Chip Reid On The Scene In Iraq
"He left Istanbul about two and a half hours ago. His official schedule said he was heading home to Washington, D.C., but the plane headed to the southeast. He's here for a visit with the troops," Reid said in an audio recording.
"He is also going to participate in the awarding of ten medals of valor, he's going to meet with General Odierno, the commander here, and talk about how things are going on the ground -- he is also going to talk to Prime Minister Maliki about the political solutions that the president says are necessary for success here," he continued.
Reid explained that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave members of a press a "quick briefing" on the flight from Istanbul to Baghdad.
"He said there has been more elaborate travel…plans but, and I can vouch for this, the air is so full of dust that there was not enough visibility to travel by helicopter so we are motorcading to Camp Victory where the president is going to spend some time with the troops," Reid said.
To listen to Chip Reid's report from Baghdad with the president .
More CBS News Coverage Of The President's Surprise Visit To Iraq