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Cheney visits officials, troops in IraqGerman hostage freed
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YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSBAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Vice President Dick Cheney paid a surprise visit to Iraq on Sunday, meeting with U.S. and Iraqi officials and U.S. troops. Late Sunday, the German government announced that Susanne Osthoff, a 43-year-old archeologist, had been released by her Iraqi captors. Cheney's visit was veiled in secrecy to protect the vice president and those traveling with him. Even Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari did not know he was coming. At one stop, Cheney heard from a U.S. Marine who told him, "We don't see much as far as gains." "Iraq's looking good," Cheney told him, adding that for the Bush administration, Iraq is "probably the single most important problem on our platter." (Watch as Cheney gets a look at Iraqi troops -- 2:28) He also vowed that the nation will ultimately look back on 2005 as "a watershed year" in Iraq. The vice president stopped in Baghdad as part of a six-nation tour that will also include visits to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt. Cheney's visit comes as President Bush is scheduled to make a TV address touting Thursday's elections in Iraq at 9 p.m. ET. (Full story) Cheney noted reports of relatively high turnout of Sunni Arabs, many of whom sat out the previous elections in January and complained of under-representation in the new government. Cheney cited a "huge change of attitudes" in the Sunni population and "remarkable" participation nationwide. "That's exactly what needs to happen as you build a political structure in a system of government that can unify the various segments of the population and ultimately take over responsibility for their own security," he said. The trip to Iraq was the first for the vice president since 1991 when he was Defense Secretary under President George H.W. Bush. Talabani called Cheney a "hero of liberating Iraq." Jaafari said, "We're very happy for you to see the fruits of your effort." Cheney's visit included a trip to a military base northwest of Baghdad where Iraqi army troops are trained. While there, the vice president shook hands with members of the Iraqi military and watched a demonstration by Iraqi soldiers in their tanks. Later, he gave a speech for U.S. troops at another base. "You've heard some prominent voices advocating a sudden withdrawal of our forces from Iraq," Cheney told hundreds of American service members. "Some have suggested that the war is not winnable and a few seem almost eager to conclude the struggle is already over. But they are wrong. The only way to lose this fight is to quit, and that is not an option." Cheney also met with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad; Army General John Abizaid, head of Central Command; and George Casey, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq. "We have an opportunity to meet with our team that's been responsible, I think, for a great many successes so far in this effort," Cheney said. Separately, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has visited Australian troops based in southern Iraq's Al Muthana province, his office told CNN. Downer is also expected to meet Iraqi ministers. About 450 Australian troops provide security for Japanese engineers working on reconstruction efforts near the southern town of Samawa. The Australians are also training local Iraqi Army units. German hostage releasedA German woman held hostage in Iraq has been freed, Germany's foreign minister said Sunday. Susanne Osthoff, a 43-year-old archaeologist, was kidnapped November 25, along with her Iraqi driver. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier read a statement Sunday indicating that the driver has not been freed. He did not say what events led to Osthoff's release, but he said she is safe in the German Embassy in Baghdad. Osthoff, a convert to Islam, has lived in Iraq for 10 years and served in various aid projects. Three people killed in BaghdadRoadside bombs killed three people in separate Baghdad incidents Sunday, Iraqi emergency police said. Two police officers died Sunday morning when a bomb hit their patrol near al-Mustansiriya University in the northeastern section of the capital. A woman died and 15 people were wounded when a bomb went off near the shrine of al-Sharif al-Rahdhi in the Kadhimiya neighborhood of northwestern Baghdad, police said. Al-Zarqawi sentenced in JordanA military court in Jordan has sentenced Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to death, the AP reported Sunday. Al-Zarqawi, a native of Jordan, was convicted in absentia for a failed suicide bombing along the border with Iraq in December 2004. Two other men were convicted, the AP said, including one who was arrested after the alleged attack. Prosecutors said al-Zarqawi ordered the car-bomb attack against civilians, but the vehicle crashed in a ditch, disabling the bomb, the AP reported. (Full story) CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report. Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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