Washington: Stating that "tide is turning" in Iraq, US Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld likened the fall of Baghdad to the fall of Berlin Wall and called it
a "good day" for the people of Iraq.
Addressing a Pentagon briefing on April 9, Rumsfeld said, "Saddam Hussein is now
taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon
of failed dictators and Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom."
However, Rumsfeld cautioned that work still remains to be done. Other Iraqi cities
are still being contested, he said.
"The tide is turning; the regime has been dealt a serious blow. But the coalition
forces will not stop until they have finished the job," the Defence Secretary said.
Describing as "breathtaking" the scenes broadcast around the world showing Baghdad
residents greeting US forces, he called it "a good day for the Iraqi people".
"Watching them, one cannot help but think of the fall of the Berlin Wall and
collapse of the Iron Curtain," he said.
Rumsfeld encouraged Iraqi scientists, military officers and others to come forward
with information about the seven US prisoners of war and the regime's weapons of
mass destruction. "Rewards are available to those who help us," he said.
On the question whether Saddam is dead or alive, Rumsfeld said, "He is either dead
or he is incapacitated, or he is healthy…trying to avoid being caught. He has not
been around, he has not been active."
He warned Syria that they would be well advised not to provide military equipment to
Iraq. "I find it notably unhelpful," Rumsfeld said.
PTI
