Middle Eastern Holiday
I'm going to go way out on a limb and suggest that George W. Bush's fake impromptu visit to Baghdad isn't going to fundamentally alter the situation on the ground in Iraq. The only noteworthy thing about the gambit is the way the super-intense security measures ("a spiraling, steep descent, a maneuver intended to make a less susceptible target," etc.) and secrecy underscore how fundamentally unsafe the country is.
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Yeah it was a nice way to drive home the point of how unsafe Iraq is...especially since al-Maliki wants the US troops gone. And when al-Maliki made his comments about wanting US troops out there was no printed response from Bush...the NYT article continued on and wrapped up describing all the security measures for the departure and why they are needed.
June 13, 2006 9:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought that Iraq was as deadly as DC?
June 13, 2006 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great to see our Prez on the stump for democracy in Iraq! My prediction: he's going to have as much success with this campaign as he did for the one he launched to kill social security.
Is it 2008 yet?
June 13, 2006 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
You would have thought our leaders would be too embarrassed to sneak in and out of Baghdad after the recent length and well-publicized visit of the Iranian foreign minister to Iraq (from the LA Times):
"Unlike high-ranking U.S. officials, who often slip into Iraq for fleeting, unannounced appearances designed to give a quick boost to military or political morale, Mottaki's schedule was lengthy and well-publicized. He arrived with a large entourage, and displayed little preoccupation with security.
Arriving just days after the formation of post-war Iraq's first full-term government, Mottaki appeared determined to make a show of Iranian influence. Tehran's closest ties are unmistakably with Shiite parties here, but prominent Sunni Arabs also appeared with him at one venue.
"We are here in Iraq sending a … message that stresses unity of Muslims and says there is no reason for disagreements between the sons of the nation," said Mottaki, the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit Iraq.
Mottaki's schedule Friday included an intense a round of talks and appearances with top political and religious leaders. Today, he is scheduled to visit the Shiite sacred cities of Najaf and Karbala."
When our leaders can make a similar kind of visit, that will be a sign that we're starting to win in Iraq.
June 13, 2006 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh come on, he's only had three years since Mission Accomplished. These things take time. How long did it take for a President to non-secretly travel to Germany after VE Day (2 1/2 months until the Potsdam conference)
June 13, 2006 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Middle Eastern Holliday
Reference to the Hard Fi song?
June 13, 2006 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Read a column today that pointed out how this stunt proves to al-Maliki and the Iraqi people who REALLY runs Iraq.
Instead of a "state visit", Bush sneaks in, SUMMONS the Iraqi President to the Embassy under a ruse, and then presents himself - all under the total control of the US occupation. al-Maliki didn't even know Bush was coming.
And then the morons in the US wonder why the Iraqi government can't govern.
It's because they don't.
All Bush did with this stunt was make it even more impossible.
June 14, 2006 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink