Yes, President Bush is here in Baghdad’s Green Zone. The surprise visit was concealed from us just as it was from the press and everyone else, for obvious security reasons. And the security the President gets is extraordinary. Much better than what I get.
The visit wasn’t a surprise though. Military life is a long series of routines. It is very clear when something out of the routine is happening, if you are paying any attention. Today was one of those days. We could all tell that something big was happening.
I think the President made a wise decision by paying Iraq’s Prime Minister a personal visit. Iraqis have a love/hate relationship with us, and understandably so. Those Iraqis who want their country to improve and join the world markets understand that they need us. Iraqis who want peace and security know that Iraq isn’t quite ready yet to send America home. Many Iraqis are worried that we will cut and run. We’ve done it before.
President Bush’s visit is a symbolic and physical way of saying we aren’t going to run away from the thing we have started.
As I type these words, the news anchors are gushing about how dangerous it was for the President to fly into the Green Zone in a helicopter. That’s a bunch of poppycock. I’ve flown over Baghdad several times. It’s only dangerous if the chopper gets shot down. Unlikely. It happens, but very unlikely, and Mr. Bush had an escort like I’ll never see. He was relatively safe, in comparision to most who travel through Baghdad.
Guess I better shut up and listen to what the man has to say. He’s on TV shaking hands with Prime Minister Maliki and they are both smiling.