Bush's Final Trip To Baghdad

President George W. Bush arrives at Baghdad International Airport Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, on a surprise visit to Iraq. Mr. Bush visited the Iraqi capital just 37 days before he hands over to President-elect Barack Obama a war he launched and which is now in its sixth year.

Top Brass

President Bush is greeted by the Commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, at Baghdad International Airport.

Talabani

President Bush is greeted by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. The trip (Mr. Bush's fourth visit to Iraq) was conducted under great secrecy -- the White House even put out a fake schedule for the president's whereabouts Sunday.

Fanfare

President Bush walks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani after arriving in Baghdad on Dec. 14, 2008. In a sign of modest security gains in this war zone, Mr. Bush received a formal arrival ceremony - a flourish absent in his three earlier trips.

Presidents

President Bush shakes hands with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during their meeting Sunday in Baghdad. Talabani called Mr. Bush "our great friend," who "helped to liberate" Iraq. "Thanks to him and his courageous leadership, we are here."

Sunni And Shi'a

President Bush meets with Iraq President Jalal Talabani (second from right), and Talabani's two vice presidents, Adel Abdul-Mahdi (left) and Tariq al-Hashemi. Mahdi, a Shi'a, was nearly assassinated by an explosion at the Ministry of Public Works last year. Hashemi, a Sunni, had previously called for an immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq.

Under Fire

An Iraqi man throws two shoes, one after another, at President Bush during a news conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. Mr. Bush ducked both throws, and neither man was hit. The assailant, who shouted "This is the end!" was later identified as Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadiya television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo.

Not Merely Dodging Questions

Sequence of photos showing Mr. Bush duck shoes thrown by Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi, who yelled in Arabic: "This is a farewell kiss, you dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

Deflecting

President George W. Bush reacts after a man threw two shoes at him during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad. "All I can report," Mr. Bush joked of the incident, "is a size 10."

Camp Victory

Speaking to U.S. troops at Camp Victory, President Bush blamed Saddam Hussein for the 2003 invasion: "You might remember, I went to the United Nations, where a body said: disarm, disclose, or face serious consequence. It was his choice to make. And he made the wrong choice." Since then, more than 4,209 U.S. troops have died; researchers estimate Iraqi deaths range from 100,000 to a million.

Giving Thanks

"Thanks to you, the Iraq we stand in tonight is dramatically freer, dramatically safer, and dramatically better than the Iraq we found eight years ago," Mr. Bush said.

Parting Shots

A shoe is raised during a protest against President Bush's visit, in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City, Baghdad, Monday Dec. 15, 2008. "Bush, Bush, listen well: Two shoes on your head," the protesters chanted in unison.