President Bush Made a Surprise Visit to Baghdad to Meet with New Leadership

MARGARET WARNER: The White House originally said President Bush and his top aides would be at Camp David again today, holding a video conference with officials of the new Iraqi government. Instead, after a secret overnight flight to Baghdad, the president was taking a helicopter from Baghdad Airport to the heavily-secured Green Zone to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki face-to-face.

GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: Thanks for having me.

MARGARET WARNER: The president's five-hour visit came less than a week after a U.S. air strike killed insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Maliki succeeded in filling the all-important security posts in his cabinet.

White House aides said the president had been planning such a surprise visit for a month, to be taken as soon as Maliki completed his cabinet.

After meeting privately, the two men and senior members of the new Iraqi government held the scheduled video conference between Baghdad and Camp David. After that, they met with reporters.

GEORGE W. BUSH: Mr. Prime minister, thank you for this opportunity to visit with your cabinet. I have expressed our country's desire to work with you, but I appreciate you recognize the fact that the future of your country is in your hands.

The decisions you and your cabinet make will be determinant as to whether or not a country succeeds, that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself.

I'm impressed by the cabinet that you've assembled; you've assembled people from all parts of your country, representing different religions, and different histories, and traditions. And yet, the cabinet here represents the entire Iraqi people.

And I appreciate your commitment to representing the people of Iraq. I'm impressed by the strength of your character and your desire to succeed.

MARGARET WARNER: The president told reporters about the meeting they'd just held and assured the prime minister of continued American support.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We discussed -- I discussed earlier with the prime minister, and here with his cabinet, and with members of my cabinet, the strategy necessary to have a country that is capable of answering to the needs of the people.

We discussed the security strategy. We discussed an economic strategy and a reconstruction strategy, and all of it makes sense to me.

And so I've come to not only look you in the eye; I've also come to tell you that, when America gives its word, it will keep its word. And it's in our interest that Iraq succeed. It's not only in the interest of the Iraqi people; it's in the interest of the American people and for people who love freedom.

Iraq is a part of the war on terror. Iraq is a central front on that war. And when Iraqi succeeds in having a government that -- of and by and for the people of Iraq, you will have dealt a serious blow to those who have a vision of darkness, who don't believe in liberty, who are willing to kill the innocent in order to achieve a political objective.

And so, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for giving me and my cabinet a chance to hear from you personally and a chance to meet the members of this team you've assembled. It's an impressive group of men and women and, if given the right help, I'm convinced you will succeed and so will the world.

NOURI AL-MALIKI, Prime Minister, Iraq (through translator): Thank you, Mr. President. We emphasize that our meeting and discussions was constructive and fruitful, and it's the basis of a good and everlasting relationship.

Our success in forming this diverse cabinet (inaudible) national unity government, we hope that it's the beginning of a most (inaudible) that we hope will be achieved as a result of involving all the elements of the Iraqi people, the Shia, the Sunni, Arabs, Kurds, Turkey, the Syrians and Christians.

We insist on succeeding, and we must win over terror. I would like to say and offer an official (inaudible) to all those who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of the Iraqi people, to the families in the United States and British, and all the countries that have participated in rescuing Iraq from dictatorship. And I'm very grateful.

MARGARET WARNER: The president ended his Baghdad visit with an emotional speech to some of the U.S. troops in Iraq.

GEORGE W. BUSH: I thank you all very much for your service to our country. Your sacrifice is noble, and your sacrifice is important.

I understand it's -- long deployments are tough. They're tough on you, and they're tough on your families. And so the first thing I want to tell you is: The American people are incredibly grateful for what you do, and I bring their greetings and their thanks for the sacrifices you and your family make.

These are historic times. The mission that you're accomplishing here in Iraq will go down in the history books as an incredibly important moment in the history of freedom and peace, an incredibly important moment of doing our duty to secure our homeland.

