Dubya has his turkey in Baghdad

[duck]

Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq


By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

BAGHDAD, Iraq - President Bush (news - web sites) made a surprise Thanksgiving visit to American troops in Baghdad Thursday, flying secretly to violence-scarred Iraq (news - web sites) to thank U.S. forces for serving there. It was the first trip ever by an American president to Iraq — a mission tense with concern about his safety.

"You are defending the American people from danger and we are grateful," Bush told some 600 soldiers who were stunned and delighted by his appearance.


The president's plane — its lights darkened and windows closed to minimzie chances of making it a target — landed under a crescent moon at Bagdad International Airport.


Bush flew in on the plane he most often uses, and White House officials went to extraordinary lengths to keep the trip a secret, fearing its disclosure would prompt terrorist attempts to kill him.


The news of Bush's trip was not released until he was in the air on the way back to the United States. "If this breaks while we're in the air we're turning around," White House communications director Dan Bartlett told reporters on the flight to Baghdad.


Security fears were heightened by an attack last Saturday in which a missile struck a DHL cargo plane, forcing it to make an emergency landing at the airport with its wing aflame.


Bush spent only about two hours on the ground, limiting his visit to the airport dinner with U.S. forces. The troops had been told that the VIP guests would be L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, and Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in Iraq.


In a ruse staged in the name of security, the White House had put out word that Bush would be spending Thanksgiving at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, with his wife, Laura, his parents and other family members. Even the dinner menu was announced.


Instead, Bush slipped away from his home without notice Wednesday evening and flew to Washington to pick up aides and a handful of reporters sworn to secrecy. Plans called for the trip to be abandoned if word had leaked out in advance.


Within the White House only a handful of senior aides knew about the trip, officials said.


Security fears were underscored by regular attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq. More than five dozen U.S. troops were killed by hostile fire in November, more than any other month since the end of major combat in Iraq on May 1. Early this week, a U.S. military official, Col. William Darley, said attacks peaked at more than 40 per day about two weeks ago and have since dropped to about 30 per day.


The violence persisted Thursday as the president was en route here.


Insurgents fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the Italian mission in Baghdad, damaging the building but causing no injuries, the U.S. military said. Also, a U.S. military convoy came under attack on the main highway west of Baghdad near the town of Abu Ghraib, witnesses said. And in the northern city of Mosul, unidentified gunmen shot dead an Iraqi police sergeant, said Brig. Gen. Muwaffaq Mohammed.


Since operations began, nearly 300 U.S. service members have died of hostile action, including 183 since May 1 when Bush declared an end to major fighting.


Bush's father visited U.S. troops at a desert outpost in Saudi Arabia on Thanksgiving Day 1990, in the runup to the Gulf War (news - web sites). "We won't pull punches. We are not here on some exercise. And we're not walking away until our mission is done, until the invader is out of Kuwait," he told the troops. At one p oint, he climbed into a bunker to chat with troops.


Bush's father shared lunch with U.S. troops 65 miles from Kuwait, occupied at the time by Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s forces. George H.W. Bush had been the first U.S. president to visit a front-line area since President Nixon went to Vietnam in 1969.

[ShotOver]

What a leader, that takes some serious balls...

Good on him woot

[Seraphim]

Was going to post that but I considered it old news... :D

[Shake n Bake]

Wow!! That got me teary eyed seeing the troops jump to thier feet with cheers as the President walked in the mess hall.

Awesome gesture..

[ShotOver]

Where can i get the video?

[AFACadet]

That was awesome!!!! It is hard to describe my feelings when Bush came into the room and the soldiers gave their reaction.


This gave a serious boost to the troops in the area.







Think what it did to our enemies as well. To put it in perspective, think how we would feel if bin Laden or Saddam flew into Washington D.C. and talked to some sleeper cells for 2 hours, then flew back out with out anyone knowing until it was too late to do anything about it.

[mocking_loudly_died]

Pfft, I asked for a stripper.

