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Cheney and Rumsfeld visit troops, attend inauguration

By Master Sgt. Terry Anderson
December 7, 2004

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (Army News Service Nov. 7, 2004) --Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited troops here Dec. 7 before attending the Afghanistan Presidential inauguration in the capital of Kabul.

Cheney and Rumsfeld arrived at Bagram early and had breakfast with troops at two different locations on Bagram, applauding their efforts in the Global War on Terrorism.

"A watching world has seen once again that the U.S. military is one of the greatest forces for good on this earth," said Cheney. "You're giving some of the best years of your lives in service to your country at the time when we need you the most. Your work is part of the worldwide campaign against terror. Your task is immense, it is urgent, and it is vital for our countries freedom and security. Your children and my grandchildren will live in freedom because of what you are doing today."

More than 200 troops from Combined Joint Task Force 76 attended an early morning breakfast at the Viper Dining Facility for the opportunity to eat with Cheney and his wife Lynne. He re-enlisted 30 Soldiers and pinned on medals ranging from the Army Commendation Medal to the Bronze Star on several service members.

Cheney told the Soldiers that the war on terror is going to be a long fight, and will take tremendous resolve.

"America's willingness to lead the fight against terror has come at a cost," he said.

"We've lost some of the finest people in our military whose names we will honor forever. Recently, we experienced the great loss of Lt. Col. Mike McMahon, a cavalryman with 3/4th Cav. By their sacrifice and your continuing mission, we will one day overcome the threat of terror."

Cheney is the highest-ranking American official to visit Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.

Rumsfeld toured Camp Vance, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force compound on Bagram, and had breakfast with Soldiers there. Special Operations troops are spread out across Afghanistan, fighting insurgents and helping the Afghan people reclaim their country after 30 years of war.

He said the coalition's presence has had a huge impact in Afghanistan.

"Twenty-five million people have been liberated," said Rumsfeld. "These (Soldiers) right here will look back in five years and know they have been a part of something enormously important for this part of the world."

He also said that the mission to liberate Afghanistan continues.

"There are still groups, extremists, that would like to take this country back - the Taliban, the al-Qaida - and use it for a base for terrorist activities around the world as they did on 9-11," Rumsfeld said. "But it's not going to happen."

Following their breakfasts and briefings, Cheney and Rumsfeld boarded Chinook helicopters for the 25-minute flight to Kabul, where they attended Afghan President Hamid Karzai's historic inauguration ceremony at the royal palace.

(Editor's note: Master Sgt. Anderson is the CJTF-76 public affairs noncommissioned officer in charge.)