Please, step into my office.
Posted on 10/09/2004 10:40:28 AM PDT by FairOpinion
Donald Rumsfeld Gathers 18 Allies for At-Sea Conference to Talk Terror War in Iraq, Afghanistan.
ABOARD THE USS JOHN F. KENNEDY Oct. 9, 2004 — In a cramped war room below deck, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Saturday joined 18 of his counterparts from an unusual collection of U.S. partners in the terrorism fight in discussing the way ahead in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On a hot and hazy day in the central Persian Gulf, Rumsfeld thanked the defense chiefs for their support. They also held a live, two-way video teleconference from the aircraft carrier with Army Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. Casey described the U.S. goal of bringing all of Iraq under friendly control.
Rumsfeld began the meeting by noting the milestone elections in Afghanistan and stressing that it was achieved despite the kind of doubt that some now express for Iraq's prospects.
It was one of the most usual groups of defense chiefs ever to assemble on an American aircraft carrier.
They came from Gulf nations such as Qatar and Bahrain; NATO allies, including Hungary, Poland and Romania; aspiring alliance members such as Albania and Azerbaijan; former Soviet republics such as Estonia and Lithuania; and new U.S. partners in the terrorism fight, including Macedonia and Georgia.
Also in attendance was the minister from Mongolia, which has 173 troops in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Well, if France and Germany aren't there, then it's a pointless exercise.
(For those of you in Broward County, I'm being sarcastic).
Please, step into my office.
Another excerpt from the article shows that we have a plan to deal with the Iraqi insurgents ( we don't need Kerry's "mystery plan") and that Iraqis are optimistic.
"The rest of the session was closed to reporters. Rumsfeld's spokesman, Lawrence Di Rita, said afterward that Casey explained in general terms the U.S.-Iraqi plan to use a combination of negotiations and military force to break the insurgents' grip on Fallujah and other important cities before the elections.
"He laid out the idea that he and the Iraqis have worked on this together," Di Rita said.
Iraq's defense minister, Hazem Shaalan, expressed optimism about his country's future, Di Rita said, and was "clearly proud of how they're doing."
They will also get something done without, and this is a bonus, the enemy finding out!
Brings a whole new meaning to "Corporate Raider", smacks of Monty Python as well.
The defense minister's also experienced the thrill of a lifetime:
"The defense ministers had the unusual experience of landing on the carrier in a C-2 twin-engine turboprop jet. It screeched to a halt as the metal hook on the underside of its tail grabbed a cable stretched across the deck.
"Perfect!" a grinning Rumsfeld called the landing as he and his guests gathered for a group photo. "
I can't find the photo on the net.
But, but we have no allies!
If Kerry gets elected, our only "allies" will be France and Germany, who have vowed to do nothing to help in Iraq. Kerry has trashed all the countries who are helping us now.
Ha!
A little razzle-dazzle for the little guys.
Whew! With a little more practice I should be able to get commisioned to do artwork in Livermore, CA.
Just shoot me now.
18 allies???
Wait a minute!!!
I thought we were going it ALONE!!!
What really ticks me off is when Kerry sometimes mentions WWII and our allies (coalition) then. Who exactly does jackass think we had with us?
There was England, Canada, Australia and Russia - PERIOD.
And who pray tell took the brunt of the allied casualties (besides Russia) -- the USA. And as to the cost, that was again the USA, as we basically armed all our allies.
Note; The French Resistance doesn't count -- according to Kerry's methodology. Plus they were commies and I HATE commies.
(For those of you in Broward County, I'm being sarcastic).
You forgot Rio Linda (just kiddin ^..^)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (C) poses aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, October 9, 2004 in the Persian Gulf near Bahrain with his counterparts from 18 other countries considered allies in the war on terrorism. From left, Czech Republic's Karel Kuehnl, Bahrain's Khalifa bin Ahmed al Khalifa, Albania's Pandeli Majko, Latvia's Atis Slakteris, Macedonia's Vlado Buckovski, Qatar's unidentified defense minister, Romania's Joan Mircea Pascu, Lithuania's Linas Linkevicius, Rumsfeld, Estonia's Margus Hanson (hidden), Denmark's Soeren Gade, Iraq's Hazim al Sha'laan, Bulgaria's Nikolai Svinarov (hidden), Mongolia's Badarchiin Erdenebat, Georgia's Georgy Baramidze, Azerbaijan's Safar Abiyev, Poland's Jerzy Szmajdzinski, Hungary's Ferenc Juhasz (hidden), Ukraine's Oleksandr Kuzmuk. REUTERS/POOL/Susan Walsh
Thanks for posting the picture!
Damn unilateralist.
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