| Author | Message | ||
     strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1478 Registered: 10-2001 |
My President sharing the holiday with those who defend us from evil. Thank You President Bush, and thank you U.S. troops.. "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| Duncan Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 1210 Registered: 12-2001  |
Yea he went cause he couldnt stand for Hilary to upstage him by being there first. That must just gall the Bush camp "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" Wayne Gretzky | ||
| NRL Citizen Username: Nrl Post Number: 338 Registered: 8-2003 |
I must confess, I thought that was pretty impressive for a Hilary to be there. I was quite surprised. Maybe the dems are finally getting in the game. GW Bush rocks!! He is the coolest. The world needs more GW's and Guiliani's!! | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1479 Registered: 10-2001 |
Duncan, Bush went to thank the troops. Nothing more, nothing less. It was a wonderful decision on his part to do so. also, hill is in Afghanistan, not Iraq "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1860 Registered: 9-2001  |
George W's surprise visit to Iraq was really cool and a great boost for our troops stationed there. I was impressed with the entire mission ~ its boldness and daring. Who would ever predict that Air Force One itself would fly into Baghdad International Airport! The troops did not know George was there until he popped on stage. George is a man of the people, waiting on the chow line and everything, and carrying around the Turkey. Ed May | ||
| Duncan Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 1211 Registered: 12-2001 |
All well and good, but he did it cause Hilary went there first and his handlers could not stand the thought of that particular photo op going un answered. I dont deny that it was a boost to the troops there stationed, but the motives are purely political. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" Wayne Gretzky | ||
| tjohn Citizen Username: Tjohn Post Number: 1918 Registered: 12-2001  |
I think Dubya's motives were personal and sincere. It was a good thing for him to do. I wouldn't care to speak for the motives of Karl Rove or any other political operative. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3939 Registered: 5-2001 |
How many patrols were eliminated to provide security? Even though his visit may have slowed operations, I think it was a nice thing to do, if it was to honor the troops, not upstage Hillary. I will give him credit for flying into Bagdad airport. Last week a DHL airfreighter was hit by a SAM while taking off. The evildoers actually video taped the attack and released it to the press. Can a 747 do a tactical departure? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2219 Registered: 9-2001 |
Our President represents all Americans, and it doesn’t matter what party he belongs to. Bush flew to Iraq because he can, and because he's the leader of the free world. Our leaders don't hide in caves, or in underground tunnels. He has shown the world Americans can go anywhere, anytime. Regardless of any other factors, our President risked his life while showing his respect for our armed forces. I’m proud of him and all our service men and women, and I’m proud to be an American. | ||
| Kenney Citizen Username: Kenney Post Number: 113 Registered: 11-2003 |
"The first conversation about this trip took place approximately five or six weeks ago--the concept of visiting the troops during the holidays." Private Stephen Henderson, 19, of Inglewood, Calif., an Army infantryman, part of 1st Armored Division, 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry (136 Spartans), Task Force 137 ? has been in Iraq 1.5 week and expects to be here five or six more month. "I've never been so surprised. I had no idea ? not a clue. I feel uplifted. I almost forgot I was even here." Xxx PFC Mark Hansen, 29, of Hillsborough, N.J., an Army field artillery surveyor (sorry no unit ?my bad), re the President, "I never thought he would be here. I'm proud to have him as the commander-in-chief. You can't beat it." Re Iraq: "It's frightening. Once you here the first shot, your adrenaline is pumping and you're in the game." to all my thoughts, add to the end: or not. | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1481 Registered: 10-2001 |
HILLARY CLINTON IS IN AFGHANISTAN...NOT IRAQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| Duncan Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 1214 Registered: 12-2001 |
whats your point? That the democrats went to where the real threat is?? "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" Wayne Gretzky | ||
| Kenney Citizen Username: Kenney Post Number: 114 Registered: 11-2003 |
so cynical you people are........... to all my thoughts, add to the end: or not. | ||
| DrFalomar Citizen Username: Drfalomar Post Number: 94 Registered: 7-2003 |
