters.
He said the Pentagon has established a new Northern Command and "an initial missile defense system," overseen the largest domestic base closure and realignment plan in U.S. history, implemented a transformation of U.S. forces away from a "static defensive" posture left over from the Cold War and moved the longstanding "division-based Army" toward a "more agile, vastly more capable combat brigade force."
In a Q&A session following the speech, Rumsfeld said his worst day in office was when he learned in early 2004 of the prisoner abuse perpetrated by U.S. guards at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad.
"You know, clearly the worst day was Abu Ghraib and seeing what went on there and feeling so deeply sorry that happened," Rumsfeld said.
As for his best day in office, he said, "I don't know, maybe a week from Monday." He was referring to the day - Dec. 18 - when he is scheduled to give way to Robert M. Gates.
U.S. President George W. Bush announced Rumsfeld's resignation on Nov. 8, a day after midterm elections gave control of Congress to Democrats.
Gates, a former CIA director, was confirmed by the Senate Thursday as the new defense secretary.
(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2006)
