Chinese School - Rice, Rumsfeld encouraged by Iraqi leader

WORLD / Middle East

Rice, Rumsfeld encouraged by Iraqi leader
(AP)
Updated: 2006-04-27 19:16

President Bush's top defense and diplomatic aides were encouraged by the
grit of Iraq's newly selected leader but the Americans' itinerary on
their second day of an unannounced visit underscored the difficulties
ahead for U.S. forces and the emerging Iraqi government.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, center, speaks to the press as
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, left, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
Zalmay Khalilzad look on after morning meetings at the U.S. Embassy Annex
in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, April 27, 2006. Rice and Rumsfeld are in
Baghdad to meet with U.S. officials and in support of the new Iraqi
government officials. [AP]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld began his day Thursday with a
briefing on the latest programs and technologies to counter increasingly
sophisticated roadside bombs that are a prime killer of U.S. forces in
Iraq.

He and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later heard from U.S.
diplomats advising Iraq's troubled Interior Ministry, which oversees
security and police forces that are hobbled by corruption and riven by
sectarian loyalties.

The double-barreled show of support from Rumsfeld and Rice for Iraq's
first permanent democratic government was meant to resonate in Iraq and
among Americans, whose frustration with the war effort has helped drive
Bush's poll numbers to new lows.

Rumsfeld said the first step in regaining momentum after a four-month
political deadlock in Iraq will be setting up and staffing competent
government ministries and continuing to build stronger Iraqi security
forces.

"The impression that the people of this country will have of the
government will be the impression that Secretary Rice and I garnered from
our meetings," Rumsfeld said Thursday.

"They are serious people and they recognize the difficulties of the task
they are facing. They intend to get about he task of governing this
country in a responsible way."

Rice called the new leadership determined and focused.

The pair held back-to-back sessions with Iraq's seven newly selected
leaders, capped by a dinner Wednesday night of Middle Eastern mezze, fish
and fattoush salad at the residence of the U.S. ambassador, Zalmay
Zhalilzad.

Khalilzad had pushed hard on the country's squabbling factions to resolve
a four-month political stalemate that sapped Iraqi and American
confidence following the emotional high of successful Iraqi elections in
December.

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