Bush Lauds Rumsfeld for Doing 'Superb Job'

President Views More Photos of Prisoner Abuse

President Bush went before cameras at the Pentagon yesterday to unequivocally praise Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld in an effort to head off growing pressure for his resignation, then examined more than a dozen new photos documenting abuse of Iraqi detainees. Bush's aides had known for several days about the graphic photographs, which include sexual abuse of detainees and other mistreatment of naked, hooded detainees. But the session gave the commander in chief a vivid view of fuel that could continue to feed a scandal that was a distraction a week ago, but now is consuming the White House and creating real alarm among Republicans.

Bush shook his head in disgust at the images, which included frames from videos, said an aide who was present.

The president did not mention the photos when he and Vice President Cheney, in a rare joint appearance, stepped into Rumsfeld's dining room to endorse the man who has become the symbol of the administration's response to months of warnings about U.S. military activity in a prison that was a torture chamber under Saddam Hussein.

"You are courageously leading our nation in the war against terror," Bush said to Rumsfeld, who was standing over his left shoulder, a few paces back. "You're doing a superb job. You are a strong secretary of defense, and our nation owes you a debt of gratitude."

The president promised "a full accounting for the cruel and disgraceful abuse of Iraqi detainees." In a message aimed at Muslims whose suspicion of U.S. motives has turned to hostility, Bush pointed to the government's investigations of both the incidents and the military prison system in Iraq. "We will honor the rule of law," he said.

Bush continued to refer to those involved as "a small number." He read the statement somberly, then left without taking questions.

Pentagon officials prevailed at least temporarily in their insistence that the administration not immediately release the images, which include the forced masturbation of a detainee. Instead, the Pentagon was negotiating with congressional leaders to make them available this week to members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, and perhaps other lawmakers.

A White House official said some of Bush's aides have argued that the photos are certain to become public, and that it would be better to "put it out now on our terms than wait for it to come out later." These aides fear that holding back the photos could prolong saturation news coverage of the scandal, which is preventing the White House and Bush's reelection campaign from drawing attention to other issues.

Pentagon officials have fought to continue withholding the photos, pointing to the ongoing criminal investigations, and the possibility of lawsuits based on privacy issues.

White House communications director Dan Bartlett said Bush wants the Pentagon to "use its best judgment" about the release of the photos, based on criminal, legal and congressional issues. "The president fully supports those considerations," Bartlett said.

The Senate itself sought time to consider the legal issues involved in taking possession of the photos. Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, advised the Pentagon that three Senate lawyers needed to review how viewing the material might affect criminal investigations, privacy rights and other legal issues.

Bush looked at the photos in Rumsfeld's office. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the president reacted with "deep disgust and disbelief that anyone who wears our uniform would engage in such shameful and appalling acts."

Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita said Bush had been shown "a sample" of a dozen to two dozen photographs that included "inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature." He provided no details, saying Pentagon officials were debating how much could be revealed about the pictures without jeopardizing criminal investigations of those responsible for the abuses.

DiRita said the Pentagon possesses three disks of photos, one of which includes some brief video clips. Many of the photos are redundant, and some have little to do with Iraqi detainees but show sex between U.S. soldiers, according to other officials.