I truly believe the work that you're doing here is laying the foundation of peace for generations to come, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I have come today to personally show our nation's commitment to a free Iraq. My message to the Iraqi people is this: Seize the moment. Seize this opportunity to develop a government of and by and for the people.

And I also have a message to the Iraqi people that, when America gives a commitment, America will keep its commitment. There are going to be tough days ahead and more sacrifice for Americans, as well as Iraqis, but I come here -- come away from here believing that the will is strong and the desire to meet the needs of the people is real and tangible.

Our military will stay on the offense. We will continue to hunt down people like Mr. Zarqawi and bring them to justice so...

We will continue to train the Iraqis so that they can help the unity government secure the peace. I've told the American people that, as the Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down.

The stakes are high, and what happens here in Iraq reaches far beyond the borders of Iraq. The war on terror really is -- will be addressed by strong actions by our intelligence and military services to bring to justice those who would do us harm.

I've told the American people we will defeat the enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home.

It's a moment -- this is a time where the world can turn one way or the other, where the world can be a better place or a more dangerous place. And the United States of America and citizens such as yourself are dedicated to making sure that the world we leave behind is a better place for all.

It is such an honor to be here.

It is -- it is such an honor to be with you. May God bless you all. May God bless your work. May God bless your families. And may God continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you.

MARGARET WARNER: Meanwhile, outside the Green Zone today, Iraqi security troops fanned out in force across Baghdad, making preparations to implement Maliki's new security plan for the capital tomorrow.

MARGARET WARNER: Now, more on the president's trip and his meetings with Iraqi leaders. We get that from Dexter Filkins, a Baghdad correspondent for the New York Times. I spoke with him earlier today.

Dexter, welcome. Thanks for being with us. We are told that this trip -- most of President Bush's aides didn't even know about this trip. Was it a total surprise to the Iraqis, as well?

DEXTER FILKINS, Baghdad Correspondent, New York Times: Total surprise to everybody. You know, the American employees of the embassy were told to go home at noon and weren't given a reason. The prime minister, Prime Minister Maliki, didn't know that President Bush was coming until five minutes before he arrived at the presidential palace. He was completely surprised.

MARGARET WARNER: Now, you know the terrain there. The president -- I think this is the first time, even though he's been in Iraq before, that he's actually been outside the airport. What would he have seen on that six- or seven-minute helicopter ride from the airport into the Green Zone?

DEXTER FILKINS: Well, first of all, the president took a helicopter from the airport to the Green Zone. He didn't drive the road. The airport road, as a lot of people know, is a notorious place where there are suicide bombings there everyday.

But even as he took the helicopter, he got to see quite a bit. He flew over the Green Zone. He could see the power plants in Dora, which is one of the most insurgent-ridden neighborhoods in the whole city. He flew over the buildings where Saddam Hussein and his former henchmen are now being tried.

So he got a good look at the city. And Baghdad is a really -- it's a really extraordinary sight from the sky.

MARGARET WARNER: And what were the security precautions? Like, I know they're always tight, but what extra did they do in the security arena?

DEXTER FILKINS: Well, first of all, nobody knew about it, but when you went into the Green Zone today, there were Humvees, armored Humvees, turreted Humvees, Bradleys, soldiers, way more soldiers than usual. That was the main thing. I mean, the Green Zone, where he was, is pretty well-locked down on any day, but there were just a lot more soldiers. You know, he had a pretty good bubble around him, as well.

MARGARET WARNER: Now, onto the substance of meetings. The president said they talked about security, about the economy, about reconstruction. What else -- what can you tell us about what came out of the meetings?

DEXTER FILKINS: Well, I think the purpose of this meeting was for the president, Bush, to reassure the Iraqi government, "We're behind you, we support you." But I think really, the other purpose of it -- and it's somewhat contradictory -- is, "Look, you're a real government. You've been elected by your people. It's a four-year parliament. You're on your own, and it's time that you start taking over more responsibility and we start doing less."

