Rumsfeld Serves Dinner to Troops in Iraq

[Dr. Shane]

Rumsfeld Serves Dinner to Troops in Iraq

[:"blue"] "Let there be no doubt: if the United States were to withdraw from Iraq today the terrorists emboldened by their victory would attack us elsewhere in the region and at home in the United States, he said.

With an emotion that sometimes creeps into his voice when he talks about the human cost of the Iraq war, Rumsfeld said the Christmas season was a time to remember those who have been lost in combat

"You folks have helped liberate some 25 million people for whom hope was never there before," he added.

Before he spoke, Rumsfeld helped serve the soldiers a dinner of rib-eye steak, lobster, crab legs, Cornish game hens and all the seasonal fixings. Grinning widely and wearing a white cooks hat, he worked his tongs as many of the soldiers snapped pictures of him and politely asked for their helpings.

"Steaks the big seller tonight, he declared after the first several dozen soldiers had gone through the line.

It was the second straight year that Rumsfeld served Christmas Eve dinner to troops in Iraq.

Last year it was in Baghdad at a time of hope that the election of an interim government in January would deal a heavy blow to the insurgency, which nonetheless remained resilient and deadly throughout 2005. [/]

[lazarus]

I do wish that the new government will be able bring some peace and stability to Iraq but it seems unlikely. What seems more probably is that the Bush admin will seek to get out (draw down troops considerably] before the 06 elections. The US needs to be in Iraq for many years to come. My fear is that politics will continue to dictate and that will be to the detrement of the Iraqi people and long term the reputation of the US.