BAGHDAD - President George W. Bush's visit to Iraq on Monday was the third by the US leader since he ordered the invasion of the country in March 2003.
The two previous trips:
- November 27, 2003:
Eight months after the invasion, Bush makes a secret visit to US troops who are holding their national Thanksgiving dinner in a military base at Baghdad Airport.
He announces that the United States "will prevail" over the insurgents who are already making life difficult for the occupation forces.
Spending just two and a half hours in the country, Bush meets no Iraqi leaders and for security reasons his visit is only announced after he is safely out of the country.
- June 13, 2006:
Bush makes a lightning visit to the heavily defended "Green Zone" in central Baghdad, holding talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to whom he says "the future of your country is in your hands."
As in 2003, the visit is veiled in secrecy, and even Maliki is unaware that Bush is coming until a few minutes before their meeting.
The president makes the round-trip flight from his presidential retreat at Camp David, in Maryland, and spends a total of five hours in Iraq.
09/03/2007 13:17 GMT