And I think that was a lot of it today. And I think we'll probably see that play out, you know, more and more over the next several weeks.

MARGARET WARNER: And do you know if they talked at all in specifics about when American troops could begin to dial back?

DEXTER FILKINS: Well, that's not something they're not going to come out and talk about. I think they say -- and I think this is true -- that those decisions ultimately are going to be determined by the conditions on the ground.

One of the things that was announced today -- actually, before the president arrived -- was they're going to begin -- the Iraqi government, with the American troops, are going to begin a big security crackdown in Baghdad. And that's, you know, with 75,000 troops and police, and Iraqi and American.

And so, you know, the goal is, is that you start to bring the country under control, to get all of the communities in Iraq, Sunni, Shia and Kurd, who are part of this government, behind the government, some of the violence starts to die away, and then the Americans can start going home. That's the plan.

MARGARET WARNER: Now, were you and your colleagues able to talk to any senior people in the Iraqi government today? And, if so, did they say they were surprised -- I mean, pleased by the surprise visit? Did they think it would help boost this new government? What was the reaction?

DEXTER FILKINS: Well, no, the short answer is no, because what the announcement was here a couple of days ago, even this morning, was that there was going to be a joint cabinet meeting between the American cabinet and the Iraqi cabinet on a teleconference, on a videoconference.

And so all of the senior members of the Iraqi government were told to show up today at the American embassy, so they didn't know why they were going, and suddenly they were told the president was there. But that's where they all went today. They were all there this morning kind of standing around waiting to do this cabinet meeting over video.

MARGARET WARNER: How about the Iraqi public? Was this shown on Iraqi TV? Have you picked up any reaction?

DEXTER FILKINS: It was shown on Iraqi television, and not as much as -- not as much as you would think. That's a trickier question. Mr. Maliki, who needs all of the support that he can get, the prime minister, is probably, the way things are in Baghdad, not going to get much of a boost from being photographed or being filmed standing next to Mr. Bush.

He's not very popular. Frankly, the United States isn't very popular here right now. Baghdad in particular has become a terribly, terribly violent place, and I think people want to see results on the ground. And I think they're going to wait to judge Maliki, but President Bush is not a very popular guy right now here.

MARGARET WARNER: We had Zalmay Khalilzad on the program on Friday, the U.S. ambassador there, and he was talking, as you have, about Baghdad and how really dangerous it's become, saying it was much worse than it was several months ago. We have seen other security crackdowns. What, if anything, is new and different about the one that's going to begin tomorrow?

DEXTER FILKINS: Well, I mean, I think that's the $64,000 question. They have had these security crackdowns before; some of them have been impressive, at least insofar as they've sent troops into neighborhoods. There's been fighting. They've arrested people.

They've had these things before, and, you know, we've literally had to drive around the city looking for police officers and soldiers to see what they're doing. So I think we're going to find out at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow if this one's any different.

The number they're throwing around is 75,000. That's not an increase. I mean, that's how many police -- if you add up all the American soldiers and the police officers and the Iraqi soldiers that are here, there's about 75,000. So they haven't increased the number of troops for this operation, so, you know, we'll see.

MARGARET WARNER: Finally, it's been nearly a week since Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed. Is there any detectable difference in the atmosphere in Baghdad?

DEXTER FILKINS: There's not. I mean, I think -- you know, Baghdad -- nobody's upset. Really, you'd be hard-pressed to find somebody upset that Zarqawi was dead here. He's done a lot of killing.

But Baghdad is, neighborhood by neighborhood, very, very close to total anarchy. The amount of violence is absolutely extraordinary, and it's not just insurgent violence. It's violence by the militias; it's kidnapping; it's murder.

It's really, really dangerous here, as the ambassador said. And so I think that nobody really expects that the killing of one man, even a man as murderous as Zarqawi, could make that much of a difference.

MARGARET WARNER: All right, Dexter Filkins from the New York Times, thanks.

DEXTER FILKINS: Thank you.