President Bush made a surprise visit to Baghdad on Tuesday to look the new Iraqi prime minister “in the eye” and demonstrate U.S. support for the fledgling unity government.
“I?ve come to not only look you in the eye, I?ve also come to tell you that when America gives its word, it will keep its word,” Bush told Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. “It?s in our interests that Iraq succeed.”
Bush later gave an emotional talk to U.S. troops in Baghdad, which he had not visited since Thanksgiving 2003. “Thought I?d stop in to say hello,” he deadpanned, drawing laughter and applause. “I bring greetings from a grateful nation. I thank you for your sacrifice, I thank you for your service, I thank you for making history.”
The biggest cheer from the troops came when Bush made a reference to the death last week of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi at the hands of U.S. forces.
“Our military will stay on the offense,” he said. “We will continue to hunt down people like Mr. Zarqawi, and bring them to justice.”
Bush had been quietly planning the trip for months, waiting for the completion of Iraq?s unity government. When the final ministers were appointed last week, the president and a small group of confidantes put the finishing touches on plans for the trip, which was kept secret for security reasons.
“I have come today to personally show our nation?s commitment to a free Iraq,” Bush said. “My message to the Iraqi people is this: Seize the moment; seize this opportunity to develop a government of and by and for the people.”
Maliki, who was given just five minutes? notice that Bush had arrived in person for a meeting that was supposed to take place over a secure video conference, pledged “to form a broad national front to face the challenges.”
“We are determined to succeed and we have to defeat terrorism,” he told Bush. “Our country will stay united. It will stay strong.”
Neither leader announced a timetable for the drawdown of U.S. forces, although Maliki said he looked forward to such a time.
“God willing, all of the suffering will be over, and all of the soldiers will be able to return to their countries with our gratitude for what they have offered,” he said.
Bush said the struggle in Iraq amounts to a crossroads of history.
“This is a moment, this is a time where the world can turn one way or the other, where the world can be a better place or a more dangerous place,” he told the U.S. troops. “And the United States of America and citizens such as yourself are dedicated to making sure that the world we leave behind is a better place for all.”
