Q&A: Rumsfeld's testimony

What obligations did Rumsfeld have to disclose these abuses earlier to members of Congress?

From their point of view, he at least had an obligation to warn them that the images were coming. Repeatedly, senators pointed to a closed hearing they held with Rumsfeld last Wednesday - just before these images aired on CBS. And senators on both sides are outraged that these images were forthcoming without their knowledge. Rumsfeld knew that they were coming, and he said he could have done better.

What are the political consequences for both parties?

This administration has been very secretive and unresponsive, even to Republican chairmen. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ever since the beginning of the war, has repeatedly asked for information on postwar planning, which was never forthcoming. The appropriations committee repeatedly asked for information about financing of the war, which has been covered only in emergency supplementals and has not been budgeted in any systematic way.

And most frustrating for Democrats, the minority in both the House and Senate, is that there have been very few public hearings of any kind on the war. They feel that a Republican Congress that was very eager to issue subpoenas and investigate President Clinton on anything - nothing too small to be investigated - has been unable to hold public hearings on something as important as the war. And that's an issue they will be certain to take into congressional elections this fall. Political handicappers have given Democrats little chance to take back the House, but these images give them some hope. Without Democrats with gavels in their hands, there will be no effective oversight on the conduct of this war, should Bush continue another term: that's the case they'll be making to voters.

What impact will Friday's testimony have on Rumsfeld's continuing role within the Bush administration?

Several prominent Democrats - and the editorial page of The New York Times - have called for Rumsfeld's resignation. He responded to this criticism by saying, "If I felt I could not be effective, I'd resign in a minute. I would not resign simply because people try to make a political issue out of it." The president has expressed confidence in him. But many Republicans, such as Mr. McCain, are very critical of the secretary.

However, for a secretary of defense to resign in the middle of war raises real questions for members on both sides of the aisle. Even ranking Democrat Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) - who opposed the Iraq war from the start and who has been very critical of Rumsfeld - said that if he thought the secretary's resignation would change the policies of the administration, he would be calling for it. However, Rumsfeld's deputy, Paul Wolfowitz, would be no change at all. In a way, that's a protection for Rumsfeld's position.

What actions might Bush take now to repair the damage done by this scandal?

A presidential apology via the King of Jordan is not adequate to bank the fires on worldwide outrage over these images and what they represent. One thing Rumsfeld announced is that he is looking into "compensation" for detainee victims. He made a point of saying that he was not talking about reparation, but compensation for this abuse. But what the president is being asked is to make sure that any breakdowns in the chain of command are quickly corrected. Especially whether there's any systemic culture of torture in how US interrogators are dealing with detainees. I expect that this will increase pressure for disclosure on what's happening in Guantanamo, which is an issue the Supreme Court has taken up.

It's not going to be enough for a few privates to be court-martialed. Both members of Congress and world opinion will be looking for an investigation that goes much higher up the chain of command, and that goes deeper into the culture that produced these events.

What significance might this story have for US soldier training methods?

If it turns out that contractors had a role in this meltdown of decency, I think you'll see much more investigation of outsourcing policies and strategies of the military, especially in wartime. I think you'll also see more attention to the training and use of reserve units.

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