Talabani flew into Grand Junction's Walker Field on a 757 jet at about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, according to KREX-TV. From there, a motorcade consisting of more than 15 vehicles and an ambulance wheeled the president to Aspen, where it was spotted driving through the Roaring Fork Valley approximately two hours later.

Aspen is crawling with Secret Service agents -- a ResortQuest employee said 26 Aspen properties were booked for 38 agents through his agency -- as well as sniper teams, and other heavily armed forces, law enforcement officers said.

Where to next?

He is staying at a downtown hotel in Aspen and is expected to depart Sunday. The Associated Press is reporting Talabani will travel to New York and then Washington for a meeting with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice next week.

Who else is in Aspen for the conference?

Today, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States; Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international correspondent; Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, crown prince and commander in chief of the Bahrain Defense Force; and Dr. Vali Nasr, a Naval professor, will analyze the Middle East.

Other attendees include Grand Slam champion Monica Seles, tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, General Colin Powell, former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), General John Abizaid and journalist Bob Woodward.