Rumsfeld Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq

[Barrett808]

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari upon his arrival in Baghdad on a surprise visit Wednesday.

Jaafari told a joint press conference with Rumsfeld in Baghdad that the two reviewed and evaluated the performance and efficiency of Iraqi security forces and agreed that they need to be further trained and equipped.

Jaafari said the readiness of Iraqi forces in handling and controlling security will reduce the period of presence of U.S.-led foreign troops in Iraq.

Rumsfeld described the talks as very good stressing there is a joint interest in building strong Iraqi forces. He said Iraq needs to be more aggressive in its stance against interference from its neighbors, such as Syria and Iran, and the borders with those countries should be shut to stem the flow of insurgents.

"They need to be aggressively communicating with their neighbors to see that foreign terrorists stop coming across those borders and that their neighbors do not harbor insurgents and finance insurgents in a way that is destructive of what the Iraqi people are trying to accomplish," Rumsfeld said.

His comments seemed to echo those by Iraqi Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi, who said Tuesday Syria ignores demands by Iraqis to stop the infiltration of terrorists. Al-Dulaimi's comments were made during a news conference about a nationwide security plan to be implemented in coming days.

Rumsfeld was later to meet U.S. military commanders and troops.

http://www.woc1420.com/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=422790&pagecontent=nationalnews&feed_id=59

[MercutioATC]

1. Any pics of Rummy and Jaafari?

I'm starting a collection of pics of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Iraqi leaders.

:eyes:

[DFWJock]

2. Hey Rummy

Feel free to stay. Watch for flying rose petals though.

[DanCa]

6. welcome to DU DFWJOCK

Yeah didn't Rummy say that we'd be greeted with flowers and hugs?

[AmandaRuth]

3. yes and someone from Iraq asked him

(or it was an American general with him), when the Americans will be leaving, and the answer was along the lines of if things go well, there will be a draw down of troops in the spring of 2006.

Yes, I thought, just in time for the 2006 elections. And it will be politicized for the benefit of the repubs. To pack the house and senate, to pack the courts, and after the elections, to use Iraq as a base to march into Iran and Syria. This is so obvious to me.

[Demeter]

4. Time To Throw More Money At Iraq

Rummy doing a bag run.

Case of good dollars after bad.

[daleo]

5. Or is Rummy picking up money?

I think those bag runs work both ways with this bunch.

[otohara]

7. Why Are These Visits Always A "Surprise"

hmmm...??? They make it sound like a happy thing?

[cliss]

8. That's our "Mystery Shopper", Good Ole Don.

Notice, all his "surprise visits"? When has he ever travelled to Iraq, and it was expected?

What does he think, that he'll catch them doing some bad deeds, and he'll find out?

What a joke. What a "surprise" :smoke:

[Judi Lynn]

9. Could be he dropped in to share some of his poetry...

The Digital Revolution
Oh my goodness gracious,
What you can buy off the Internet
In terms of overhead photography!

A trained ape can know an awful lot
Of what is going on in this world,
Just by punching on his mouse
For a relatively modest cost!

—June 9, 2001, following European trip

http://slate.msn.com/id/2081042/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are honored to have such a great man plotting against the entire world on our behalf.

[Ilsa]

10. Yeah, the occupation is going so well, that US officials have

to come undercover for fear of a massive attack to assassinate them. I wonder if Bush* is going over there during his upcoming vacation?

[Theduckno2]

11. This seems to be a "As long as I was in the neighborhood" visit.

The main reason for Rumsfeld's trip was the status of US bases in Kyrgystan and Uzbekistan.
Just what the region needs a more aggressive Iraq! :sarcasm:
By the way 'period of presence' = occupation.

[jaysunb]

12. wish he'd stay....

n/t