And in Iraq, democracy and freedom is still flourishing.

Another day, another cheap, meaningless photo op:

President George W. Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet newly named Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and discuss the next steps in the troubled, three-year-old war.

I guess Bush's latest visit means things are on the upswing, the mission is accomplished, the insurgency is in its last throes, etc. etc.:

The trip was known only to a handful of aides and a small number of reporters sworn to secrecy because of obvious security threats for Bush and members of his entourage.

Landing at Baghdad airport, Bush transferred to a helicopter for a six-minute ride into the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone. White House officials said the helicopter ride posed the greatest risk for the president.

Bush was greeted by another day of violence in Iraq - dozens of people were killed or wounded Tuesday in explosions in the northern oil city of Kirkuk, and eight bodies were found in western Baghdad.

Or maybe not.