[Haiw]

Pfft, I asked for a stripper.
lol yea
'We asked for Jenna Jameson, not this old prick!!' :D

[Royal]

Anybody here actually been out on Ops when another f**king politician or general decides to stick their f**king nose in. Ops stop for anything up to 72 hours, while the security aspects are sorted. Time dependant Ops are cancelled (because they can't be delayed) - it all turns into a monumental gang f**k that takes weeks to get over.

F**king politicains. I **** 'em.

[mocking_loudly_died]

Yanks are a different bunch Royal, they often confuse the president with Jesus.

Well....on my TV you would have thought a savior had turned up to dinner.


:D

[Kingpin]

Yanks are a different bunch Royal, they often confuse the president with Jesus.


woot

[mocking_loudly_died]

Now I must redeem myself with a Pro-American comment....hmmm....(thinks hard).

I like alot of American ****....... :D

[Kingpin]

I like alot of American ****....... :D

woot woot woot Jenna Jameson rules!

[Shake n Bake]

Yanks are a different bunch Royal, they often confuse the president with Jesus


Oh, So that must be why he gets crucified by the media on a daily basis..He's Jesus!


Respect the man and respect the office, Punks

[jdbjdb]

Anybody here actually been out on Ops when another f**king politician or general decides to stick their f**king nose in. Ops stop for anything up to 72 hours, while the security aspects are sorted. Time dependant Ops are cancelled (because they can't be delayed) - it all turns into a monumental gang f**k that takes weeks to get over.

F**king politicains. I **** 'em.

Royal..why don't you go jump in front of a subway car :bash:

[mocking_loudly_died]

Respect the man and respect the office, Punks

Shut up girly man before I slap you to tears.

[Kingpin]

Anybody here actually been out on Ops when another f**king politician or general decides to stick their f**king nose in. Ops stop for anything up to 72 hours, while the security aspects are sorted. Time dependant Ops are cancelled (because they can't be delayed) - it all turns into a monumental gang f**k that takes weeks to get over.

F**king politicains. I **** 'em.

Royal..why don't you go jump in front of a subway car :bash:

Is this offence? Or sarcasm? :fork:

[Shake n Bake]

Shut up girly man before I slap you to tears.


I like it when you talk dirty to me

[mocking_loudly_died]

Man some of you kiddies need to give atad more respect to chaps like Royal.

Politicians are all about one thing "themselves", if you are to hypnotized by their alleged "charms" then I feel sorry for you.

Blokes like Royal are the ones that end up implementing the policies with their lives.

I respect them more than any suit.

[Kingpin]

Man some of you kiddies need to give atad more respect to chaps like Royal.

Politicians are all about one thing "themselves", if you are to hypnotized by their alleged "charms" then I feel sorry for you.

Blokes like Royal are the ones that end up implementing the policies with their lives.

I respect them more than any suit.

Agreed.

The most respected members here (from those people about jobs of which i can figure out something):
Deiterium, Royal, 16 OBr SpN.

May be more... Internet is very anonymous place.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Yup Royal makes a very good point.

[Hydro]

Yes, he does.

Sure, it looks good in the papers but by god it ballses up operations. If you want to get a job done, you'd like the minimum of interference.

Totally agree that politicians are a pain in the arse, got Mr Howard, leader of the opposition visiting some guys at my unit soon, to get us low lifes out of his way, we're being turfed out on a 4.5 mile CFT! Bastard! ;)

I have to say it's a pretty ballsy move for George to put himself in that situation...

[Roger Rabbit]

If it gives a huge boost to the morale of the troops as well as the American public without causing any huge interference with ops then it could be deemed a success.

[Royal]

Respect the man and respect the office, Punks

Respect is earned, it is not given.

I do not gain the respect of the men I command becuase I hold the Queens Commission. I gain it (if I gain it) because I have earned it by my deeds and actions.

Just because I obay the lawful orders of those the Queen has seen fit to appoint, I do not have to respect a champagne socialist and an alcoholic war dodger. I agree with some of their words and many of their actions, but respect them, I do not.

