Washington, 25 July 2003 (RFE/RL) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says he is glad he made the decision to release pictures identified as the bodies of Saddam Hussein's two sons killed in a firefight with U.S. troops in Iraq. Rumsfeld said yesterday the decision was difficult, but that he believed "it was the right decision and I'm glad I did it."
He told reporters at the Pentagon that he believes the Iraqi people deserve to be shown proof that Uday and Qusay Hussein are dead.
"These two individuals are particularly vicious individuals. They are now dead, we know that, they have been carefully identified. The Iraqi people have been waiting for confirmation of that and they, in my view, deserve having confirmation of that," Rumsfeld said.
The U.S. hopes the killing of Uday and Qusay will decrease attacks on American troops. But five U.S. soldiers have been killed since the deaths of Hussein's sons.
He told reporters at the Pentagon that he believes the Iraqi people deserve to be shown proof that Uday and Qusay Hussein are dead.
"These two individuals are particularly vicious individuals. They are now dead, we know that, they have been carefully identified. The Iraqi people have been waiting for confirmation of that and they, in my view, deserve having confirmation of that," Rumsfeld said.
The U.S. hopes the killing of Uday and Qusay will decrease attacks on American troops. But five U.S. soldiers have been killed since the deaths of Hussein's sons.