At the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld engaged in an unusual exchange with Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Peter Pace at a press conference Tuesday. Asked whether US troops are responsible for preventing human rights abuses by Iraqi forces, General Pace answered: “It is absolutely the responsibility of every U.S. service member, if they see inhumane treatment being conducted, to intervene to stop it.” As Pace elaborated, Rumsfeld interrupted him, saying: “But I don’t think you mean they have an obligation to physically stop it; it’s to report it.” But General Pace replied: “If they are physically present when inhumane treatment is taking place, sir, they have an obligation to try to stop it”, he said.