Bush national security adviser in Baghdad for talks

Aftermath of a car bombing in Baghdad on Sunday

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, visited Baghdad on Monday and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as the American military death toll climbed to 100 for October.

Hadley's visit, during which he also met U.S. officials in Baghdad, followed strains between Maliki's Shi'ite-led government and Washington over political and security steps meant to restore stability and allow U.S. troops to withdraw.

The White House said Hadley's trip, which was previously unannounced as are all visits by top U.S. officials to Baghdad, had been planned for over two months and was not a response to current developments or reports of friction with Maliki.

Tensions surfaced last week when U.S. officials said that Maliki had agreed to a timetable of performance "benchmarks" and the prime minister hit back saying no one could impose timetables on Iraq.

By Friday Maliki and U.S. officials in Iraq papered over the cracks with a joint statement that the Iraqi government had "timelines" for political developments.

Bush sought to reassure Maliki in a videoconference on Saturday that election-year pressure would not weaken his support for the Iraqi government. Growing public discontent over the Iraq war has undermined Republicans' chances of retaining control of Congress in the November 7 elections.

"I think that the press reports about the relationship being sensitive are overblown," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters aboard Air Force One traveling with Bush on a visit to the state of Georgia.

"While the logistics are difficult, any time you can have a face-to-face meeting with your partner or your colleague, that can help facilitate communication," Perino said. "And it also gives Mr. Hadley a good chance to be on the ground to assess things and be able to report back to the president."

Hadley was also due to meet with U.S. military leaders in Iraq, said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council. "This is really a meeting to discuss the current situation on the ground and the best way ahead."

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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