 |
|
 |
| [-] |
| [−] |
| [−] |
| [−] |
| [−] |
Prev | List | Random | Next |
I don't personally know Secretary Rumsfeld, but I have to think he's going to be a bit down when he reads his morning briefing and finds out about the President chastising him over the Iraq prison story.
And here's my apology: Sorry for the delay... here's your morning briefing:
TOP STORIES
1. Bush Privately Chides Rumsfeld
(Washington Post)...Robin Wright and Bradley Graham
President Bush privately admonished Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld yesterday, a senior White House official said, as other U.S. officials blamed the Pentagon for failing to act on repeated recommendations to improve conditions for thousands of Iraqi detainees and release those not charged with crimes.
2. Rumsfeld Chastised By President For His Handling Of Iraq Scandal
(New York Times)...Elisabeth Bumiller and Richard W. Stevenson
President Bush on Wednesday chastised his defense secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld, for Mr. Rumsfeld's handling of a scandal over the American abuse of Iraqis held at a notorious prison in Baghdad, White House officials said.
3. Bush Appears On Arab TV, Decries Treatment Of Iraqis
(USA Today)...Bill Nichols
...The president said he has full confidence in Rumsfeld. Three high-ranking administration officials with knowledge of Bush's thinking said Rumsfeld's job was not in jeopardy. But two of them said Bush told Rumsfeld he was decidedly unhappy that he had not been told about photographs that show the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison before those photos were broadcast last week.
4. New Prison Images Emerge
(Washington Post)...Christian Davenport
The collection of photographs begins like a travelogue from Iraq. Here are U.S. soldiers posing in front of a mosque. Here is a soldier riding a camel in the desert. And then: a soldier holding a leash tied around a man's neck in an Iraqi prison. He is naked, grimacing and lying on the floor.
5. U.S. Troops Start Major Attacks On Shiite Insurgents In 2 Cities
(New York Times)...Edward Wong
The American military has begun its first major assault against Shiite insurgents, striking at their enclaves here and in Diwaniya in an effort to regain control in southern Iraq.
6. $25 Billion More Sought To Fund Wars
(Washington Post)...Jonathan Weisman
The White House yesterday asked Congress for an additional $25 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year that begins in October, reversing course on its plan to wait until after the election to seek more money.
IRAQ
7. Baghdad Blast Reportedly Kills 6; Troops, Insurgents Clash In South
(Los Angeles Times)...Alissa J. Rubin and Tony Perry
A car bomb exploded early this morning near a U.S. military checkpoint at the 14th of July Bridge, which leads into the Green Zone, as scores of mainly Iraqi contractors who work for the U.S.-led coalition were lined up in cars waiting to enter. The U.S. military confirmed that there were casualties but did not say how many. Wire services said one U.S. soldier and five Iraqis were dead, along with an unknown number of wounded.
8. Bush, On Arab TV, Denounces Abuse Of Iraqi Captives
(New York Times)...Richard W. Stevenson
President Bush went on Arab television on Wednesday in an effort to limit the diplomatic damage from the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, offering no direct apology but saying the mistreatment "does not represent the America that I know."
9. Bush Scolds Rumsfeld On Abuse Inquiry
(Los Angeles Times)...Edwin Chen, John Hendren and Janet Hook
A clash erupted Wednesday between the White House and the Pentagon over the handling of the Iraq prison abuse investigation, with President Bush telling Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld that he felt personally blindsided by the scandal and should have been more fully informed about its severity.
10. Rage Is On Display During Prison Tour
(Washington Post)...Sewell Chan
...Along with a slate of reforms that Miller announced to reporters, the four-hour tour suggested new efforts by the Army to bring transparency to Abu Ghraib in the wake of allegations that military police had subjected Iraqi prisoners to humiliating and sometimes abusive punishments late last year. The Army has launched five investigations, filed criminal charges against six members of a military police unit and notified seven officers and sergeants that they will receive letters of reprimand or admonishment that could end their careers.
