Rumsfeld meets with Oklahoma soldiers

Members of an Oklahoma National Guard unit got a chance to meet with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld this weekend. <br><br>Members of the 120th Engineering Battalion saw Rumsfeld during a refueling

Monday, February 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Members of an Oklahoma National Guard unit got a chance to meet with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld this weekend.

Members of the 120th Engineering Battalion saw Rumsfeld during a refueling stop in Ireland. The Oklahoma troops are starting a one year tour in Iraq. Rumsfeld thanked the guard members for their service, and talked about the possible role of al-Qaeda in the on-going violence in Iraq.

Donald Rumsfeld: "There's a coincidence of instances with terror networks and former regime elements, plus, some criminals."

Rumsfeld says al-Qaeda is "involved and active" in Iraq. And he says terrorists are trying to stir up ethnic and religious fighting.