By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Members of the Tristate's congressional delegation used words like "reprehensible" and "horrific" to describe the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of U.S. soldiers.

But none of the men who represent Greater Cincinnati in Congress is calling for the resignation of the secretary of defense over the escalating scandal.

Except for some nuances of where the buck should stop - nuances that take on added significance in this election year - area Democrats and Republicans alike are taking a similar stance: All said the perpetrators of the abuse should be tried, convicted, dishonorably discharged and imprisoned. All said the actions of a few soldiers should not smear the great work that 135,000 U.S. troops are accomplishing in Iraq.

But few area lawmakers have been openly critical of President Bush's handling of the matter.

Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood, said it would be "inappropriate" to join the call of some Democrats for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign.

"I think he's done an incredibly good job under very difficult circumstances," said Chabot, who added that the Abu Ghraib prison scandal should not change the mission in Iraq.

In fact, of the 13 congressmen and senators who represent the Tristate, only one - Democratic Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh - has even suggested that Rumsfeld should consider stepping down.

It was Bayh's exchange with Rumsfeld that provided one of the most-replayed television moments of last week's congressional hearings.

"Would it serve to demonstrate how seriously we take this situation, and therefore help to undo some of the damage to our reputation, if you were to step down?" Bayh asked.

"It's possible," Rumsfeld conceded.

Bayh later said on Fox News Sunday that he's not calling for Rumsfeld's resignation.

"I don't really think that his stepping down would placate those in the Arab world who have a problem with us at this point. And he's carrying out the president's policies. This is really a question about presidential leadership," Bayh said. "You don't throw a subordinate over the side just to save your own skin."

Some soldiers at the prison, speaking through lawyers, have said they were following orders or operating at the request of civilian contractors when they stripped Iraqi prisoners naked, forced them into simulated sexual positions, and used dogs to attack and intimidate them.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said last week that civilian contractors could be prosecuted under a law written by Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine in 2000. The law is known as the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act.

Rep. Ken Lucas, a conservative Democrat who represents Northern Kentucky, said the president was right to apologize but that the administration should also expedite monetary reparations for victims.

"I think it sets us back decades with the people of the Arab and Muslim world. It goes against everything we as a nation stand for," he said. Also disturbing, he said, was that higher-ups in the military appeared to be condoning - if not encouraging - the acts.

Still, Lucas complained that the issue is too important to be caught up in partisan wrangling.

"The Democrats are too quick to call for the resignation, and the Republicans are too quick to try to cover it up. Both sides are guilty. Both sides should be more measured in what they have to say."

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com