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I don't think Rummy meant it this way, but it does sound like pillow talk, doesn't it? http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040803-secdef1102.html
Q: Finally, if I may be permitted to say so, when I watched you on your surprise visit to Baghdad in the midst of all of the problems with the prison and a few soldiers doing very wrong things that are now coming to trial, in fact, I saw in you almost a therapeutic reaction – almost a cleansing. When you were there, you seemed to be contrite and at the same time, get a renewed energy. Can you tell me a little bit about what I was experiencing or thought I was, watching you there?
SEC. RUMSFELD: Oh, I think you’re right. I didn’t see it, needless to say, but I was there, and you on the one hand, you just feel heartbroken that people in our custody were mistreated. That shouldn’t happen. It was also heartbreaking, of course, that hundreds of thousands of these wonderful young men and women saw their service tainted by the impression that was left from those photos. And my heart broke for their parents, as well, who know their sons and daughters to be fine, honorable, dedicated soldiers who were over there risking their lives and serving our nation and doing enormously noble work. And it also was so sad for me to know that a lot of people in Iraq and in the region and even, I suppose, around the world, believe the hateful things that were being said, that implied that those abuses, those abusive acts by those people in that prison depicted in the photos in some way represented the policies of the United States government or the behavior of other soldiers which, of course, is simply not the fact. And so I felt very badly about it. On the other hand, I felt that someone needed to go there and to look those folks in the eye and tell them the truth, namely that they’re doing a wonderful job for our country and that the country is grateful to them. And I never go and speak to our troops that I don’t come away feeling better about our country. We’re so fortunate that they’re all volunteers. They put up their hands, they say, “send me,” and they’re willing to go out and put their lives at risk to help make this a better world and God bless them for it.
Q: And I thank you so much for carrying that message to the troops in a way that many of us feel, but don’t have the opportunity or ability to go there and do it. And I salute you for doing that, sir, and appreciate it much. Do you a have final thought? Do you have it in you to go for a second term? You want to stick around for a full second term?
SEC. RUMSFELD: (Laughs.) Oh, my goodness. You asked – you sound like my wife.
Q: (Laughs.)
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