U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD ARRIVED HERE TODAY ON A VISIT TO SHOW AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S NEW LEADER. RUMSFELD FLEW INTO BAGHDAD UNANNOUNCED ABOARD A C-17 MILITARY CARGO PLANE FOR HIS FIRST TRIP TO IRAQ SINCE DECEMBER, AND HELD MEETINGS WITH GENERAL GEORGE CASEY, THE U.S. COMMANDER, REUTERS REPORTED. RUMSFELD SAID HE ALSO WOULD MEET PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE JAWAD AL-MALIKI AND OTHER IRAQI LEADERS. HE STRESSED THE POSITIVE: "THIS IS A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY AND THEY ARE MAKING IMPRESSIVE PROGRESS," RUMSFELD SAID. HE SAID "THE NEXT BENCHMARK" FOR IRAQI LEADERS WAS TO FORM A CABINET OF "PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPETENT, PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF RUNNING MINISTRIES NOT AS SECTARIAN MINISTRIES BUT AS MINISTRIES FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY". HE ALSO SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THE NEW GOVERNMENT FIGHT CORRUPTION AND ESTABLISH THEIR INFLUENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. RUMSFELD SAID HE EXPECTED THE UNITED STATES TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE STATUS OF U.S. FORCES IN THE COUNTRY AND THE MILITARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM.
