They had planned a video teleconference meeting. Instead, Bush showed up in person. It was obviously a photo-op for Bush, but I don't think it weakens the Iraqi government in any way. If anything, Bush showing up and making a big deal of continuing support for the government slightly strengthens the US commitment to them. (I.e. It'll be slightly harder for Republicans in Congress to think about demanding a drawdown of US troops there, or to consider reducing funding.) Government supporters in Iraq won't suddenly feel that the prime minister is a puppet based on this single event.

Yes, it highlighted the lack of security there, but people have known security is weak there for a long time. Bush's visit didn't throw back the covers on that problem. (Recall he's not left the compound of the Baghdad airport before on his trips there.)

All in all, I don't see it as a big deal. It's one of those 1-2 days stories that will blow over and won't have any lasting impact a week from now. It's not going to change anyone's opinion about Bush or Iraq.

My $0.02.

Cheers,
Scott.

[link|http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/14/AR2006061400968.html|Bush 6/14/2006 Press Conference]:

I was impressed with the prime minister. And I'm impressed by his team. I told him that America is a nation that meets its commitments and keeps its word. And that's what we're going to do in Iraq.

It's in our interest that Iraq succeed. More importantly, it's in the interest of the Iraqi people.

The challenges that remain are serious. And they will require more sacrifice and patience. And our efforts are well worth it.

By helping this new government succeed, we'll be closer to completing our mission. And the mission is to develop a country that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself, and a country that is an ally in the war on terror.

Emphasis added.

Excuse me? The interests of the Iraqi people are more important than our own?

[link|http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/49.htm|George Washington's Farewell Address]:

Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.

Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?

It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world, so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it, for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But in my opinion it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.

Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.

Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand, neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the Government to support them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied as experience and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view that it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such acceptance it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard....

The foreign policy interests of the USA must be paramount in dealing with Iraq. Yes, we have responsibilities there, and we must try to support the Iraqi people and government through this transition period. But their interests are not more important than our own.

Perhaps Bush meant something different than the what he expressed. But what I heard caused red flags to go up.

Cheers,
Scott.