Bush in Baghdad on surprise visit
Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/13/2006

US President George W. Bush began an unannounced five-hour visit to Baghdad June 13 for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, the speaker of parliament, and Iraqi business, cultural and educational leaders.

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 US 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."

In remarks with the Iraqi premier, Bush said they had discussed al-Maliki's security, economic, and construction strategies, "and all of it made sense to me."

"It's an impressive group of men and women," Bush said of the new government. "And if given the right help I'm convinced that you will succeed and so will the world."

Bush said he had come in order to meet face-to-face and to "tell you that when America gives its word, it will keep its word."

Describing Iraq as a "central front" in the war on terror, he said it is in the interests of the United States and the international community, as well as the Iraqi people, that the new democratic government succeeds.

By doing so, "you have dealt a serious blow to those who have a vision of darkness, who don't believe in liberty," Bush said to the Iraqi leaders.

Reporters traveling with the president were told by White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett that the purpose of the trip is to allow Bush and Prime Minister al-Maliki to meet face-to-face and for the president to get a clearer sense of al-Maliki's priorities, as well as specific ways the United States can help him meet his goals.

"It's critically important that you're able to meet with the new leader, confer with the leader who you're going to be making those decisions with," Bartlett was quoted as saying. "We are committed to the success of the new government and the Maliki plan that he is outlining."

The communications director also said the face-to-face meeting will allow the two leaders to "establish a closer relationship than you can just over a telephone."

The trip remained secret until the last moment, including from most US officials and the Iraqi government. Bush was originally scheduled to participate in a videoconference with the Iraqi government from the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland.

Bartlett said the president had wanted to come to Iraq once the final cabinet positions in the country's new government had been chosen.

He said that Prime Minister al-Maliki has also been invited to visit President Bush at the White House, but added the timing of the trip has not yet been finalized.

Previous Stories:
  Zarqawi's death not going to stop the violence   (6/9/2006)
  Iraqi key ministers not part of spoil system   (6/9/2006)
  Zarqawi killed in Iraq   (6/8/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search