In The Iraq War Reader, Joost R. Hiltermann wrote: “As President Ronald Reagan’s special envoy for the Middle East, Rumsfeld in December 1983 made the first visit by an American official of his seniority to Baghdad, where he met President Saddam Hussein and Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz. Iraq had broken off diplomatic relations with the United States in June 1967. Now both sides hoped that the talks in Baghdad would facilitate a resumption of formal ties.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Eds. Micah L. Sifry and Christopher Cerf, The Iraq War Reader, Page 42