CONDI RICE MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO IRAQ - IS IT SAFE ENOUGH FOR HER TO STROLL THE STREETS?

Condoleeza Rice turns up today unannounced in Kirkuk, supposedly to illustrate the gains in security over the past few months in Iraq. For the full story on the Rice journey, see the AP report on the web site in today's The Washington Post, "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes surprise appearance to highlight recent drop in violence."

If Iraq and Kirkuk in particular are so safe and pacified, how come Condi must fly in unannounced? If there is now all peace and tranquillity, did she don a flak jacket and helmet when she emerged from her plane? How about when she next flew to Baghdad? Did she drive on the airport road into town, or was she zipped in some special army chopper to the Green Zone?

To answer these questions, we need to see some photos. But I bet I know the answer.