Rumsfeld Farewell: History Will Be the Judge

WASHINGTON (AP) - In an emotional farewell at the Pentagon, Donald H. Rumsfeld said Friday the worst day of his nearly six years as secretary of defense occurred when he learned of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse.

Speaking to a gathering of employees 10 days before he is to leave office, Mr. Rumsfeld defended his record on Iraq and Afghanistan and warned of "dire consequences were we to fail" in the war.

He also said he might write a book about his tenure at the Pentagon, and he predicted that his successor, Robert Gates, would do a good job. He declined to say what advice he had offered Mr. Gates, who was confirmed by the Senate this week.

Mr. Rumsfeld choked up briefly while recalling a woman in Alaska giving him a bracelet last August as a reminder of the sacrifices by soldiers of the Army's 172nd Stryker Brigade, whose year-long tour in Iraq was extended by four months to help try to quell sectarian violence in Baghdad. Showing it on his wrist, Mr. Rumsfeld recalled that he told the woman he would wear the green bracelet until the 172nd came home.

In a question-and-answer session billed as a "town hall meeting," he was asked what were his best day and his worst day.

"Clearly, the worst day was Abu Ghraib, seeing what went on there and feeling so deeply sorry that that happened," he said without hesitation. The scandal in the spring of 2004 involving an Iraq prison triggered worldwide condemnation and prompted Mr. Rumsfeld to twice offer his resignation to President Bush. Mr. Bush rejected those offers.

"I guess my best day, I don't know, may be a week from Monday," he said with a grin, referring to the day Mr. Gates takes over.

Asked how he wants history to remember him, he said simply, "Better than the local press."

He spoke at length about his hopes that America not let Iraq and Afghanistan collapse.

"We have every chance in the world of succeeding in both those countries, but only if we have the patience and only if we have the staying power," he said. Asked about the bipartisan Iraq Study Group's recommendations for a change in approach to the Iraq war, Rumsfeld said none of the suggestions were new.

He said the Pentagon had sent its advice to the White House on possible new approaches in Iraq.

With troops from each military service and a few civilian Pentagon employees seated behind him on stage in the Pentagon's main auditorium, Mr. Rumsfeld spoke to an audience of several hundred people. With a big smile, he strode into the room to a cascade of applause and a few approving yelps.

"I suspect this will be among my last public remarks as secretary of defense," he said. His last full day will be Dec. 17.

It was one of the few public appearances he has made since Mr. Bush announced on Nov. 8 at the White House that he was replacing Mr. Rumsfeld with Mr. Gates to get a "fresh perspective" on the Iraq war. Mr. Rumsfeld applauded the work and dedication of Pentagon employees and said he was proud to have been associated with them.

"Each of you and future generations of Americans, as well as future generations of Iraqis and Afghans, will be able to look on these past years as a time of enormous challenge and historic consequence," he said.

He was introduced by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who lauded Mr. Rumsfeld as a man of courage, integrity and vision.

"This man's work ethic is incredible," Mr. Pace said. "Is he demanding? You bet." Mr. Rumsfeld then interrupted, saying with a laugh, "No! I've been on my best behavior."

Mr. Rumsfeld, 74, is one of the longest-serving defense secretaries in American history and is the only person to have held the position twice. His first stint was from November 1975 to January 1977, when he held the distinction of being the youngest defense secretary in history.

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., who will become chairman of the House Armed Services Committee when Congress returns in January, said Friday that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will define Rumsfeld's legacy.

"The early efforts in Afghanistan were very successful, and he should be given credit for that," Mr. Skelton said in an interview taped for C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" program. "He should also be remembered as one who attempted to transform or modernize the military. Of course, it's pretty hard to do that in the middle of two wars. But he did begin that effort."