Length:
2:50
LARGE (33.1 MB) -----
SMALL (3.4 MB)
TJ HOLMES:
So glad you could be with us today. We will start in
Iraq. President Bush has made it to that country,
he's there right now, expected to be his farewell
visit. He has made four visits all together, now.
CNN's Michael Ware joins us now from Baghdad.
Michael, hello to you and tell us, do we know what is
on his plate? We know a lot's on that plate, just
speaking in general, but as far as this trip goes,
what's on his agenda?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I suspect
there's more on the plate than he wishes to be
handing over to another administration, that's for
sure. Well, what we know is that President Bush
landed roughly about two hours ago, which is late in
the afternoon here in Baghdad.
Now, once he got off the tarmac, there was an arrival
ceremony, and he was met by the Iraqi president,
Jalal Talabani. Now, from that arrival ceremony, it's
believed he has a series of meetings with Iraq's
senior leadership, the Sunni, the Shi'a vice
presidents, the head of the Kurdistan regional
government, a separate sort of mini-state in the
north, an important American ally, and of course he
will be meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
It's believed there will then be a ceremony to mark
the signing between Washington and Baghdad of the
Status of Forces Agreement. So, this trip, really, is
to celebrate, according to the White House officials,
the signing of this agreement between Iraq and
America, and to mark how this war is about to
significantly change. Iraq's going into the driver's
seat.
What they will not tell us, of course is what that's
costing America. And there's a lot bubbling under the
surface. So, I would not go popping the champagne
corks, yet - TJ.
HOLMES: Michael, you talk there about everything
sounds celebratory, ceremonial, but is anything
substantial going to come out of this, and are the
Iraqis pretty much looking forward to the next
administration and really holding off and waiting,
they know they got somebody else they're about to
have to deal with?
WARE: Yeah, I mean, in many senses, we now have a
caretaker in the White House. And let's face reality
here, President-elect Obama campaigned on ending the
war in Iraq. Well, in many ways, the documents that
President Bush is here to celebrate have already
ended large chunks of the war, so -- and it wasn't
done on U.S. terms. Yes, they're going to dress it up
and make it sound pretty, but the terms of these
agreements wrap U.S. combat troops up in such knots,
so America's surrendered its ability to wage war.
Nonetheless, the champagne will be flowing -- TJ.
HOLMES: The champagne flying, that sounds strange
that champagne might be flying, but yes a farewell
tour from the president. A last hurrah there. Michael
Ware for us, certainly won't be your has hurrah in
Iraq. We will see you again. Appreciate
you.