• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Military / Harkin says Defense Secretary should be fired

Harkin says Defense Secretary should be fired

May 6, 2004 By admin

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is calling for the U.S. Defense Secretary to step down or be fired, blaming Donald Rumsfeld for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners of war. Widely published photos of smiling U.S. soldiers beside naked, hooded Iraqi prisoners have sparked outrage in the Arab world and in the U.S. Harkin says “Secretary Rumsfeld and his policies in running the Department of Defense has led to this and I don’t think anything short of his prompt dismissal will suffice. It is time for Mr. Rumsfeld to be given the boot.” Harkin says the photos of gloating soldiers standing over stacked Iraqis have been the most damaging event for the United States’ image during the war. Harkin says “If Mr. Rumsfeld doesn’t quit forthwith, then the President outta’ fire him. The policies, the pronunciations, the attitude of the Secretary of Defense that started a couple of years ago has filtered down to the lowest ranks of the military. It’s inexcusable.” Harkin says the photos from the Iraqi prison looked rather familiar. He says the pictures reminded him of the so-called “tiger cages” that were used in a U.S.-run South Vietnamese prison in the 1970s. The President is expected to soon approach Congress, asking for more money for the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Harkin says the money will be there for the troops, but there should be more accountability in where it’s being spent, given what’s going on in the Iraqi prisons. Harkin says “You got a lotta’ Rambos over there right now in these prisons, civilians, that are unaccountable. They’re not accountable to our military, they’re not accountable to the State Department, they’re not accountable to anyone. Who are these people and how much money are they making?”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Military Tagged With: Democratic Party, Tom Harkin

Featured Stories

Governor signs child care expansion into law

Iowa seniors have until July 1 to apply for new property tax break

Smoke from distant fires creates colorful sunrise in Iowa

DOT’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to merge into State Patrol

Iowa’s governor approves liability limits for trucking industry

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa AD Gary Barta announces retirement

Iowa to visit Creighton in Gavitt Tipoff Games

Iowa and Indiana collide Thursday at B1G baseball tournament

Former Hawkeye joins Lisa Bluder’s staff at Iowa

Iowa rolls in B1G Tournament opener

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC