A September 6 Washington Times article by reporter S.A. Miller claimed that "[d]espite continued bloodshed in Iraq," President Bush's unannounced September 3 visit to Al-Asad Airbase was “one of several recent signs of U.S. military success” in Iraq. Miller did not note, as The Washington Post reported in a September 4 article, that "[a]lthough Bush touted the substantial political and security progress made in Anbar, he did not leave the safety of the base Monday to see those changes firsthand." Further, Bush has made two previous secret trips to Iraq, on November 27, 2003, and on June 13, 2006.

As Media Matters for America has noted, in a September 4 washingtonpost.com column, Dan Froomkin described the base as an “enormous, heavily fortified American outpost for 10,000 troops that while technically in Anbar Province in fact has a 13-mile perimeter keeping Iraq -- and Iraqis -- at bay.” Froomkin also reported that Marines and soldiers refer to the base “as 'Camp Cupcake,' for its relatively luxurious facilities."

From Miller's September 6 Washington Times article:

Mr. Bush's surprise visit Monday to Iraq's Anbar province showcased success in the one-time al Qaeda stronghold where Sunni tribal leaders teamed with U.S. troops to drive out the terrorists and rapidly improve security.

Despite continued bloodshed in Iraq, the president's visit was one of several recent signs of U.S. military success in Iraq that blunted antiwar momentum leading up to the September progress report.