Diplomacy: Bush to Iraq: US Prez flies covertly into Bagdhad, meets new PM al-Maliki

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President Bush carried his support of Iraq's demoncracy and US warriors in that threatre of conflict, into the Middle East country's capital, for a five-hour visit completely shrouded in secrecy until the geostrategic deed was done. Bush is showing himself to be a warrior in his r+t, and a diplomat of the first order.

His aide explained that he had been planning to make his second visit to Iraq much earlier, but the slow formation of a government there after the crucial national election of Iraq's parliament - including the naming just last week of three key ministers (Defense, Interior, and Security) - delayed the intended US Presidential visit, altho both Condi Rice (Secretary of State) and Donald Rumsfeld (Secretary of Defense) had visited al-Maliki previously, before cabinet-formation was complete.

Now, Bush's second visit is history, and a significant victory both for the US in demonstrating its steadfast support for the fledgeling democracy at least until the end of Bush's sencond term, and a victory as well for President Bush personally. He has had serious trouble in opinion polls about the war and more generally, but the courage and surprise of the "stealth diplomacy" have apparently raised his polling points a bit.

300 assembled US troops gave the Prez a really warm welcome, and hurrah-ed unmistakably when he said the elimination of terrorist fanatic al-Zarqawi will be replicated in pursuit and elmination of the new leader and top ringleaders of the rest of al Quaeda in Iraq.

By far, however, it was his meeting and measuring of the mettle of Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that seemed the greatest achievement of the visit. In receiving his guest, the Prime Minister showed real pleasure at Bush's presence, and then offered a significant statement:

"...[A]l-Maliki said Iraq has "no choice but to succeed and we will defeat terrorism."

"Today, with the grace of God, after getting rid of the dictatorship, violence, terrorism, oppression, absolute power and the ruling party, our country became one where all Iraqis can live in equality and freedom. This is the first time that we in Iraq have such freedom, the freedom of press, political freedom and a diverse government. ...

"This is the first time that we in Iraq, have a permanent constitution voted on by the Iraqi people. This is the first time we have a government we formed with our own free will, by getting together and participating in the rebuilding effort. In this diversified government, chosen freely by the Iraqi people, we are determined to succeed," al-Maliki said.

At a distance and observing thru the fog of war and media, my impression is that the Iraqi Parliament chose a real strongman as Prime Minister, the kind of clear-s+ted amd stern enforcer of the peace that just may be part of a winning combo against the terrorists and for the rebuilding of the society. - Politicarp

Further Resources:

Terence Hunt reports for Forbes
John F. Burns and Dexter Filkins reporting for NYT via IHT