Secretary of State Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq
source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/25/AR2009042500409.html
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton flew to Iraq on Saturday, stressing the Obama administration's commitment to the country as a series of horrific suicide bombings fanned fears about its precarious stability.
Clinton's visit -- including scheduled meetings with Iraqi leaders, citizens and the American military--was intended to show that the new U.S. government remains focused on Iraq even as it prepares to draw down its forces here.
"We want to display and reinforce our continuing commitment to the Iraqi people and to the stability, sovereignty and self-reliance of Iraq," Clinton told reporters on the eve of the trip, her first here as secretary of state.
Clinton flew into the Iraqi capital on an Air Force C-17 cargo jet for her unannounced visit. She arrived after two days of suicide bombings that left over 115 people dead in Baghdad and the northern province of Diyala.
Clinton's visit -- including scheduled meetings with Iraqi leaders, citizens and the American military--was intended to show that the new U.S. government remains focused on Iraq even as it prepares to draw down its forces here.
"We want to display and reinforce our continuing commitment to the Iraqi people and to the stability, sovereignty and self-reliance of Iraq," Clinton told reporters on the eve of the trip, her first here as secretary of state.
Clinton flew into the Iraqi capital on an Air Force C-17 cargo jet for her unannounced visit. She arrived after two days of suicide bombings that left over 115 people dead in Baghdad and the northern province of Diyala.
