US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid a surprise Christmas visit on Friday to troops in the Iraqi city of Mosul, scene of the deadliest attack on Americans since last year's war to oust Saddam Hussein.
Rumsfeld, who flew in amid great secrecy, visited staff and patients in a hospital at the US base where a suicide bomber infiltrated on Tuesday and killed 22 people, including 14 US military personnel and four American contractors.
He acknowledged the situation in Iraq, set to hold national elections on January 30, was difficult and to some looked bleak, but said the guerrillas would be beaten.
"There is no doubt in my mind this is achievable," he said.
"I am deeply grateful to all of you. You will look back in 10 or 20 or 30 years and know you were a part of something very important," Rumsfeld told more than 100 troops in one of Saddam's former palaces that is now part of the US base.
"I respect you. I wish you all a merry Christmas," said Rumsfeld, who has been criticised in some quarters for not showing sufficient concern for troops' welfare.
{{/usCountry}}"I respect you. I wish you all a merry Christmas," said Rumsfeld, who has been criticised in some quarters for not showing sufficient concern for troops' welfare.
{{/usCountry}}Rumsfeld said his trip to Iraq had been planned for a while but was kept secret for security reasons and that Tuesday's attack had not been a factor in selecting the northern city for a visit.
Suicide Bomber
He is due to be briefed by commanders, hours after the US military concluded a suicide bomber - probably in Iraqi military uniform - was behind the attack.
Rumsfeld acknowledged a deterioration in the security situation in the Mosul area may have been caused by the infiltration of guerrillas escaping US forces who stormed the rebel stronghold of Falluja, west of Baghdad, last month.