By Jacquelyn S. Porth
Washington File Security Affairs Writer

Washington -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld opened his March 12 town hall meeting at the Pentagon by offering his condolences to the people of Spain for the nearly 200 known dead and thousands of others who were injured March 11 in multiple train bombings.

"Spain is a valued and key partner in the global war on terror, so our hearts and prayers go out to all of those friends that we have across the Atlantic," he said, noting that the number of those killed in Spain corresponds roughly to the number of Americans killed during the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon.

Rumsfeld, and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace drew attention to the upcoming one-year anniversary of coalition military action in Iraq -- "Operation Iraq Freedom," which officially began on March 19, 2003 -- and they thanked the military and civilian personnel who support this and other military missions around the globe.

In a question-and-answer session with employees, Rumsfeld also sought to address the changing relationships he has witnessed during his two terms as secretary of defense. Rumsfeld said the terrorist acts on September 11 and continuing acts of terrorism in all regions have "jarred the world." It has also brought together some 90 nations into one of "the broadest coalitions in the history of the world," he said.

Cooperative endeavors to liberate both Afghanistan and Iraq have brought about new relationships for the United States. The secretary also pointed to enhanced relations with countries in South Asia, pointing to India and Pakistan as examples. Relationships in the Western Hemisphere are critically important as well, he said, as evidenced by recent events in Haiti.

Historical alliances with Japan, South Korea and other nations in Northeast Asia continue to be "enormously important," the secretary said, "and we've put new energy into NATO."

Another monumental event -- the demise of the Soviet Union -- prompted the emergence of a whole new set of important relationships and, as a result, Rumsfeld said he travels now to places like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan -- locations that, in the past, would not have hosted an American cabinet member.

In conclusion, Rumsfeld said new linkages have been created and existing ones strengthened "with a good number of countries that over the previous 50 years" were not traditional locations visited by American secretaries of defense and state.