WASHINGTON, 11 September 2003 — On the eve of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday addressed the National Press Club. His speech was safe and careful. Protestors made his visit newsworthy.
Earlier yesterday, protestors stood at the entrance of the National Press Club with placards that read: “Stop the Secretary of Offense,” “Resistance to Occupation is not Terrorism,” and under a photo of Rumsfeld, the slogan: “Stop the Death Monger.” They also shouted at members of the press: “Look! Members of the National Propaganda Club!”
Inside the club, Rumsfeld began his speech by assuring listeners the Taleban “were on the run,” and that more than half the world — over 90 nations — are engaged in fighting terrorism since the war on terrorism began two years ago.
It was at this stage that two protesters stood up in the press gallery and screamed: “Rumsfeld, You’re Fired!” Then added: “The war on Iraq is immoral, unjust and unfair.” Before security guards roughly removed them, they hammered at the defense secretary: “How many troops did you kill today? Bring our troops home!” And as they were dragged out, chanted: “Hey, Rumsfeld, what do you say? How many troops did you kill today?”
After the protesters were removed, Rumsfeld was asked about the possibility of military tribunals for those captured by American forces. Rumsfeld said he did not think so. “Those prisoners we brought to Guantanamo Bay, our purpose was not to punish them. Our purpose — if they were terrorists — was to get them off the battlefield and keep them from killing people.”
“The US interest is not to try them and then let them out.” He said the US interest “is to keep them off the streets.”
“We’re prepared to let them go if the president decides there’s an appropriate candidate, but right now we don’t have any candidates,” said Rumsfeld.
Throughout, Rumsfeld repeated that the US would not stay a day longer than needed, did not intend to occupy Iraq, and was training the Iraqi people to take over the management and political process of their country.
On several occasions, he stressed the Iraq’s water supply “could eventually be as important as their oil.”
When asked about his impression of the embedded journalist program, he said: “I think it worked out brilliantly.”
