Bush To Iraq: 'America Keeps Its Word'

President Meets With New Iraqi PM During Surprise Visit To Baghdad

(CBS/AP)  The two leaders were seated at a long table in a room with two large television screens, one showing Mr. Bush and al-Maliki and the other showing Mr. Bush's aides and advisers at Camp David, Md.

Mr. Bush was flanked at the table by al-Maliki and Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

Mr. Bush met with al-Maliki in the heavily fortified green zone at a palace once used by Saddam but which now serves temporarily as the U.S. Embassy.

"Good to see you," exclaimed al-Maliki as they met. "Thanks for having me," Mr. Bush responded. They smiled broadly and shook hands vigorously in the high-domed marble room.

The prime minister had been invited to the embassy on the pretense of taking part in a video conference with Mr. Bush, supposedly at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. The videoconference went on as scheduled, but with Mr. Bush appearing alongside al-Maliki.

What had been announced as a two-day meeting at Camp David was part of a ruse to conceal Mr. Bush's Baghdad trip and a cover story to bring al-Maliki and his cabinet to the green zone.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports that the whole trip was designed not only to show support for the Iraqi government but also to bolster a huge new security crackdown designed to take back the city of Baghdad. It's going to involve about 70,000 troops and is being billed as the largest security operation in the city since American and coalition forces turned Baghdad back to Iraqi control two years ago.

Air Force One landed in hazy daylight at Baghdad Airport, where the temperature was above 100 degrees. Mr. Bush transferred to a helicopter for the six-minute ride to the green zone.

Mr. Bush faces increasing pressure at home to begin troop withdrawals. He has said cutbacks depend on Iraq's ability to provide for its own security.

White House counselor Dan Bartlett said the trip had been in the works for several weeks but was delayed until al-Maliki filled out his cabinet with his national security team last week.

Al-Maliki has won U.S. admiration by promising to crack down on militias and sectarian violence, promote national reconciliation, accelerate reconstruction efforts and restore essential services such as electricity.

Accompanying Mr. Bush on the trip were National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, Deputy Chief of staff Joe Hagin, press secretary Tony Snow, Bartlett and a few others.

First lady Laura Bush announced the president's trip to a surprised crowd assembled in Villanova, Pa., for a fundraiser for Republican Sen. Rick Santorum. She told the GOP donors she is "very thrilled and very proud" of her husband.