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Rumsfeld to Troops: 'Give Me an Easy One'
Friday, April 26, 2002
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service

Short

KISHBEK, Kyrghyzstan -- AFIS
American and coalition troops here at Ganci Air Base had a chance today to ask the U.S. defense secretary questions. And they were ready for him.

Donald H. Rumsfeld arrived mid-afternoon from Washington to greet troops and tour the base. It was his first stop on a five-day trip through Central Asia. After he finished his formal troop talk on the war on terrorism, Rumsfeld opened the floor to questions -- but he had one caveat.

"I just flew all night and I'm just getting warmed up, so give me an easy one," said the secretary who's known for his terse, forthright style and candid humor. A U.S. Air Force staff sergeant obliged with Rumsfeld's request.

"How long do you expect we'll stay in Kyrgyzstan?" the staff sergeant asked. To which Rumsfeld replied, "As long as necessary! And I must say, God bless the folks in Kyrgyzstan for being so hospitable and for welcoming this coalition force."

The next question came from a U.S. Air Force major regarding the situation in Israel, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah's visit to Texas and whether the United States was willing to put troops in Israel.

"Well," Rumsfeld remarked. "She said she had 'a' question and she had three. I asked for an easy one and she gave me a tough three."
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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