Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad
13/06/2006| IslamWeb
President George Bush, seeking to bolster support for
It was a dramatic move by Bush on Tuesday, traveling to violence-rattled
Bush assured the Iraqi people that the
"It's in our interest that
Al-Maliki, who didn't know Bush was coming until five minutes before they met, said that
"God willing, all the suffering will be over. And all the soldiers will return to their country with our gratitude for what they have offered, the sacrifice," al-Maliki said through a translator.
Military presence
Bush made it clear, however, that a
"I have expressed our country's desire to work with you, but I appreciate you recognize the fact that the future of the country is in your hands," Bush said.
Bush said he was "impressed with the cabinet you have assembled".
Bush met with al-Maliki in heavily fortified green zone at a palace once used by the deposed president, Saddam Hussein. It now serves temporarily as the
Top secret
The trip, expected to last a little more than five hours, was known only to a handful of aides and a small number of reporters sworn to secrecy.
The administration hoped the death of al-Zarqawi and the completion of al-Maliki's cabinet would make war-weary Americans look at
Aside from al-Maliki and his cabinet, Bush was to see
Bush was also to meet with the speaker of the parliament, national political leaders and US troops.
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