USA: DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD'S TESTIMONY ON IRAQI PRISONER ABUSE BEAMED OUT LIVE IN TIMES SQUARE

Record ID: 184757

  • Title: USA: DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD'S TESTIMONY ON IRAQI PRISONER ABUSE BEAMED OUT LIVE IN TIMES SQUARE
  • Date: 9th May 2004
  • Summary: (U6) NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 7, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ZOOM OUT U.S SECRETARY OF DEFENSE BEING SWORN IN AT SENATE HEARING, SHOWN LIVE ON TIMES SQUARE SCREENS; RUMSFELD TESTIFYING BEING SHOWN ON TWO SCREENS IN TIMES SQUARE; RUMSFELD ON SCREEN (3 SHOTS) 0.26 2. SLV/MV PEOPLE LOOKING AT TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS; SLV ZOOM OUT RUMSFELD ON SCREEN (4 SHOTS) 0.47 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSAN CIONI SAYING: "Resign without question. It is a positive and absolute disgrace to Americans, I am embarrassed to be an American." 0.55 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) THELMA SNYDEA SAYING "Well he should tell the truth which I don't think he will and should resign." 1.01 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RONNIE MANN SAYING: "I think he should clean up over there, the army and stuff like that and people should go to jail but I don't necessarily think that he is to blame for that personally." 1.13 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROB HARTSELL SAYING: "I don't think he should resign, I have been satisfied with his work so far so you know I believe the reprimand should head on down the line to the people that actually did the crimes to Iraqis versus the top brass in charge." 1.27 7. SLV ZOOM IN RUMSFELD TESTIMONY BEING SHOWN ON SCREENS IN TIMES SQUARE; MV ONLOOKERS; SLV TESTIMONY ON SCREEN (6 SHOTS) 2.09 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA3LUXKIXJ5PQLQB2UQR4NW3BAS
  • Story Text: Rumsfeld 'Iraqi prisoner abuse' testimony beamed out
    live in Times Square as New Yorkers debate whether the U.S.

    Defense Secretary should resign.

    Live television pictures of U.S Secretary of
    Defense Donald Rumsfeld testifying before the Senate were
    beamed across Times Square on giant screens on Friday (May
    7, 2004).

    Rumsfeld was called before the Senate Armed Services
    Committee to explain the growing scandal swirling around
    photographs of U.S military personnel abusing Iraqi
    prisoners.

    The Defense Secretary apologised to the victims, Iraqis
    and Americans, but that fell on deaf ears for Susan Cioni,
    who watching in Times Square, said, "Resign without
    question. It is a positive and absolute disgrace to
    Americans, I am embarrassed to be an American."
    Thelma Snydea cast doubt on the validity of Rumsfeld's
    testimony, "Well he should tell the truth which I don't
    think he will and should resign."
    Other New Yorkers were more willing to hear Rumsfeld
    out, arguing that he does necessarily bear responsibility
    for the actions of the soldiers pictured abusing Iraqis at
    Saddam Hussein's former torture prison, Abu Ghraib, west of
    Baghdad.

    "I think he should clean up over there, the army and
    stuff like that and people should go to jail but I don't
    necessarily think that he is to blame for that personally,"
    commented Ronnie Mann.

    Rob Hartsell said, "I have been satisfied with his work
    so far so you know I believe the reprimand should head on
    down the line to the people that actually did the crimes to
    Iraqis versus the top brass in charge."
    Several Democrats including presidential candidate John
    Kerry have called for Rumsfeld to resign. However U.S
    President George Bush said he retains confidence in his
    defense secretary. Republican lawmakers have said they
    will reserve judgement until they have heard all of his testimony.

    was/jrc




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