U.S. President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Tuesday. According to Reuters, the White House said that Obama would meet American commanders and troops, and speak to Iraqi leaders by telephone.
He would call the Iraqi leaders rather than see them in person because poor visibility prevented helicopter travel, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
He was flying secretly from Istanbul at the end of his first major international tour for his first visit to Iraq since his November 2008 election victory. Asked why Obama had come to Iraq, Gibbs said "there are several important reasons, not the least of which is to see and spend some time with the men and women who are serving our country honorably here."
