by Christi Parsons
President Bush today made a surprise, farewell trip to Baghdad, where he said the war in Iraq has been difficult but necessary for the cause of world peace.
Bush met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and other leaders, emerging afterward to praise their recent agreement on the continued presence of American forces in Iraq and its potential to advance freedom in the country.
The agreement is "a reminder of our friendship," he said, according to a White House transcript, and "a way forward to help the Iraqi people realize the blessings of a free society."
"The work hasn't been easy," Bush said, "but it has been necessary for American security, Iraqi hope and world peace."
The visit comes just more than a month before Bush will turn over management of the war to President-elect Barack Obama and his new administration. Six years after the war began, the president who launched it is making what is expected to be one final tour of a nation where almost 150,000 American troops are still deployed.
The president left Washington on the unannounced trip on Saturday night, arriving for a greeting ceremony before a series of meetings with Talabani and other Iraqi leaders.
Leaders of the two countries earlier this month negotiated a security agreement that calls for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011. Iraqi forces are set to take over security beginning in June.
Seated beside Talabani after their meeting with the other Iraqi officials, Bush offered public praise for their leadership.
"I've known these men for a long time, and I've come to admire them for their courage and their determination to succeed," he said.
Talabani referred to Bush as a "great friend" who "helped to liberate" his country.
"Thanks to him and his courageous leadership, we are here," Talabani said, according to the transcript.
After his meeting with Talabani and vice presidents Tariq al-Hashemi and Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Bush left to visit Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the prime minister's palace.
The two leaders planned a ceremonial signing of the security agreement, according to an Associated Press report.
The trip proved that the U.S.-Iraq relationship was changing, "with Iraqis rightfully exercising greater sovereignty" and the U.S. "in an increasingly subordinate role," national security adviser Stephen Hadley told the AP reporter on the trip.
The trip is likely to be Bush's last before he leaves office on Jan. 20 and Obama is sworn in.
"I'm just so grateful I had the chance to come back to Iraq before my presidency ends," Bush said.
Comments
Returning to the scene of the crime, eh?
Posted by: Flo | December 14, 2008 11:38 AM
Yesterday Bush's "radio address" was devoted to praising himself in regard to the "war on drugs".
Now, he parachutes into his magnificent experiment in democracy-building, to tell us how magnificent it all is!
If only saying so could make it so.
Posted by: ornery | December 14, 2008 12:33 PM
I hope they keep him there.
Posted by: Lorenzan J | December 14, 2008 1:54 PM
Benigna Marko was in shock to see how this reporter just threw his shoes at the President. The bottom line, President George W. Bush is in great shape, he dodged both throws. Benigna Marko could not believe what had occured but smiled as the President came up and din't feel too much of the stupidity. What will happen to the show thrower - what an examples of no good. Benigna Marko
Posted by: Benigna marko | December 14, 2008 2:04 PM
His next victory lap will be in New Orleans, then Darfur and then Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. All the places his presidency has either failed or enabled. Frankly, based on what he's done to empower a nation, his greatest reception would be Iran.
Posted by: osage | December 14, 2008 2:25 PM
The Bush legacy:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7782422.stm
Posted by: C.Morris | December 14, 2008 2:35 PM
I've heard it reported an Iraqi reporter threw shoes at him and called him a dog at a press conference.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | December 14, 2008 3:35 PM
The conquering, albeit delusional, hero. Photo ops for his presidential library where there's a dearth of material for public display.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ✌ | December 14, 2008 4:01 PM
An Iraqi journalist stood up and threw his shoe at Bush during this press conference..
It figures that the RNC/Republican operated Swamp wouldn't bother to report this.
Posted by: Fire Yourself | December 14, 2008 4:03 PM
Quoting:
"An Iraqi journalist was wrestled to the floor by security guards after he called Mr Bush "a dog" and threw his footwear, just missing the president.
"The soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture.
"In the middle of the news conference with Mr Maliki, a reporter stood up and shouted "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," before hurtling his shoes at Mr Bush, narrowly missing him."
--
This shoe business sounds unnecessarily complicated and effort-filled to me. You gotta get your shoes off, aim, throw, try to hit the target and to ensure that it is the soles that strike and not the vamp, or upper.
I much prefer the finger, or, even better, the thumb-between-the-two-first-fingers Russian salute.
And what's this thing the Arabs have against dogs? "Dog" is their ultimate insult?! (My dog is bummed.) Not very imaginative. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez was much more creative, with the burning sulphur and Beelzebub reference.
Posted by: sick_and_disgusted | December 14, 2008 4:11 PM
So and Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at Bush during his news conference in Baghdad. Questions:
Did the journalist get his shoes back after the security staff piled on him?
Or will the shoes show up for auction on eBay?
Or perhaps Bush will display them in his future presidential library on the SMU campus in Dallas, perhaps as a token of the love and esteem and respect he has earned for his expertise and accomplishments in international relations?
Will future presidential news conferences require journalists to attend in their stocking feet?
Posted by: Humanist | December 14, 2008 5:27 PM
Why don't OUR journalists do that?
I do hope the fellow is okay. Sounde dlike he was being brutalized in the press room.
No, all we have are stenographers.
Rummy and Rove --good, cuz fitz said so during the plame affair--WASN'T THAT TREASON?
Hey00where's the 100 billion for the bankers?
Hey, where's the 3 trillion for the KBR/Halliburton crowd.
Blago is a PIKER compared to these pigs.
And then there's the torture question.http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/print.php?id=12814
Posted by: Wish Fitz would throw HIS shoes at REAL criminals | December 14, 2008 11:04 PM
Let him stay in Iraq, permanently. I also heard a reporter there called him a DOG.
Posted by: Doug R. | December 15, 2008 9:46 AM