US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld shakes hands with US troops on their way to the gulf region, during an impromptu meeting as his aircraft is refuelled on his way to the Middle East. Photo by AFP
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld flew into Iraq on Monday on a previously unannounced visit to assess security in the troubled country. Rumsfeld, making his fourth visit to Iraq since last year's US-led invasion, was greeted at Baghdad airport by U.S. administrator Paul Bremer. Protected by tight security, the Secretary immediately began holding meetings in the Baghdad area with senior US officers leading more than 100,000 troops in the country.