Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, visited an international force in Iraq. This force, commanded by Polish officers and comprising several thousand soldiers, is concentrated around the ancient ruins of Babylon, 80 kilometers south of Baghdad. On Saturday, the U.S. Secretary of Defense praised the transfer of security responsibilities in central Iraq to international forces, calling it a major achievement. Mr. Rumsfeld stated in a radio interview on Friday that Iraqis attacking coalition forces would not be able to drive them out and emphasized that Saddam Hussein would never return to power. The Secretary of Defense and other U.S. officials have suggested that more soldiers from other countries be sent to assist coalition forces in establishing security in Iraq. However, the Secretary of Defense stated that the ultimate goal is for Iraqis to take on security responsibilities. He said on Friday: 'We want Iraqis to provide more protective forces and to protect more from various locations and borders, after all, Iraq is their country.'
Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense: Saddam Hussein Will Never Return to Power - 2003-09-06
Donald Rumsfeld visited an international force in Iraq, praising the transfer of security responsibilities to them and asserting that Saddam Hussein would never return to power. He emphasized the need for Iraqis to take on more security roles while suggesting additional international troops may be needed. This reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq post-invasion.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Donald Rumsfeld visited international forces in Iraq, praising their role in security and asserting that Saddam Hussein would not return to power. He emphasized the need for Iraqis to take on more security responsibilities.
- Rumsfeld's visit highlighted the transfer of security responsibilities to international forces.
- He suggested that additional international troops may be necessary to stabilize Iraq.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. invasion of Iraq aimed to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and remove Saddam Hussein from power, leading to a prolonged conflict and instability.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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