RUMSFELD BRIEFING FROM THE PENTAGON:

RUMSFELD BRIEFING FROM THE PENTAGON: First words: sympathy for US soldiers killed yesterday from Donald Rumsfeld. When and if a transcript is available, we’ll post it here. Rumsfeld is joined by Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Rumsfeld’s comments were very similar in their phrasing to President Bush’s recent pre-war speeches. He mentioned that our efforts will allow the people of Iraq “to chose their own leader”, but didn’t actually say the word “democracy”, which is disappointing, of course.

Gen. Myers did tell the Iraqi soldiers to stop fighting “so that you can enjoy a free Iraq”. Good deal.