Inside the Ring

Scandal grows

A source close to the investigation into Abu Ghraib detainee abuse tells us to expect more disciplinary actions against Army soldiers beyond the guards already charged.

The source said there may be criminal charges filed once Army Criminal Investigative Command agents complete the probe. Some of those already disciplined are talking, our source said.

“They are in full investigation mode,” the insider said.

Talented secretary

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld turns 73 this summer. But he continues to defy age, as seen on his recent trip to Latin America.

Besides his hectic schedule, he found time to put on a juggling display on the plane, skillfully tossing three balls borrowed from a staffer. He also belted out Cole Porter songs — in Spanish — befitting the trip’s Latin theme.

Asked whether the secretary had sung and juggled before, spokesman Larry Di Rita answered, “Yes, although not at the same time.”

Some insiders think Mr. Rumsfeld would win a Cabinet secretary talent show, hands down.

Damage control

The Army is scurrying to defend its new Stryker personnel carrier against a series of bad press.

The articles are rooted in a leaked confidential “lessons learned” report that said, among other faults, the armored vehicle is vulnerable to some types of rocket-propelled grenades.

The report is based on a series of interviews with Stryker Brigade soldiers who completed a yearlong tour in northern Iraq. Their complaints, some serious, some minor, constitutes the way the Army fields and improves equipment, spokesmen say.

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