Excerpt from The Washington Post interview with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld

December 7, 2001
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Q: Also, I understand that you and Vice President Cheney devised the idea of military tribunals together and then took this to the White House counsel, Gonzales, and only subsequently was it actually brought over to Attorney General Ashcroft. Is that correct?

Rumsfeld: I think not. I don't know quite how it all happened, but I know I came quite late. My understanding is that Attorney General Ashcroft was in much of the process.

Q: Before you?

Rumsfeld: Oh, I'm sure. I shouldn't say anything, but I think so. I've been rather busy, and I am not a lawyer. And I tend to not look for opportunities to get into things that I don't know an awful lot about.
[Remainder of interview deleted by mutual agreement.]

Full text available here: http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=2615