US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived Saturday in Kirkuk - his first stop on a visit to Iraq. Rumsfeld arrived in Iraq to get a first-hand evaluation of political and military conditions in the war-torn country.
The US top official is expected to meet local political leaders and occupation soldiers and commanders and is expected to visit Baghdad later in the day to hold talks with military commanders, US civil administrator Paul Bremer and the head of the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC).
According to Reuters, in the course of a briefing with Major General Ray Odierno, commander of the US 4th Infantry Division, Rumsfeld, speaking of attempts to track down senior "wanted men" on the US list, including ousted leader Saddam Hussein, said, "The chances of us stumbling on one of the top guys are zero."
Rumsfeld later flew to Baghdad, where he was met at Baghdad International Airport by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of all coalition forces in Iraq. (Albawaba.com)