[DeltaWhisky58]

Royal


Respect is earned, it is not given.

I do not gain the respect of the men I command becuase I hold the Queens Commission. I gain it (if I gain it) because I have earned it by my deeds and actions.

Just because I obay the lawful orders of those the Queen has seen fit to appoint, I do not have to respect a champagne socialist and an alcoholic war dodger. I agree with some of their words and many of their actions, but respect them, I do not.

Congratulations on your last post - thank goodness someone around here talks sense.

[Trident-za]

Congratulations on your last post - thank goodness someone around here talks sense.

Agreed..... and Martin's comment about the president and Jesus was a gem of truth :)

[NcDeuce]

F**king politicains. I **** 'em.

600 troops + whatever security they wanted to employ were all that were there...

There are thousands and thousands of troops in Iraq that can cover for these men on THANKSGIVING. Not like the entire Allied command took a holiday leave. :cantbeli:

[budanski]

It was Thanksgiving Day for christ sake, I doubt Operation Turkey Strike was going to go down. Says alot to the troops and the american people, that the president went out of his way on a national holiday to go and see them. Knock on him if you want, its no surprise many of you here arent Bush fans.

[Deuterium]

Anybody here actually been out on Ops when another f**king politician or general decides to stick their f**king nose in. Ops stop for anything up to 72 hours, while the security aspects are sorted. Time dependant Ops are cancelled (because they can't be delayed) - it all turns into a monumental gang f**k that takes weeks to get over.

F**king politicains. I **** 'em.

You speak the truth ma man. Its a love hate relationship. I applaud Bush for the effort but you hit the nail on the head.

[usa320]

Am i the only one annoyed with this forum lately?

It seems like everytime a post is made, it is replied to with "America Sux" bull****, discussion of ****o, or images of dead people.

You might even say as of late this forum is starting to blow.

:|

[Kingpin]

Am i the only one annoyed with this forum lately?

It seems like everytime a post is made, it is replied to with "America Sux" bull****, discussion of ****o, or images of dead people.

You might even say as of late this forum is starting to blow.

:|

No problem - start your discussion. Without ****o and dead soldiers (i can't assure you that there willn't be "America Sux" opinions)

[Deuterium]

Am i the only one annoyed with this forum lately?

It seems like everytime a post is made, it is replied to with "America Sux" bull****, discussion of ****o, or images of dead people.

You might even say as of late this forum is starting to blow.

:|

Its easier to complain about America than to think about their sick pathetic lives. I'm fat because of Mcdonalds(Bahahahahaha), I don't have a good job because of Walmart(Bahahahahahah), I don't have a girl friend because of Bill Gates(Bahahahahahaa) at least there's still ****.

[California Joe]

I love this country. I also reserve the right to question the motives of our politicians. Self aggrandizing lot that they are. But what the hell, if it boosted the morale of those guys over there then fine.

So this dead guy walks into a bar and sit's down next to this ****o chick...... ;)

[Roger Rabbit]

and he says to her "how much for a shag?" and shes says "$200" so off they go and boinky boinky and once he has finished and gets up to leave the dead rotting guy says "keep the tip"

[California Joe]

Have you noticed that Rupert and Seoulstroker are never in the same room at the same time? Coincidence? I think not...... ;)

[Deuterium]

I'm just waiting for the LBJ/Vietnam comments. The Left still doesn't get the carrier landing visit. If I was an ex fighter pilot, and I was the president, hell yeah I would have done it.

[Kingpin]

Its easier to complain about America than to think about their sick pathetic lives. I'm fat because of Mcdonalds(Bahahahahaha), I don't have a good job because of Walmart(Bahahahahahah), I don't have a girl friend because of Bill Gates(Bahahahahahaa) at least there's still ****.

Heh! I don't eat this **** from McDonalds, have excellent job, married and already rising child. So you're talking not about me

I respect many people in America but anyway i don't like America as a state.

