>In Washington on Friday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld denied
>Iraq was falling into chaos, saying television images of isolated
>acts of looting and violence were being played "over and over again"
>for sensational effect.
>
>"It's untidy. And freedom's untidy. And free people are free to make
>mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things," stormed Rumsfeld, his
>hand chopping the air for emphasis in response to reporters'
>questions at a Pentagon (news - web sites) briefing.
>
>"It is a fundamental misunderstanding to see those images over and
>over and over again of some boy walking out (of a building) with a
>vase and say 'Oh my goodness you didn't have a plan' -- That's
>nonsense," he told reporters.
>
>In Baghdad, gunmen apparently from the Shi'ite Muslim community in
>the east-side slums battled paramilitaries loyal to Saddam
>overnight, U.S. military sources said.
>
>Throughout the day, armed men and youths roamed the streets, robbing
>buildings and hijacking cars.