Bush, Apology for Treatment of Iraqi POWs

On May 6, U.S. president George W. Bush publicly apologized for the Iraqi POW atrocities by the U.S. army. However, Bush also made clear that he has no intention to alter the status of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who is being pressured to resign by opposing parties and the public.

In a joint press meeting in the Rose Garden of the White House with Jordan’s King Abdullah the Second during Abdullah’s visit to Washington, Bush apologized by saying, “I said to him (King Abdullah) that I was sorry for the shame and pain that the war prisoners and their families must have felt”.

He also emphasized his will to punish those who are responsible, saying, “I am sorry that the true American heart might not be understood by people who saw those pictures.”

He criticized on the on the POW atrocities that “Such deeds are disgusting. I felt sick. Any generous soul would not want a human being to be treated like this. It left a stain in our honor and reputation.”

On the matter of Rumsfeld’s future, Bush disproved Rumsfeld’s resignation asked by the opposition party, saying, “He plays an important role in the cabinet, so he will remain there.”

However, Bush said, “I reproached Rumsfeld for not being informative about those pictures and reports” as Bush witnessed such reports accidentally on the TV himself.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com