11. Many Iraqis Are Skeptical Of Bush TV Appeal
(New York Times)...Christine Hauser
At a coffee shop on Karada Street here just before 8 p.m., eight men sat on plastic chairs around a crudely hewn wooden coffee table or alongside metal stands just big enough for a tea glass. They sat cross-legged, prayer beads in hand, their eyes glued to the television set, waiting for the American president to speak about the abuses of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison.
12. Ex-Detainee Tells Of Anguishing Treatment At Iraq Prison
(Washington Post)...Scott Wilson
Hasham Mohsen Lazim traded used tires for a living in the Shiite slum of Sadr City. He had been in trouble only once in his life, he said, a desperate time six years ago when he deserted Saddam Hussein's army to support his wife and four small children.
13. Most Prisoners In Iraq Jails Called 'Threat To Security'
(Washington Times)...Bill Gertz
Nearly all 8,080 prisoners being held by U.S. authorities in Iraq are considered security threats: insurgents linked to attacks on coalition forces, and terrorists and former officials of Saddam Hussein's regime suspected of having useful intelligence, military officials say.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
14. Rumsfeld To Give Talk At West Point Graduation
(Los Angeles Times)...Times Wire Reports
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld will deliver the commencement address May 29 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
15. At Guantanamo, Guards Punished
(Miami Herald)...Juan O. Tamayo and Frank Davies
Two confirmed cases of detainee abuses at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, prison for terror suspects resulted in ''administrative punishments'' of U.S. personnel, a Defense Department spokesman said Wednesday.
NATIONAL GUARD/RESERVE
16. Abuse Charges Bring Anguish In Unit's Home
(New York Times)...James Dao and Paul von Zielbauer
...Six soldiers from the 372nd, a reserve unit out of Cumberland, are expected to face courts-martial, including Specialist Graner and Sergeant Frederick. Six officers have been issued career-ending reprimands. And government leaders across the world, including President Bush, have demanded stiff punishment for anyone found guilty. But nowhere has the soul searching been more anguished than in this slice of Appalachia, where many members of the 372nd live and where, until last week, the unit was a huge source of patriotic pride.
17. One Soldier's Unlikely Act
(Washington Post)...Elizabeth Williamson
When reports this week named Spec. Joseph M. Darby as the soldier who sounded the first alarm on abuse of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad, his family was both proud and anxious.
NAVY
NA
18. U.S. Navy Loses High-Tech Mini-Sub Off Norway
(USA Today)...Unattributed (Alternate source)
The Navy has been searching for nearly a week for a high-tech miniature unmanned submarine that vanished during a military exercise off Norway. The 11-foot-long submarine, or Battlespace Preparation Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, was being tested when it failed to surface, Norwegian officials said. The submarine is not remotely operated but is programmed before being launched to search for mines and, if necessary, destroy them. It did not return as planned to the USS Swift, a minesweeper.
CONGRESS
19. Lawmakers Demand Answers On Abuses In Military-Run Jails
(Washington Post)...Charles Babington and Helen Dewar
Irate lawmakers from both parties demanded yesterday that the top Pentagon and CIA leaders explain in detail why Iraqi prisoners were abused in prisons operated by U.S. military and intelligence officers, while a senior Democratic senator said Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld should resign if he can't adequately do so.
20. Rumsfeld Faces Swelling Tide Of Criticism
(USA Today)...Kathy Kiely
...On Friday, Rumsfeld is expected to face a withering interrogation from lawmakers of both parties when he testifies about the scandal before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
21. House Committee Calls For More Testing On New Ship Systems
(Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)...Dale Eisman
A key congressional subcommittee recommended delays Wednesday in two of the Navy’s prized shipbuilding programs. It said more testing is needed on a variety of new systems to be installed on the DDX destroyer and Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
22. Security Clearance Backlog Proves Costly
(Washington Times)...Hannah Bergman
...The House Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on the issue today to coincide with the release of a GAO report on the subject. Most of the security clearances held by an estimated 2 million Americans are the result of background checks by the Defense Security Service.
More to come...
