Cheney arrives unannounced in Iraq

Vice President Dick Cheney opened a new U.S. push for political unity in Iraq on an unannounced visit today, just ahead of the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion.

Cheney landed at Baghdad international airport, then flew by helicopter into the heavily secured Green Zone for talks with Iraqi leaders and U.S. military and diplomatic officials. It was his third trip to Iraq since the war began. The U.S. has 160,000 troops in Iraq, where the U.S. military death toll is nearing 4,000.

Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, who also is visiting Iraq, and Cheney are not expected to cross paths.

For security reasons, Cheney’s aides gave few details about the vice president’s schedule but said he was expected to make stops throughout the country, speak to troops and spend time with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq.

Iraq will be discussed in Cheney’s talks with leaders in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Turkey. Cheney is also expected to touch on Iran’s nuclear program, and the pursuit of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that President Bush wants completed before his term ends.