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Bush makes farewell visit to Iraq Bush makes farewell visit to Iraq
(30 minutes later)
US President George Bush is in Iraq on a surprise, farewell visit to the country that has defined his presidency since the invasion in 2003.US President George Bush is in Iraq on a surprise, farewell visit to the country that has defined his presidency since the invasion in 2003.
The White House said Mr Bush would meet Iraqi leaders, celebrate the new security agreement between the nations and thank US troops serving there.The White House said Mr Bush would meet Iraqi leaders, celebrate the new security agreement between the nations and thank US troops serving there.
The visit comes a day after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told US troops the Iraq mission was in its "endgame".The visit comes a day after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told US troops the Iraq mission was in its "endgame".
Mr Gates has been picked to stay on as defence secretary by Barack Obama.Mr Gates has been picked to stay on as defence secretary by Barack Obama.
'Crippled' reconstruction
Mr Bush's first stop was the Iraqi presidential palace in the heavily-fortified Green Zone, where he held talks with President Jalal Talabani.Mr Bush's first stop was the Iraqi presidential palace in the heavily-fortified Green Zone, where he held talks with President Jalal Talabani.
He was then to meet Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. "The work hasn't been easy but it's been necessary for American security, Iraqi hope and world peace," Mr Bush said during his talks with Mr Talabani.
He was also to meet Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US military commanders.
The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley, in Baghdad, says the key issue at present is exactly how American troops will withdraw within the next three years and what sort of Iraq they will leave behind.The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley, in Baghdad, says the key issue at present is exactly how American troops will withdraw within the next three years and what sort of Iraq they will leave behind.
The US media has just published details of a US government report saying that post invasion reconstruction of Iraq was crippled by bureaucratic turf wars and an ignorance of the basic elements of Iraqi society.The US media has just published details of a US government report saying that post invasion reconstruction of Iraq was crippled by bureaucratic turf wars and an ignorance of the basic elements of Iraqi society.
The report is circulating among US officials in draft form, says the New York Times.The report is circulating among US officials in draft form, says the New York Times.
It reveals details of a reconstruction effort that cost more than $100bn (£67bn) and only succeeded in restoring what was destroyed in the invasion and the looting that followed it, the newspaper said. It reveals details of a reconstruction effort that cost more than $100bn (£67bn) and only succeeded in restoring what was destroyed in the invasion and the widespread looting that followed it, the newspaper said.
Troop promisesTroop promises
Mr Bush's visit, unannounced in advance and conducted under tight security, follows the approval last month of a security pact between Washington and Baghdad that calls for US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011.Mr Bush's visit, unannounced in advance and conducted under tight security, follows the approval last month of a security pact between Washington and Baghdad that calls for US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011.
PREVIOUS BUSH VISITS TO IRAQ Nov 2003: Serves Thanksgiving dinner to troops in BaghdadJune 2006: Meets new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri MalikiSept 2007: Visits Anbar province - former stronghold of Saddam HusseinPREVIOUS BUSH VISITS TO IRAQ Nov 2003: Serves Thanksgiving dinner to troops in BaghdadJune 2006: Meets new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri MalikiSept 2007: Visits Anbar province - former stronghold of Saddam Hussein
US troops are first to withdraw from Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, by June next year.US troops are first to withdraw from Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, by June next year.
President Bush leaves the White House in less than six weeks. He said in a recent interview with ABC News that the biggest regret of his presidency was the false intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.President Bush leaves the White House in less than six weeks. He said in a recent interview with ABC News that the biggest regret of his presidency was the false intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
Finding these was one of the key justifications for the invasion. None were ever found.Finding these was one of the key justifications for the invasion. None were ever found.
President-elect Obama has promised to bring home US combat troops from Iraq in a little over a year from when he takes office in January.President-elect Obama has promised to bring home US combat troops from Iraq in a little over a year from when he takes office in January.
More than 4,200 US troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and security personnel have been killed since the invasion in 2003.More than 4,200 US troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and security personnel have been killed since the invasion in 2003.
There are currently about 149,000 US soldiers in Iraq, down from last year's peak of 170,000 after extra troops were poured in to deal with a worsening security situation.There are currently about 149,000 US soldiers in Iraq, down from last year's peak of 170,000 after extra troops were poured in to deal with a worsening security situation.
As Mr Bush arrived in Baghdad, Gen David Petraeus, the head of the US Central Command, which includes Iraq, said attacks in the country had dropped from 180 a day in June 2007 to 10 a day now.As Mr Bush arrived in Baghdad, Gen David Petraeus, the head of the US Central Command, which includes Iraq, said attacks in the country had dropped from 180 a day in June 2007 to 10 a day now.
In a sign of modest security gains in Iraq, Mr Bush was welcomed with a formal arrival ceremony - a flourish that was not part of his previous three visits.In a sign of modest security gains in Iraq, Mr Bush was welcomed with a formal arrival ceremony - a flourish that was not part of his previous three visits.
He arrived in the country on Air Force One, which landed at Baghdad International Airport in the afternoon, after a secretive Saturday night departure from Washington on an 11-hour flight.He arrived in the country on Air Force One, which landed at Baghdad International Airport in the afternoon, after a secretive Saturday night departure from Washington on an 11-hour flight.