Bush visits Baghdad, Iraq

Baghdad - President Bush unexpectedly decided to take a trip to Iraq during his war summit at Camp David. After everyone retired for the evening at Camp David, President Bush made a sortie to Baghdad for a surprise face to face meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. President Bush departed Camp David about 9 PM, Monday evening and made the 11 hour trip to Baghdad. al-Maliki was not aware about the personal visit and found out five minutes before President Bush met with him.

al-Maliki originally thought that he would be speaking by teleconference hookup for the war summit meeting with President Bush and his advisers at the Camp David presidential retreat.

With this trip to Baghdad, President Bush sends a strong message that the United States stands firmly with the Iraqi government. President Bush is committed to the process of shifting responsibility to the Iraqi people and has faith in the al-Maliki government.

Press reports for this trip have been released while President Bush is still on the ground in Baghdad. The last time he visited Iraq as to visit United States troops for Thanksgiving, November 27, 2003. During that 2003 visit, press reports were not released until President Bush was on his way back to the United States. For his latest visit to be released while he is still on the ground in Iraq shows that the Iraqi government has come a long way and the country is more secure.

President Bush appears to be confident with the successes al-Maliki's Iraqi government. This trip is bound to drive the liberal pundits nuts. Bush shows that he is totally committed and will not cut and run, as liberal pundits would like.

Thank you Mr. President for sending the message to the Iraqi people and the world that you are behind the Iraqi government and the United States is in it for the long haul.

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