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Bush makes surprise visit to Iraq

— PHOTO: AP

President George Bush arrives at the airbase in Anbar, Iraq, on Monday.

Washington: President George W Bush on Monday made a surprise visit to Iraq to have a first-hand assessment of the U.S. troop “surge”.

Mr. Bush secretly flew 11 hours to al-Asad air base in Anbar province, bypassing Baghdad in what is perceived as a sign of his impatience with the political paralysis in the Iraqi capital.

He was joined by his top advisers, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates had arrived earlier along with Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. William Fallon, the top U.S. commander in West Asia. The session at al-Asad would be “the last big gathering of the President’s war advisers with Iraqi leaders before he makes a decision on a way forward in Iraq,” said the Pentagon. — PTI

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