[The Walrus]

I find it annoying when Bush does military photo opportunities with 'the boys' in his air force clothing, does the man have no shame?
His cushy Texas air force job let him weasel out of Vietnam and live a life of luxury flying over texas every now and then, while those not born into a powerful political dynasty fought and died in Vietnam.
I think royal sums up my feelings as well, 'F**king politicains. I **** 'em.'

[usa320]

at least there's still ****.

At least one thing will always be there...

rofl

[Jack Mehoff]

Its easier to complain about America than to think about their sick pathetic lives. I'm fat because of Mcdonalds(Bahahahahaha), I don't have a good job because of Walmart(Bahahahahahah), I don't have a girl friend because of Bill Gates(Bahahahahahaa) at least there's still ****.

Heh! I don't eat this **** from McDonalds, have excellent job, married and already rising child. So you're talking not about me

I respect many people in America but anyway i don't like America as a state.

It's very hard not to hate someone when you lost the cold war and not the king of of the hill any longer.

[Vance]

I respect many people in America but anyway i don't like America as a state.
Well you're in luck, because it isn't. ;)

[Deuterium]

Its easier to complain about America than to think about their sick pathetic lives. I'm fat because of Mcdonalds(Bahahahahaha), I don't have a good job because of Walmart(Bahahahahahah), I don't have a girl friend because of Bill Gates(Bahahahahahaa) at least there's still ****.

Heh! I don't eat this **** from McDonalds, have excellent job, married and already rising child. So you're talking not about me

I respect many people in America but anyway i don't like America as a state.

You're right. I made the above statement up just to draw you out. Now you know how we feel when you make your jabs at us. They are unwarranted and nearly always wrong. How does it feel now that the shoe is on the other foot?

[duck]

The real heroes of the Baghdad blitz visit IMHO are the Air Force One pilots who brought Dubya & the assorted staff there and back in one peace. It takes a lot of guts to land a 747 when you know there are mean men with missiles waiting for you. Guys whose dream target your plane happens to be. I hope they got an extra portion of turkey and gravy.

[Deuterium]

The real heroes of the Baghdad blitz visit IMHO are the Air Force One pilots who brought Dubya & the assorted staff there and back in one peace. It takes a lot of guts to land a 747 when you know there are mean men with missiles waiting for you. Guys whose dream target your plane happens to be. I hope they got an extra portion of turkey and gravy.

Ditto. All the electronic gadgets in the world won't stop a DShk or a KPV.

[Vance]

The real heroes of the Baghdad blitz visit IMHO are the Air Force One pilots who brought Dubya & the assorted staff there and back in one peace. It takes a lot of guts to land a 747 when you know there are mean men with missiles waiting for you. Guys whose dream target your plane happens to be. I hope they got an extra portion of turkey and gravy.

Ditto. All the electronic gadgets in the world won't stop a DShk or a KPV.
One man can....

http://www.angelfire.com/film/matrix2/images/neo.gif

[Ratamacue]

There is no spoon.

[JF45]

One man can....

http://www.angelfire.com/film/matrix2/images/neo.gif
He is....the one.


I find it annoying when Bush does military photo opportunities with 'the boys' in his air force clothing, does the man have no shame?
His cushy Texas air force job let him weasel out of Vietnam and live a life of luxury flying over texas every now and then, while those not born into a powerful political dynasty fought and died in Vietnam.
I think royal sums up my feelings as well, 'F**king politicains. I **** 'em.'
You mean as an F-102 pilot for the 147th Fighter-Interceptor Group, a unit that during that time was actively participating in combat missions in Vietnam?

[Trident-za]

OK, I've had enough of all these posts alluding to different versions of the truth - was Bush AWOL during Vietnam or did he serve in Vietnam? Was he really the big time military heroe the right-wings guys tend to suggest? Enough with the allegations - lets have some truth here, with facts to back it up, one way or the other.

P.S. As a non-US person I have no way of knowing, and I don't really care, but I'm tired of all these posts claiming different things about the situation. Put me out of my misery, if you can.

