Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz visits Afghanistan

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz arrived in Afghanistan Jan. 14. Army Lt. Gen. Dan McNeill, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 180, welcomed the deputy to the Afghan base, where Wolfowitz met with U.S. and coalition troops and military officials and toured a road construction site.

The deputy also traveled to the capital city of Kabul to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Defense Minister Fahim Khan and other Afghan leaders.  Along with the meetings, Wolfowitz observed a live-fire exercise at the Afghan national army training range and visited the Rabia Balki Women's Hospital.

While in Kabul, Wolfowitz also visited the International Security Assistance Force, another part of the Afghan security picture. Troop visits and equipment inspections of the Dutch, German, Spanish and Turkish contingents are on his agenda. Establishing the international force was crucial to maintaining the neutrality of the capital, the official said.

Wolfowitz returned to Washington Jan. 17.  He also visited Germany and Belguim.

Remarks
01/16/2003:  Remarks During Working Lunch in Germany
01/15/2003:  Media Availability at Bagram Air Base
01/15/2003:  Media Availability at Rabia Balki Women's Hospital
01/15/2003:  Media Availability with Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah;