Bush supports Pentagon efforts on prison abuse, Free Cuba Commission reports, Bush discusses Middle East with Mubarak

BUSH SUPPORTS PENTAGON HANDLING OF PRISONER ABUSE PROBLEM

"The president greatly appreciates the job Secretary Rumsfeld is doing," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters May 6. "He has great confidence in the secretary's leadership in his ability to implement the policies of this administration."

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had briefed the president May 5 on the current investigation on the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

"It is important that the military take a comprehensive look to make sure that there is not a systemic problem with the entire prison system in Iraq," McClellan said.

Asked about recent photographs showing the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, McClellan said, "The pictures are appalling and shameful and do not represent the vast majority of our men and women in the military who are committed to adhering to high standards of conduct and committed to helping the Iraqi people realize a free and peaceful future.

"When military leaders found out about allegations of this abuse, they took immediate steps to address it. They publicly talked about the investigations and have briefed on these matters."

McClellan stressed that the United States works closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross and listens to the issues it raises.

"The U.S. believes in treating all people with dignity and respect and believes in treating prisoners humanely and consistently with international accords, and that is what the vast majority of our men and women in the military do," McClellan said. "You just need to look at the actions we took when we learned about the strong allegations of prisoner abuse to see the way the U.S. addresses matters like this."

Asked if the allegations are affecting coalition efforts in Iraq, McClellan said, "There is strong support for the coalition efforts in Iraq to help the Iraqi people realize a free and peaceful future."

The spokesman noted that the administration supported a United Nations Security Council resolution to encourage more nations to participate in U.S. efforts in Iraq.

"These images are harmful to our efforts to advance freedom and democracy in what is a dangerous region of the world," McClellan said. "That is why the president talked directly to the Arab world to assure them that the U.S. stands for the rule of law and justice and human dignity."

"FREE CUBA COMMISSION" REPORTS TO BUSH

Noting that President Bush had met with the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, McClellan told reporters, "Our objectives toward Cuba are to see an end to Castro's repressive dictatorship, to support the Cuban people in the transition to democracy, and to help the Cuban people develop a free-market economy."

President Bush established the commission in November 2003 with Secretary of State Colin Powell as its chairman. McClellan said the commission reported back to the president "with recommendations for additional actions to meet our objectives. They will discuss some of the immediate steps the president has directed the United States to pursue to hasten democratic change in Cuba."

"The president has a strong record of standing firmly with the Cuban people and their struggle for freedom and bringing an end to the oppressive dictatorship in Cuba," the spokesman said.

BUSH DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST WITH MUBARAK

The White House spokesman said President Bush phoned Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to discuss their March meeting in Texas and the recent meeting of Quartet representatives at the United Nations to discuss Middle East peace efforts.

Bush and Mubarak "remain in close contact through correspondence since their March 14 meeting in Crawford, Texas," McClellan said.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)