[JF45]

Great military hero....no. AWOL...also no. Someone who signed up and did his time and was honorably discharged...that pretty much sums it up. Anything else, positive or negative is just political spewing. That's why both political parties have backed off their war cries on this.

[Roger Rabbit]

So did Bush actually fly combat missions over Vietnam?

[Deuterium]

Was he really the big time military heroe the right-wings guys tend to suggest?

I've never heard this before.

[Trident-za]

Try reading this forum. Note that I said "suggest"... read some of the posts above to see what I mean....

[Deuterium]

Try reading this forum.

You got me, good one.

[JF45]

So did Bush actually fly combat missions over Vietnam?
No, and I've never heard the military hero part until this thread. My point wasn't to support either argument, just to dispel the often spouted laments about "cushy-job" and AWOL. It's one of those things that have been repeated so much it turned into truth for some.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

So did Bush actually fly combat missions over Vietnam?

The F-102 was designed for intradiction of Soviet long-rang bombers over North America. It was attached to NORAD and never saw service in Vietnam. Thus, Bush didn't go to Vietnam. Does that mean that everybody that was in the military & didn't go to Vietnam was a coward? I would say no. He did his thing in the military & got out when his time was up. He did not tiptoe into Canada or write endless letters begging for deferment stating that he "loathed the military" (like other leaders that I can think of).
I think it was a great gesture to go to Baghdad & visit. It was slightly risky but it paid off big time. That's his job. To those who hate all "suits"...if he was still a front line grunt at his age, he'd have to be a massive failure. He's the first President to visit a front line war since Nixon went to Vietnam. I give him credit for that......

[Trident-za]

Deuterium, please read my edited post.... there is a post on this thread that "suggests" that Bush was, if not a hero, very definitely an active participant in the war. I've seen SEVERAL similiar posts - if you haven't it's because you not reading this forum. Your sarcasm is not quite what I had in mind when I mentioned "truth" and "backing it up". You are a person I respect, that doesn't mean that I'm impressed by sarcasm instead of "facts". My problem is that there are lots of "suggestions" one way or the other, I'm looking for facts now....

[California Joe]

He was in the Texas Air National Guard, some suggest he phoned in his time there, others say he was present when he needed to be. Some say his Dad pulled strings to get him the deferment. Quite possible given the family wealth and power. Don't know one way or another. Never served in combat. He was honorably discharged. Did his job and was bright enough to fly a fighter jet. That's not an easy thing to do. Everything else on both sides is largely speculation and spin on the right or the left.

[Deuterium]

Deuterium, please read my edited post.... there is a post on this thread that "suggests" that Bush was, if not a hero, very definitely an active participant in the war. I've seen SEVERAL similiar posts - if you haven't it's because you not reading this forum. Your sarcasm is not quite what I had in mind when I mentioned "truth" and "backing it up". You are a person I respect, that doesn't mean that I'm impressed by sarcasm instead of "facts". My problem is that there are lots of "suggestions" one way or the other, I'm looking for facts now....

??????? SOrry you misread my post. I was agreeing 100% with what you said. We need sarcasm smilees. I wasn't being sarcastic, I was agreeing.

[Deuterium]

So did Bush actually fly combat missions over Vietnam?

The F-102 was designed for intradiction of Soviet long-rang bombers over North America. It was attached to NORAD and never saw service in Vietnam. Thus, Bush didn't go to Vietnam. Does that mean that everybody that was in the military & didn't go to Vietnam was a coward? I would say no. He did his thing in the military & got out when his time was up. He did not tiptoe into Canada or write endless letters begging for deferment stating that he "loathed the military" (like other leaders that I can think of).
I think it was a great gesture to go to Baghdad & visit. It was slightly risky but it paid off big time. That's his job. To those who hate all "suits"...if he was still a front line grunt at his age, he'd have to be a massive failure. He's the first President to visit a front line war since Nixon went to Vietnam. I give him credit for that......

Great post. You said what I was thinking.

