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Presenter: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld November 21, 2006

Press Availability with Secretary Rumsfeld and Afghan MInister of Defense Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak from the Pentagon

            SEC. RUMSFELD: I would like to say one thing. Let me just take a minute on a separate subject.
 
            My apologies, Minister Wardak.
 
            I have just received the news about the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, and I must say that family has suffered a great deal. Bashir Gemayel was assassinated back in the early 1980s, and his brother Amin became president, and this is Amin's son. And it is a -- certainly a tragedy for Lebanon and for those in Lebanon and in that part of the world who believe in peace and representative systems.
 
            Thank you, folks.
 
            Q     Mr. Secretary, how --
 
            Q     (Off mike) -- in Iraq?
 
            Q     (Off mike) -- this latest initiative from Iraq -- from Iran and Syria is helpful or not?
 
            (No response as Sec. Rumsfeld leaves the microphones.)