Obama makes surprise Iraq visit  

United States President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday, saying the next 18 months could be "critical" for the war-torn country, which would soon have to look after itself.

Obama, who has called for an end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq by August next year, also pledged he would stick to a timetable for all American troops to leave the country by the end of 2011.
"It is time for us to transition to the Iraqis. They need to take responsibility for their country ... in order to do that they need to make political accommodations," Obama told some 1,500 troops at a base outside Baghdad.

"They need to take responsibility for their country," he said, noting that the next 18 months "could be critical" for the nation invaded by a U.S.-led coalition in March 2003.

The U.S. president's trip came just two days before the sixth anniversary of the toppling of Saddam Hussein and amid a spate of recent attacks that have killed dozens and wounded hundreds more.

Upon lannding Obama was immediately rushed off to meet Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. army commander in Iraq at the start of his short trip, and met Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at a U.S. airbase outside Baghdad.

"You have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. That is an extraordinary achievement, and for that you have the thanks of the American people," Obama told the troops.

As well as the planned U.S. withdrawal, Obama and Odierno talked about diplomatic and political challenges, the need to build strong Iraqi institutions and the importance of future general elections.
Bad weather prevented Obama from flying to the Green Zone, the heavily guarded compound that houses the Iraqi government in central Baghdad. But both Prime Minister Maliki and President Jala Talabani travelled to Camp Victory, the sprawling U.S. base near the airport, to see the president.

During his meeting with Maliki at the U.S. base Camp Victory, Obama promised that he would pull American troops out of the country as planned, the Iraqi prime minister said.

General Odierno told Obama that violence in Iraq reached its lowest levels since the invasion and Prime Minister Maliki added that the improvement of security conditions meant that his country in now “stable” enough for foreign firms to return and invest in Iraq.

"Iraq now is based on increased security, for peace and stability, and looks forward to international companies .... participating and investing in the country," he said through a translator after talks with President Obama.

Obama, who opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq ordered by his predecessor George W. Bush, has used his debut overseas tour to reach out to the Islamic world and attempt to restore America's battered image abroad.

Although it was his first trip to Iraq as president, Obama visited the country last year during the presidential campaign.