Rumsfeld accuses press of 'ignoring' progress in Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 31, 2003

Rumsfeld accuses press of 'ignoring' progress in Iraq

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday accused the press of ignoring the progress in Iraq and defended the Pentagon's efforts to highlight US successes there.

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US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday accused the press of ignoring the progress in Iraq and defended the Pentagon's efforts to highlight US successes there.

Detailing successes in Iraq did not mean the Defense Department was trying to put a happy face on the conflict, Rumsfeld said at a press conference.

"Some have said that any statement that raises awareness of these successes is putting an optimistic face on a difficult security situation. Not so," he said.

Rumsfeld said he had stressed that the situation was dangerous and that there would be setbacks. "Nonetheless, we have made an effort to point out the progress because until we did, progress was being largely ignored by the press."

According to the defense secretary, the American people were getting a skewed view as the press concentrated on terrorist bombings and sabotage without showing the achievements Americans had racked up in Iraq.

He said remnants of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime and terrorists were attacking the successes, but "we will stay in Iraq as long as necessary to finish the job."

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