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U.S. troops in Baghdad get big surprise,...

Nov 27, 2003 2:49AM PST
...namely, a visit from President Bush
With the president out of sight, L. Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. civilian administrator, told the soldiers it was time to read the president's Thanksgiving proclamation and that it was a task for the most senior official present.

"Is there anybody back there more senior than us?" he asked. That was the cue for Bush, who promptly stepped forward from behind a curtain, setting off pandemonium among the troops.

"I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere," he joked. "Thanks for inviting me."

Discussion is locked

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i think i shall rename my favourite bowling ball ''George''...:-)) good for him!
Nov 27, 2003 3:00AM PST

/

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Re:i think i shall rename my favourite bowling ball ''George''...:-)) good for him!
Nov 28, 2003 3:25PM PST

Is that after Mr. Harrison who fought for peace and tranquility and against hunger during a great part of his life?

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And as the old saying goes....
Nov 27, 2003 5:42PM PST

And as the old saying goes in a customized version: the Democratic silence was deafening.
Inside the Beltway rumor has it that the Democratic spin merchants started a run on the local stores that sell arch supports.

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Flat footed is right....
Nov 27, 2003 11:56PM PST
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Re:Flat footed is right....
Nov 28, 2003 12:54AM PST

I just love this:

""It's nice that he made it over there today, but this visit won't change the fact that those brave men and women should never have been fighting in Iraq in the first place," said Jay Carson, a spokesman for Howard Dean, one of the biggest critics of the war among the nine Democrats vying for the party's presidential nomination.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts issued a statement saying that the trip was "the right thing to do for our country." But, he added: "When Thanksgiving is over, I hope the president will take the time to correct his failed policy in Iraq that has placed our soldiers in a shooting gallery.""

We support our troops, but this war is WRONG! Wrong! You can't have it both ways.

Bo

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Re:U.S. troops in Baghdad get big surprise,... sure did!
Nov 27, 2003 11:31PM PST

And, thank the Lord, the story did not break and enganger his plans.

The TV coverage said a dangerous part of the trip was landing there in a darkened airport.

Kudos to The Commander-in Chief!

Angeline
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

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Re:story breaking
Nov 28, 2003 12:04AM PST

I heard on the news as I was getting ready for work yesterday that the reporters on Air Force One were told after takeoff where they were going.

And they were told that if one hint of it appeared anywhere in the media before they landed, the plane would be turned around. (And I suspect if ever found out who, their White House credentials revoked.)

roger

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They also confiscated the reporters' cell phones and pagers ...
Nov 28, 2003 11:29AM PST

They made it really clear up front that nobody was supposed to leak anything during the trip.

The report I heard said that even the Secret Service detail in Texas didn't get any advance warning.

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This was great for morale!
Nov 28, 2003 3:05AM PST

A great move by GW!

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NT Great for morale for 800, was it? I see green eyes for the rest of the grunts all over that sorry place. Nov. next is NEAR !
Nov 28, 2003 8:10AM PST
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Were you thinking a tour maybe?
Nov 28, 2003 1:32PM PST

Complete with an open topped car with GW waving to the cheering crowds?
What do green eyes mean?

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NT And another thing, if he thinks so much of the men/women in uniform now, how come he was nearly AWOL (or in fact) back when he was in the Guard???
Nov 28, 2003 11:01AM PST
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Aww, come on T Lee
Nov 28, 2003 11:15AM PST

Sure it was a partly (at least) a political stunt. But it surely even by second hand tale helped morale over there some.

It's ok to be cynical about it, but do you have to pick at the visit to the troops more than once? at least more than once a day?

Whatever mistakes he's made, I still think it was a good thing for the troops that are there, without regard to differing opinions of whether they should be there or not.

roger

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Re:Aww, come on T Lee
Nov 28, 2003 11:28AM PST

Hi, Roger,

>>I still think it was a good thing for the troops that are there, without regard to differing opinions of whether they should be there or not.<<
Guess what -- so do I! I'd ask Ed O'D for his flying pig graphic, except it doesn't work on the new software...
-- Dave K.