bah. while the troops appreciated the gesture, i heard it reported, they also understood that election season has started. | ||
| harpo Citizen Username: Harpo Post Number: 1045 Registered: 6-2001 |
Hillary Clinton is scheduled to arrive in Iraq either today or tomorrow. It was her plan to go there before Bush made his plans. Air Force One is at little risk of being shot down by missiles, according to the Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17479-2003Nov27.html (and I beleive the DHL plane was landing, not taking off, when it's wing was hit last week, but I could be remembering that wrongly.) Here is a round up of how the international media viewed Bush's visit (courtesay of an Austrailian website): The conservative London Times in its front-page report called the visit "one of the most audacious publicity coups in White House history." Europe's leading business daily, the London-based Financial Times, used the visit to repeat its call for general elections in Iraq, rather than the US government's "top-down strategy built around favoured exiles and a timetable synchronised with President Bush's re-election campaign". "Electoral raid on Baghdad" read the headline in the left-wing Paris daily Liberation which summed up European newspaper editorial reaction to President George W Bush's Thanksgiving Day visit to US troops in Iraq. "The turkey has landed," ran the front-page headline in the London daily Independent. "George Bush becomes the first US president to visit Iraq in order to provide the television pictures required by his re-election campaign," it said, noting that Hillary Rodham Clinton, "his undeclared Democratic opponent," was on her way to Baghdad from Afghanistan. In Madrid, the centre-right daily El Mundo said the visit was "a publicity stunt which will not solve the problem of Iraq." The daily Vanguardia, published in Spain's second city Barcelona, said "George W Bush does not attend the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq, but has dinner in Baghdad with those who dream of coming home alive." The right-wing La Razon said "Caesar Bush" was exploiting Hollywood machinery to the full to send a message loud and clear to those who doubted the wisdom of his military policies. In Rome, the daily La Republica described the visit as "a brillant stage-managed event and a courageous act". But it said it was also "obviously an electoral blitz, a Hollywood-style stunt of the kind we will see again and again throughout the campaign." The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot said: "Bush's popularity will undoubtedly go up in opinion polls this week, but on the condition that his army does not face another painful strike." Israel's Ma'ariv said: "It is like playing the last $100 dollar bill at the casino," adding that "only one thing can ensure victory for Bush at the November 2004 polls: Saddam Hussein dead or chained up." "Bush 'infiltrated' Baghdad for two hours," scoffed the front-page headline of the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat. In Beirut, Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, owned by Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, announced that "Bush's secret visit to Baghdad opens presidential election season." A front-page editorial in Lebanon's leading An-Nahar newspaper compared Bush to Roman emperor Julius Caesar, but said the US president could not repeat the phrase: "I came, I saw, I conquered." The editorial was headlined: "I came, I saw nothing, but I will conquer." | ||
| Dr. Winston O'Boogie Citizen Username: Casey Post Number: 308 Registered: 8-2003  |
kenney, anyone who isn't cynical these days just insn't paying attention. but this cynic isn't going to criticize Bush's visit. | ||
| Kenney Citizen Username: Kenney Post Number: 115 Registered: 11-2003 |
I have seen the light now...our president is indeed a bad man...shame on him for spending thanksgiving with the troops...bad bad man.. to all my thoughts, add to the end: or not. | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1483 Registered: 10-2001 |
Harpo, How the hell do you know who made the plans first??? Stop already with the assumptions. Bush was in Iraq on Thanksgiving, Not Hillary...period. "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| algebra2 Citizen Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 1450 Registered: 5-2001  |
It's nice that Bush was in Iraq and it's nice that Hill was in Afganistan. | ||
| tjohn Citizen Username: Tjohn Post Number: 1919 Registered: 12-2001 |
I think one can safely assume that all presidential advisors always have an eye on public relations and plan accordingly. However, at the end of the day, the President is still a human being and actually does have certain beliefs and points of view outside of purely public relations and reelection considerations. I have no problem at all believing that Bush sincerely wanted to visit Baghdad to thank the troops and boost their morale. The fact that this visit also plays well politically doesn't make Bush insincere. |
