In a surprise final stop on his long overseas tour, US leader Barack Obama has flown to Baghdad.

American forces gave their Commander in Chief a rapturous reception at the Camp Victory Military base. He told them they had given Iraq “the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country.” And the President said the next 18 months would be critical for their mission. He was referring to the August 2010 deadline for the withdrawal of all US combat troops from Iraq. This is Obama’s first visit there since taking over at the White House, having opposed the US-led invasion in March 2003.More about: Iraq, USA

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