April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, in a noticeably lighter mood, calls on a reporter during today's daily Pentagon press briefing as to the current events in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Secretary stated today, in response to the apparent liberation of Baghdad this morning, "This is a good day for the Iraqi people. There is no question but that there are difficult and very dangerous days ahead and that the fighting will continue for some period. But certainly anyone seeing the faces of the liberated Iraqis -- the free Iraqis -- has to say that this is a very good day." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld  answers a reporter's question about the history of today's events that are being witnessed in downtown Baghdad. The Secretary stated, "Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed, brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld rubs his forehead during today's daily Pentagon press briefing on the current progress of coalition progress in Operation Iraqi Freedom. © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld shows a rare smile since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom began on March 24, 2003. During his opening remarks during today's daily Pentagon press briefing he stated, "Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed, brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, listens to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers (not shown) as he answers a reporter's question during today's daily Pentagon briefing on the apparent liberation of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad this morning. © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld (Left) asks the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers (Right) to answer a reporter's question about our expectations on Iraqi treatment of American prisoners of war and about getting them returned back to the United States. The General replied, "It's always one of the first priorities, is to rescue our people and bring our people back. Absolutely." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers answers a question about the apparent liberation of Baghdad this morning and as to having our P.O.W.'s returned back to the United States. The General replied, "It's always one of the first priorities, is to rescue our people and bring our people back. Absolutely." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld  answers a reporter's question about the history of today's events that are being witnessed in downtown Baghdad. The Secretary stated, "Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed, brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, answers a question about the current status of Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein. The Secretary replied, "Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed, brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, answers a question about the current status of Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein. The Secretary replied, "Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed, brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom."
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld answers a question about whether or not Iraq is at a "tipping point" at which the people would start to revolt against the Saddam Hussein government. The Secretary replied, "So there's a lot of work left to do and I do believe that we're seeing, in the case of Baghdad, it is tipping. I mean, I think that that's a fair comment. It doesn't mean that it's over, and again, it most assuredly is not over, which is why I tried to properly balance my comment the way I did, saying that there's going to be some very tough days ahead." © Mike Lynaugh
April 9, 2003 - Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, pauses before responding to a reporter's question during today's daily Pentagon press briefing on the status of coalition forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom. © Mike Lynaugh