Friday, May 7, 2004 | 9:43 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- All three of Nevada's House members voted in favor of a resolution "deploring" the recently discovered abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Photos of U.S. military personnel smiling and pointing to naked Iraqi prisoners bound by the hands and feet and lying on top of one another or in simulated sex acts surfaced last week. Soldiers in the photos are facing military trial, according to wire reports.
President Bush made a public apology Thursday for the abuse of the prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, and the House passed a resolution, 365-50, condemning the treatment of the prisoners.
"Nevadans should be assured that the actions of a few are not indicative of our military as a whole," said. Rep Jim Gibbons, R-Nev. "It is my hope that this incident will not detract from the substantial process and work being done by the thousand of our brave men and women serving abroad."
Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., was "disappointed" by the photos, spokesman Adam Mayberry said. "The incident is offensive to the values the U.S. military represents," Mayberry said. "He was sickened by the images."
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said that "words alone cannot describe the horror and disgust I feel about the abuse of prisoners in Iraq."
"Rather than enabling us to serve as a moral compass, these actions have tarnished America's reputation and placed even more of our troops around the globe in harm's way," Berkley said.
A resolution expresses an opinion agreed to by the House but makes no policy.
The House did not agree, along party lines, to consider a separate resolution proposed by House Democrats condemning the acts but also calling for a congressional investigation into the military chain of command and contractors in Iraq.
"Rather than relying solely on the Department of Defense to investigate these incidents, I would have preferred that Congress authorize a full-scale joint inquiry," Berkley said.
She also wants to see a Defense Department inspector general investigation into the matter.
Berkley and other members of Congress have also called for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resignation.
"In the eyes of many, America is no different than the former regime in Iraq that brutally tortured and intimidated prisoners," Berkley said. "The graphic images and stories of abuse that have emerged from Iraq are an affront to all we belive in as a nation and these actions have undermined out efforts to promote peace and democracy in the Middle East."
Gibbons and Porter don't support the call for Rumsfeld's resignation, aides said. Gibbons spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer said the congressman looks forward to Rumsfeld's testimony on the issue expected to be delivered today at House Armed Service Committee hearing.
Rumsfeld and senior department officials also were slated to testify today about the Iraq prison abuses to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev, who sits on the committee, said he he was "ashamed and disgusted by the criminal behavior" of the soldiers but does not think asking for Rumsfeld's resignation during a war "sends the right message to our troops or to the terrorists.'
"Secretary Rumsfeld has done an admirable job during one of the most trying times in our country's recent history," Ensign said.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he wanted to see what Rumsfeld told Congress.
"I think we need to get all the facts, and I will withhold final judgement until I hear what he says," Reid said. "But clearly, a lot of damage has been done."
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