Like him or not......Bush Visits Troops in Iraq

[toms3]

Like him or not....for puplic opinion or not....I still think that was a classy move. Read this

Bush makes secret Thanksgiving Day trip to Iraq
Thursday, November 27, 2003 Posted: 12:49 PM EST (1749 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- President Bush made a secret Thanksgiving Day trip to Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday to visit U.S. troops and members of the Iraqi Governing Council, a White House spokesman said.

"You are defending the American people from danger and we are grateful," Bush said -- according to The Associated Press -- to about 600 soldiers surprised by his appearance.

Air Force One touched down at Baghdad International Airport with its lights out and windows shaded, the AP said. The White House had put out a false story earlier in the day saying that Bush was having a holiday dinner with family members at his Texas ranch, such was the level of concern for his safety.

The presidential aircraft remained on the ground for just two-and-a-half hours at Baghdad International Airport before taking off at 8 p.m. (noon EST) for its return to the United States.

Bush‘s secret journey coincided with traditional American Thanksgiving Day activities back home in the United States, including parades, running races and tree lightings.

 

[Garry]

Lead by example.

Both he and his Dad (Ex Prez) visited troops in war zones- pretty ballsy move for the number 1 terrorist target in the world.

I agree- like him or not, he has stones.

 

[SFontaine]

God bless that man.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Too bad he has never shown the same degree of consideration as his dad did for Canada. Things might have been much better between us if he did.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by Ex-Dragoon:
[qb] Too bad he has never shown the same degree of consideration as his dad did for Canada. Things might have been much better between us if he did. [/qb]

Couldn‘t disagree more. Canada is not living up to it‘s commitments to security and deserve everything it gets from the States.

 

[Gibson]

Our government has definately been dragging its feet with Bush and I think he has a ton of reasons to be PO‘d with us.

I may disagree on some of his tact but that move was pretty classy

 

[Enzo]

Hmmn... Yes, quite a heroic feat. He flew (under the highest level of secrecy) onto the airbase, stayed under tight security the entire time, met with about 4 Iraqi officials for a little while and then took off.

I‘m divided on this. PR stunt, absolutely. Chance to rattle his parties sabre, yup. Do I agree, not by a long shot. What that man‘s capable of in the pursuit of his interests, scary.

The only part of it I can respect - he supports the troops in the field and isn‘t afraid to show that. It would be nice to see some of that coming out of Ottawa. I won‘t be holding my Turkey though.

As for the rest, history will be the judge, in the meantime, let‘s get on with it...

 

[Gibson]

I don‘t think anyone is saying the guy put himself in grave danger and needs a medal.

I just think it‘s a great show of support and something our troops could use from that level.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Well, he is obviously going to have his critics no matter what he does. Had he announced his plans beforehand, came in on a hang glider flying the Stars and Stripes, and flown a Texas Independence flag saying COME AND TAKE IT over the camp he was staying in as a personal challenge to any would be assassins, Enzo would probably just call him stupid, instead...

 

[northamericanrebel]

"Chance to rattle his parties sabre, yup." I cant agree with that....i think both sides are going to see it as a heartfelt pick up for the troops and pr stunt i suppose some of those pictures will look good on the commercials coming up

 

[northamericanrebel]

lol u figure he says he is going and he has iraqy/bathithists on the outskirts of the runway with stingers waiting to get their pot shot at his jet....not to mention snipers too

 

[toms3]

I am thinking that he was lucky there weren‘t a couple of stingers waiting for any heavy aircraft flying around the airport. Regardless...it was a ballsy thing to do.

 

[Enzo]

Well, he is obviously going to have his critics no matter what he does. Had he announced his plans beforehand, came in on a hang glider flying the Stars and Stripes, and flown a Texas Independence flag saying COME AND TAKE IT over the camp he was staying in as a personal challenge to any would be assassins, Enzo would probably just call him stupid, instead...

Ok, I‘d have enjoyed watching that. (and of course it would have been a stupid thing to do, those flags create a ton of drag)

To me, it‘s all a game, at the highest stakes. The Democrats have 2 of their own arriving this week in Iraq and they‘re critical of the policies of the current administration. The Prez has issues at home and questions are being asked which require answers. So, arriving ahead of the D‘s and taking their spotlight, showing support for the troops (which I am in favour of highly and would like to see some semblance of the same here) and taking attention away from other subjects for a little while. Seems like a good move; why not. I‘m sure his handlers fought over this one for awhile, show‘s that he may have some stones after all. Who knows. Since CSI was a rerun this week, so I‘ll get my cheezies out and tune to CNN for further entertainment...uh...information.

This trip was mentioned in a press brief about 5 weeks ago as a possibility. I‘m assuming that advanced teams were sent out to assess the situation in and around the airport in terms of security and defendability. i.e. area‘s cleared in advanced, intense patrols along the final approach path to the airport (which is probably a norm anyway as it is a vitality to the troops there, etc...)

I‘m curious about something, what aircraft did he arrive on? Anyone know? I‘m assuming it wasn‘t AF 1.

As for Dubya‘s intelligence, I‘m not going to question that. You don‘t get to where he is without some brains, and a whole lot of people working behind the scenes. Nothing they do is without careful planning and videoclips for mass consumption are factored in....

... Besides, was the interior of the mess hall he was filmed in actually located in Iraq? Hmmnn :dontpanic:

 

[northamericanrebel]

yes, it was air force one...he touched down with the lights off :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring:

 

[Enzo]

Really? Figured that would have been difficult to conceal. I‘m unfamilar with the layout of the airfield and access to it during the day. What‘d they do, taxi into a hangar? Not to mention the press. If AF1 took off from Washington, 11hrs is a long time to arrive in Texas, etc... Things of that nature. There are ways to follow her progress. Then again, if you aren‘t looking, you won‘t see.

 

[northamericanrebel]

ya i guess he was in bagdad for only 2 and a half hours than he scooted off..... he had unmarked vechicals before he left to bagdad and when he was there.... that place has some pretty hardcore security too i guess