Defense secretary makes surprise visit to Iraq
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says violence in Iraq will probably get worse before next year's election, but he also brought a glimmer of hope to U-S troops. During a surprise visit to 15-hundred U-S Marines at an air base in western Iraq today Rumsfeld said Iraqi security forces could be strong enough by january to allow some troop withdrawals. It's the first time Rumsfeld has openly mentioned the possibility of reducing U-S troop strength as early as the beginning of next year.
It's the Defense Secretary's first trip to Iraq since its interim government was installed in June.
Rumsfeld is also paying his first visit to Anbar province, an insurgent stronghold that includes the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah. The trip wasn't announced in advance for security reasons.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
