Sneaky President

President Bush pulled a fast one on the American Press. While the press thought that he was in Camp David Maryland, hashing out “strategery” on the Iraq War now that Zarquawi was dead, he snuck out of the country to go meet the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki.

Bush wanted to congradulate Al-Maliki on getting the new Iraqi government setup and running.

From FoxNews Here:

BAGHDAD, Iraq President Bush is meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki face to face on Tuesday after making a surprise visit to Iraq to bolster the newly-formed government and discuss the next steps in trying to shore up Iraqi security after three years of war.

Only a handful of aides knew of the trip as the president had been speaking since last week about his holding a Camp David retreat where the president, his Cabinet and his national security and military team were supposed to hold a teleconference Tuesday with al-Maliki and his Cabinet.

Bush swept into the room where he was to meet al-Maliki with his entourage and Secret Service in tow. He walked up to al-Maliki, who had been informed about five minutes before Bush’s arrival that he was to have a special guest, and shook the prime minister’s hand as the cameras flashed.

Al-Maliki said, “Good to see you,” to which Bush responded, “Thanks for having me.” They stood in the hallway for another minute and then disappeared into one of Bremer’s former offices.

White House officials said the president wanted to meet face-to-face with the prime minister to size him up and assure him of U.S. support. The message that he wants to send to the Iraqi government is “we stand with you. What you’re doing is important,” said the aides.

I think its very cool that the President can fool reporters and disappear for 12 hours and suddenly be in Bagdad without anyone finding out.