Posted on 06/13/2006 4:00:19 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, June 13, 2006 – President Bush arrived in Baghdad today on a surprise visit to new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Bush had been meeting at Camp David, Md., with his national security team to discuss the way forward in Iraq. He was to have met with Maliki and other Iraqi leaders via teleconference today, but traveled to Baghdad in secret overnight.
He shook hands with a surprised looking Maliki in front of television cameras at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad this evening local time.
Speaking at Camp David yesterday evening, Bush said the United States is resolved to assist the new democratic Iraqi government, the performance of which will ultimately determine victory or defeat in Iraq.
"We all agree that we have got to continue to help this new government move forward," Bush told reporters after a day of meetings with senior advisers including Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace.
"Success in Iraq will depend upon the capacity of the new government to provide for its people. We recognize that," Bush said.
The senior-level meetings and Bush's surprise trip come on the heels of two major successes in Iraq. On June 7, the Iraqi government announced the long-awaited appointment of its defense and interior ministers and the country's head of national security, just a day after al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed near Baqubah during an attack by U.S. military aircraft.
Bush yesterday said he was encouraged by progress in the formation of the new Iraqi government, noting the United States recognizes its responsibility to help that new government.
Asked by reporters about Zarqawi's apparent successor, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, Bush replied: "I think the successor to Zarqawi is going to be on our list to bring to justice."
Reporters also quizzed the president on how the U.S. and the Iraqi government can defeat an insurgency that continues to conduct deadly attacks. Establishing democracy in Iraq, Bush said, is a difficult and dangerous endeavor that's worth the cost.
The insurgents "have no positive philosophy," the president said. "All they can do is kill and hope that the government splits up or that the American people lose their will."
The Iraqis can help themselves by establishing a strong, fair and capable new government, Bush said.
"The best way to win this war against an insurgency is to stand up a unity government which is capable of defending itself, but also providing tangible benefits to the people," Bush said. Iraq is a rich country, he said, with plentiful resources to share among all of its citizens.
But Iraqis must decide to become a unified people in order to combat terror, defeat the insurgency and live in peace, Bush said. "And the United States and our coalition will help them realize their ambitions if they choose to live in peace and hope, which we believe they will."
(AFPS reporter Kathy Rhem contributed to this article.)
Enjoying that this made RAT Heads explode.
Again?
I could swear this happened some hours ago....
(just joshin' ya, SandRat)
this on top of finding out that Karl Rove is not being indicted, the RATS gotta be severely depressed
Good information discipline - everyone thought he'd be in Camp David, and he is not. Kudos. If only he could enforce the same discipline on the intelligence and military apparates.
Looks like he understands the Russian term "Maskirovka" Offensive Deception.
That is because they are the "FEEL GOOD" party:
They are POLL DRIVEN. "Finger-in-the-air populism" thats what they are now. How sad.
I grew up a Democrat. My father was an Democratic Alderman. My Grandmother was a Democratic party organizer.
That was when they actually had an ETHOS. Now they have...well...themselves. How sad is that?
"Maskirovka" [derivation from "maskirovat' ="to mask": masking, camouflage] pertains to any deception, offensive or not. I would go to a much older quote from Sun Tzu instead: "when near, appear to be far away; when far away, appear to be near..."
"Enjoying that this made RAT Heads explode."
And somewhere, on the other side of the world,
Internet "detectives" are trying to solve the
"puzzle" of what flight number and exact flight route
did President Bush take on Thanksgiving, 2004,
when he went to Iraq the 1st time.
You see these "detectives" just can't believe
President Bush since they didn't
get a copy of his flight plan and route 1st.
Guess these "detectives" never heard of
Loose Lips Sink Ships
when they "demand" that
US government and military transport information
be posted on the internet.
Bush did a great job as usual!
Go Bush!
:-D
Ahhhh....life is good. The lib heads are exploding.
We forgot that a Republican was sworn into Conmgress to represent the 50th Dist in CA to replace Duke Cunningham too.
If you can catch Rush Limbaugh on replay, do so.
His first hour, he told how the White House reporters were put on a bus this morning and told they were on the way to Camp David........
Half way there, they told them that the President was in Iraq...
I am still laughing at Rush, he loved telling the story.
I missed the second hour, but the third hour was fantastic, his report on the Hollywood stars, sitting in a tree....
I laughed until I cried.
And I am not even a big Rush fan.
I was very pleased to hear that Rush had made another trip to Iraq. Brave man.
If you find the reporters who went with him, their stories were good last time and I would like to read the new ones, please ping me.
I love watching the left have fits and try to find a way to spin these stories.........LOL.
Rove and a trip to Iraq, priceless day's news.
The MI folks knew, and didn't talk.
Wow...I forgot that. Yep...a good day. :)
What a surprise that must have been for the troops
Bump
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