Rumsfeld's Flying Circus

Washington Post ^ | 5/03/03 | Vernon Loeb

[Hipixs]

ON THE DEFENSE SECRETARY'S PLANE

Somewhere between the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, time, place and date all become almost irrelevant.

But if it's Wednesday, it must be Baghdad here on Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's victory tour of the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan this week, a seven-country, seven-day, 15,300-mile whirlwind that took official U.S. government travel to the edge of combat operations.

[Hipixs]

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US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld addressing a news conference, Thursday, May 1, 2003 at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Rumsfeld, seeking to reassure allies jittery about reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, said Thursday "major combat activity" there has come to an end. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)

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U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (L) and Afghanistan (news - web sites) President Hamid Karzai shake hands during a news conference in the Afghanistan capital Kabul May 1, 2003. Secretary Rumsfeld said the U.S. had moved from a period of major combat activity to a period of stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Sherwin Crasto

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U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (L) gestures during a news conference in the Afghanistan (news - web sites) capital Kabul May 1, 2003. Secretary Rumsfeld said the U.S. had moved from a period of major combat activity to a period of stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Sherwin Crasto

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US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, left, addressing a news conference while his host Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan (news - web sites) looks on, Thursday, May 1, 2003 at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Rumsfeld, seeking to reassure allies jittery about reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, said Thursday 'major combat activity' there has come to an end. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)

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US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, left, and Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan (news - web sites) chat during their joint news conference, Thursday, May 1, 2003 at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Rumsfeld, seeking to reassure allies jittery about reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, said Thursday 'major combat activity' there has come to an end. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld speaks to U.S. special forces troops at the U.S. base in Kabul Thursday May 1, 2003. Rumsfeld declared an end to 'major combat' operations and a new era of stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan (news - web sites), 18 months after U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban regime. (AP Photo/Luke Frazza, Pool)

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld walks from a C-17 airplane as he arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan (news - web sites) Thursday May 1, 2003. (AP Photo/Luke Frazza, Pool)

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US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (R) walks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a garden in the Presidential Palace in Kabul May 1, 2003. Rumsfeld declared an end to 'major combat' operations and a new era of stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan (news - web sites), 18 months after US-led forces toppled the Taliban regime. REUTERS/Pool/Luke Frazza

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US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (L) meets with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Sabah (R) at the Dasman Palace in Kuwait City May 1, 2003. Rumsfeld is visiting the Gulf region. REUTERS/Pool/Luke Frazza

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US Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, left, takes a meal with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace in Kabul Thursday May 1, 2003. (AP Photo/Luke Frazza, Pool)

[Hipixs]

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[rabidralph]

Maybe the headline writer was trying to be cute with his Monty Python reference and maybe not, but the article clearly shows that Sec. Rumsfeld and his staff run a tight ship and things move according to plan even when there are technical difficulties.

[Polybius]

Maybe the headline writer was trying to be cute with his Monty Python reference and maybe not, but the article clearly shows that Sec. Rumsfeld and his staff run a tight ship and things move according to plan even when there are technical difficulties.

Monty Python?

This is a military thread. :-)

The first "Flying Circus" that should come to mind was the original Flying Circus: Baron Manfred von Richthofen's Jagdgeschwader No. 1 (Fighter Wing 1) whose for four Jagdstaffels (Hunting Squadrons) were always on the move, transported by train to wherever some butt needed serious kicking along the British sector of Western Front. Richthofen ran a tight ship and things moved according to plan even when there were technical difficulties.

[SevenofNine]

WHAT THE HELL this writer do Monty Python reset

HELLOO Rummy don't take no crap from nobody what with the hat Karzi I hate to be rude you don't wear animal on your head dude

That not being fashionable I don't think

[LisaFab]

Thanks for the ping. One can never tire of Rummy pix.

[secret garden]

ESL?

Hipixs, thanks for the ping.

[lainde]

Great pix...thanks for the ping!