In a move sure to make heads explode on the left, President Bush again showed, rather convincingly, that he is in no way, shape or form a physical coward. Bush made an unannounced trip to Baghdad to meet in person with Iraqi Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
President Bush arrived in Baghdad this afternoon for a face-to-face meeting with new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki — an effort, the White House said, to get a clear sense of the premier's priorities and how the U.S. government could help his government succeed.
The White House originally had said Bush was scheduled to be at Camp David and to hold a video-conference with Maliki this morning. Instead, without telling the Iraqi government or all but his closest advisers, the president slipped out of Washington last night and made the 11-hour trip to Baghdad International Airport, landing at 4:08 p.m. Baghdad time (8:08 a.m. EDT).
Heavy security was, of course, in place. Only a few people knew at all that Bush was not going to be at breakfast this morning. Still it takes a great deal of courage to fly into a war zone where you know you would be the number one target if people found out you were there.
UPDATE: Gateway Pundit has more.
UPDATE: Thanks to The Anchoress for including me in her comprehensive "Sour Grapes" roundup.
UPDATE: President Bush also addressed the troops while he was in Baghdad. Here's the text of his address.
Wow — so lets see.
GW Bush went to a war zone protected by some of the finest soldiers and men in the US army. And a whole flock of helicopters.
And he didn’t announce his visit at all. And he didnt even stay the night.
What a display of physical courage !!! Stunning !!! And these comments are echoed without irony by the same wingnut right who spend aeons decrying Kerry’s courage.
What a stunning display of being a jerk. Protected, yes. At risk? You bet, especially if word had leaked out. Take your ideological glasses off for a moment. Sorry to disappoint you, and sorry about your head exploding and all, but this was not the act of a physical coward, whether you are able to see it or not.
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I worked with the ADVON for Pres Clinton’s visit to Pakistan in 2000. His various support details (USSS/HMX1/AF1/etc) were dead set against the visit, even insisting on the ‘trickeration’ at the Islamabad airport upon his arrival. Pres Clinton had to order his team to make the visit happen.
I can only imagine the kittins Pres Bush’s team has. ‘You want to go where?’ It is risky and dangerous for POTUS to make such a visit.
Just out of curiosity, how many visits has Sen Kennedy, Sen Kerry or Rep Murtha made?
I think Kerry has been there. Kennedy I don’t think so. Murtha may have been, but I hope he was wearing armor – and wearing earplugs. The troops hate his butt.
Shit, I hope Murtha was wearing a Hillary mask…would have been an upgrade.
Heh. I don’t know who’d be more insulted!