The President continued his visit in Ireland on Saturday with an EU summit. Saturday night, the First Couple flew to Ankara, Turkey, where they were received by the heads of state and Church.
Sunday, June 27th, the President reviewed the Turkey troops, laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Turkey's founder Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. He attended a formal photo shoot of the NATO Summit attendees, and then a welcoming dinner at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. The NATO meetings will be held on Monday and Tuesday.
In a surprise sequence of events, L. Paul Bremer signed over full sovereignty to Iraq's interim government two days ahead of schedule in surprise ceremony; Saddam to be indicted this week.
More yet to come!
Hang on everybody, ok? The end is in sight. Then I can sit back and enjoy them with y'all.
US administrator in Iraq L. Paul Bremer waves as he boards a plane at Baghdad International Airport. The United States handed power to a caretaker Iraqi government in a surprise move, ending its 14-month occupation of the country two days early apparently to thwart militants after a spate of attacks.
Amaaaaaazing. Paul Bremer has left the building.
This is what happened before Paul Bremer boarded that jet!
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (L) and President Ghazi al-Yawar congratulate each other during a swearing-in ceremony in the capital Baghdad June 28, 2004. 
U.S. administrator Paul Bremer (R) flanked by Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (2nd R) hands a letter to Iraq)'s most senior judge Midhat Mahmoud sealing the transfer of powers during a ceremony in the capital Baghdad June 28, 2004. The United States transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government on Monday, formally ending the controversial 14-month occupation two days earlier than expected.
President George W. Bush receives a note, informing the president 'Iraq is sovereign,' from U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (C), during the opening working session of the NATO Summit at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Turkey, June 28, 2004. The president returned the paper to its author, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice , after writing, 'Let freedom reign.' Secretary of State Colin Powell is at right.
Reading the note:
This is the note received by President Bush from National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, June 28, 2004, while attending the NATO (news - web sites) summit confirming Iraqi's sovereignty. The President then wrote, Let Freedom Reign!
President George W. Bush checks his watch moments after Bush received a note from U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, informing the president 'Iraq is sovereign,' during the opening working session of the NATO Summit at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Turkey, June 28, 2004. The president returned the paper to its author, U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.
Just moments later, Prime Minister Blair shakes Pres. Bush's hand in a congratulatory manner - look at the facial expression on PM Blair.
President Bush , second right, meets with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, right, as U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld , left, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell , second left, and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns, third right, look on in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday.
President George W. Bush arrives at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center to participate in a working session of NATO Monday, June 28, 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey. As Bush gathered with world leaders for a NATO summit, the administration applauded the surprise move in Baghdad welcoming the early transfer of political power and saying it was a proud day for Iraq.
President George W. Bush , left, is greeted by President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer, right, as he arrives at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center to participate in a working session of NATO Monday.
President George W. Bush shakes hands with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul (L) before the opening working session of the NATO Summit at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Turkey, June 28, 2004. From L-R in the foreground are: British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and Prime Minister Tony Blair.
President George W. Bush , left, has a word with Secretary of State Colin Powell during opening remarks at the NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday.
President George W. Bush (C) is pictured next to US Secretary of State Colin Powell (R) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair before a working session during the NATO summit in Istanbul. NATO leaders began a two-day summit at which they were to formally endorse an agreement to help Iraq train its new army and expected to approve an expansion of their forces in Afghanistan.
President George W. Bush , right, shakes hands with British Prime Minister Tony Blair , left, during the opening session of the NATO summit Monday, June 28, 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey.
President George W. Bush wears headphones as he listens to the translation of French President Jacques Chirac's remarks during the opening session of the NATO summit Monday.
Caption above picture? Pres. Bush doesn't look thrilled at Chirac's comments. I read somewhere but now can't find it that Chirac condemned the US and the President for their request for Turkey to join NATO. Nice going, Chirac. Forget which country you are in?
British Prime Minister Tony Blair , left, U.S. President George W. Bush , center, and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell listen to the opening statement during a round table meeting at a NATO summit in Istanbul, Monday June 28, 2004. NATO leaders began a two-day summit on Monday in which talks will be dominated by the issue of Iraq.
Wide angle shot of the NATO summit meeting, opening session, Monday Morning.
President George W. Bush (L) talks to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer after the opening session of the NATO summit in Istanbul, June 28, 2004. NATO leaders on Monday put behind them bitter rows over Iraq , whose security forces they will offer to train, and turned to tough talks on reshaping their alliance for new security threats.
Group Photo Time!!!
President George W. Bush talks to Polish counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski as German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder(R) watches during a photo session in Istanbul, June 28, 2004. NATO leaders at a summit meeting formally agreed on Monday to offer training to the security forces of Iraq's new interim government.
French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac, right, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, left, walk away as U.S. President George W. Bush , center, is seen talking with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer after a group photo of NATO leaders in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, June 28, 2004. Also pictured rear center are Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, behind Bush, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, behind Chirac.
I won't post a photo of Chirac and others when Pres. Bush is not in the picture but perhaps you didn't read what Chirac said. Quote from Yahoo caption of photo with Chirac and other NATO members but not including Pres. Bush - "NATO leaders tried Monday to put bitter rows over Iraq behind them with a deal to train the new Baghdad government's security forces, but France said it still opposed a formal role for the alliance there. In a further upset to a carefully fostered image of renewed transatlantic harmony, Chirac rapped President George W. Bush for his support of Turkey's bid to join the European Union, saying it was none of his business."
Well, Chirac. Thanks for your opinion on that. NOT!
President George W Bush (L) speaks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Bush insisted that US forces will remain in Iraq as long as needed to bring the country to stability.
President George W. Bush (lower 2nd R) is joined by Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski (lower R) Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov (lower L) Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (upper L) Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyssy (upper C) and Denmark Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (upper R) at the NATO heads of state family photo during the NATO Summit at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, center, shares a word with U.S. President George W. Bush , left, and Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, right, during a group photo at a NATO summit in Istanbul, Monday June 28, 2004. NATO leaders opened a summit Monday dominated by the situation in Iraq as the U.S.-led administration handed over power to an Iraqi government 48-hours ahead of schedule.
President George W. Bush , right, jokes around with photographer Larry Downing during a group photo at a NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair , left, and U.S. President George W. Bush , arrive for a joint news conference regarding Iraq on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair , left, speaks as U.S. President Bush looks on during a joint news conference regarding Iraq on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
President George W. Bush , right, answers a reporter's question as British Prime Minister Tony Blair looks on during a joint news conference regarding Iraq.
President George W. Bush walks away from the podium after a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Shaking Hands at the complection of the joint news conference.
President Bush , right, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair finish a joint news conference about Iraq on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair , left, and U.S. President Bush , leave the stage after a joint news conference.
Secretary of State Colin Powell , right, speaks with U.S. President George W. Bush , left, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld , center left, during a round table meeting at a NATO summit in Istanbul.
President George W. Bush poses with first lady Laura on arrival for a gala state dinner for the NATO summit in Istanbul June 28, 2004.
