Finally, the Iraqis are greeting somebody with flowers and kisses...

...it's just too bad it's the President of Iran who's getting the warm greeting...

Pomp and ceremony greeted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his arrival in Iraq on Sunday, the fanfare a stark contrast to the rushed and secretive visits of his bitter rival U.S. President George W. Bush.

Ahmadinejad held hands with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani as they walked down a red carpet to the tune of their countries' national anthems, his visit the first by an Iranian president since the two neighbours fought a ruinous war in the 1980s.

His warm reception, in which he was hugged and kissed by Iraqi officials and presented with flowers by children, was Iraq's first full state welcome for any leader since the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Our president has to take secret trips to a nation we "liberated", while Ahmadinejad is received as a hero.

This all seems worth it, doesn't it?
- posted by Brian @ 8:52 AM