Rumsfeld: The video is not on the disk he has.
Graham: Will be disappointed if only people prosecuted are sergeants and privates. To General Smith: When did you see the photos?
Smith: Toward the end of March. Told his boss. Was aware we would look bad if they had been released.
Myers: Did not see photos before he called CBS. Had been described to him. When he was informed they would come out, -- media knew there were photos and were trying to get their hands on them. Myers was concerned about impact on our forces in Iraq in the intensity of operations -- would be worst of all possible times, but realizing that they would come out.
He and Rumsfeld discussed potential damage in March.
Graham: Problem: Doesn't take rocket scientist to figure out explosive nature of photos. Most of us found out on TV. Why not call president and senior members of congress to prepare them?
Myers: We could have done better.
Graham: Calling for Rumsfeld's resignation, drafting Articles of Impeachment. Do you believe that you are able to carry on in a bipartisan manner?
Rumsfeld: Has given a lot of thought. Key question whether he can be effective. We have tough tasks. Military and civilian in dept are doing enormously important work. The issue is whether R can be effective in assisting them. If he felt he couldn't, he would resign in a minute. But will not resign because people try to make a political issue out of it.
Rumsfeld first saw undoctored photos last night (not those in the press).
It was brought up with president in a meeting; Myers doesn't recall exactly when the meeting was was, probably late January, early February.
Nelson: What did pres say you should do?
Rumsfeld: Believes it was more of an information meeting -- only one-dimensional at that time, no video, no color. If there is a failure it is Rumsfeld's for no knowing there were 100s of these things. He certainly didn't give the Pres a briefing about photos he hadn't seen.
Nelson: What are your instructions from Pres to inform him of matters such as this?
Rumsfeld: Clearly Sec'y of Def must figure what does the Pres need to know. He meets with Myers weekly and go over things to choose what the Pres needs most. May be contingency plan, personnel problem, anything.