Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Daily News
May 11, 2007
By Associated Press
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Vice President Cheney told U.S. troops in Iraq yesterday that he knows they're suffering hardships from extended deployments, but the longer stays are "vital to the mission."
His words were greeted with restrained applause at a rally on a U.S. military base near Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's former hometown of Tikrit.
A couple thousand soldiers, clad in camouflage uniforms and with rifles slung on their shoulders, greeted the vice president at a mess hall at Camp Speicher, the desert post near Tikrit.
Spec. Eric Emo, 23, of Sedalia, Mo., said most of his fellow soldiers are unhappy about the deployment extensions, from the current 12 months to 15 months, but understand the need for it.
In terms of hostile activity, he said, "Conditions around here have gotten a lot worse." He said there has been a particularly sharp increase in the number of roadside bombs.
On his second day in Iraq, Cheney also held classified meetings with U.S. military leaders and emerged repeating the words of the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, that "we can expect more violence."
The purpose of Cheney's trip, which will also include visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, is to persuade Arab allies to do more to help stabilize Iraq and promote ethnic reconciliation there.
Today, Cheney is to visit the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis in the Persian Gulf.
May 11, 2007
By Associated Press
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Vice President Cheney told U.S. troops in Iraq yesterday that he knows they're suffering hardships from extended deployments, but the longer stays are "vital to the mission."
His words were greeted with restrained applause at a rally on a U.S. military base near Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's former hometown of Tikrit.
A couple thousand soldiers, clad in camouflage uniforms and with rifles slung on their shoulders, greeted the vice president at a mess hall at Camp Speicher, the desert post near Tikrit.
Spec. Eric Emo, 23, of Sedalia, Mo., said most of his fellow soldiers are unhappy about the deployment extensions, from the current 12 months to 15 months, but understand the need for it.
In terms of hostile activity, he said, "Conditions around here have gotten a lot worse." He said there has been a particularly sharp increase in the number of roadside bombs.
On his second day in Iraq, Cheney also held classified meetings with U.S. military leaders and emerged repeating the words of the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, that "we can expect more violence."
The purpose of Cheney's trip, which will also include visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, is to persuade Arab allies to do more to help stabilize Iraq and promote ethnic reconciliation there.
Today, Cheney is to visit the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis in the Persian Gulf.