[jdbjdb]

I do not gain the respect of the men I command becuase I hold the Queens Commission. I gain it (if I gain it) because I have earned it by my deeds and actions.

Why don't you guys get rid of the Royals the way the French did?

[Deuterium]

I do not gain the respect of the men I command becuase I hold the Queens Commission. I gain it (if I gain it) because I have earned it by my deeds and actions.

Why don't you guys get rid of the Royals the way the French did?

The only guillotines are in Madame Tousaud's. Plus it gives them something to concentrate their ire on.

[ibstolidude]

Anybody here actually been out on Ops when another f**king politician or general decides to stick their f**king nose in. Ops stop for anything up to 72 hours, while the security aspects are sorted. Time dependant Ops are cancelled (because they can't be delayed) - it all turns into a monumental gang f**k that takes weeks to get over.

F**king politicains. I **** 'em.
as a "yank" I say..

hear, hear....unless they bring whores and cash for me..

and they never bring whores and cash.

[ibstolidude]

Its easier to complain about America than to think about their sick pathetic lives. I'm fat because of Mcdonalds(Bahahahahaha), I don't have a good job because of Walmart(Bahahahahahah), I don't have a girl friend because of Bill Gates(Bahahahahahaa) at least there's still ****.

Heh! I don't eat this **** from McDonalds, have excellent job, married and already rising child. So you're talking not about me

I respect many people in America but anyway i don't like America as a state.
It's very hard not to hate someone when you lost the cold war and not the king of of the hill any longer.

:lol:

[The Walrus]

Why don't you guys get rid of the Royals the way the French did?

The royal family only play a cermonial role at best here, IMO they're still here partly because of legal reasons, and partly to extentuate the quintessential 'Britishness' that is so appealing to tourists around the world, sort of like a 'unique selling point', from a marketing point of view.
For the extra cash we get from tourism we have to deal with the tea drinking posh Hugh-Grant 'Gosh jolly gosh er... er... Bugger' stereotype.

[Nizark]

ok, to bring this thread back to the topic here...im no bush supporter, but i have to say, that baghdad stunt for sure scored him some domestic points with the floater voters. But it did show, even though he doesnt have it otherwise, real leadership...military leadership if not civilian....<insert AWOL joke here>

[mocking_loudly_died]

And to take this off topic again: I just did an awesome fart.

[Argyll]

the forum sphincter posted

Why don't you guys get rid of the Royals the way the French did?


well buddy we could also ask the same about your president!,but then again which one would that be Bush or Sharon?

Back to the topic

On a personal point ,also being a UK citizen,I thought it was a great gesture for the troops,but for the Security services a potentail disaster!
Fair play to the man I say!

Royal,
In 83/84 I was on a JNCO's cadre Exercise in Cyprus,where the cadre were playing SF roles(due to one of the DS being ex 21!!!),when we were all pulled off the exercise suddenly for a hush hush "real job,we thought it was a wind up and a fu*k about,until all these Int guys appeared and the ammo we were issued was "live",we were to provide inner cordon cover,within the GOC's house grounds for a VIP who was stopping off for the night,enroute to another engagement,after a long series of bitching and moaning,about missing the crack on the exercise,it all stopped when that VIP was seen going into the house....it was none other than HM the Queen!!,our Commander in Chief,thereafter Regimantal pride took over

[jdbjdb]

For the extra cash we get from tourism we have to deal with the tea drinking posh Hugh-Grant 'Gosh jolly gosh er... er... Bugger' stereotype.
For that cermonial role, how much do royals get?

[The Walrus]

For that cermonial role, how much do royals get?

Well, if you include the money needed to maintain the palaces, pay/feed/house the servants, Corgi food, Prince Charles libel etc I'm pretty sure the annual royal maintanance bill would definetaly be around the £10,000,000 mark, but like I said, maintaining the image probably draws in ten times that ammount due to tourism.
People here have a sort of love-hate relationship with the royals, they get the piss taken out of them on a very regular basis, but they're here to stay wether we like it or not so we try to make the most of it ;)