Bush's Thanksgiving trip to Baghdad

[Tab]

Whitey, why should Bush send his children out there, is not the American Army a Volunteer Army at the moment. So every one has the choices in which way they serve their country. If Bush needs to send his children then what about every other politician in America should they not also send there children and how far down the ladder do you go with this or is it that you just don't like Bush?.

[Frank S.]

Now if he had stayed at home that would have been wrong, instead he went out to the war zone and spent it with the troops and he is still wrong, just what is supposed to do?.

Yeah, that's pretty much the crux of it, I think.
Although I wouldn't criticize him for staying home for Thanksgiving. I do not blame him for going to Baghdad, but I would blame his entourage.
It's suggested that the CinC should lead by example, but he is also in charge of much more. It can be easy to forget than nothing and no one's completely black or white, but as an example, the so-called Bush energy bill is not something that Bush is happy with: one crucial item is the development of Alaska for oil exploration. A porker for which all other states but Alaska would pay for. There exists an alternative to this, much cheaper, which would still develop that state, and Bush was actually more in favor of that. But his party pushed and lobbyied so hard for the porker he had no choice than sign it.
So it's not as though the man's a complete and utter fool.

As to the Baghdad trip, it may be a glass half-full or half-empty proposition.
I think it had more of a positive impact than otherwise, but as to 'what is he supposed to do', I maintain that attending military funerals as allowed by his schedule and without media being present should be the way to go.
The absence of media would be consistent with attempts to maintain as low a profile as possible for the issue of casualties. But the families of the dead need this and that would be the decent thing to do, it just does not need to be publicized and word of mouth would be sufficient to show he is not ignoring the sacrifices made by the military.
Again, my issue with the trip goes beyong my opinion of the man. I suspect for instance, that when Wolfowitz made his trip (admittedly with much less security), the Iraqi opposition scrambled to target him specifically: before the rocket attack on his hotel in Baghdad, a BlackHawk was shot down in the area he had left only 10 minutes before.
Could be coincidence.
But when you add the DHL cargo plane hit just one day before Bush's visit, it seems to me this election year is going to be one of the nastiest ever.

There are just some things you don't roll the dice with.

[Sticky Blue]

Now if he had stayed at home that would have been wrong, instead he went out to the war zone and spent it with the troops and he is still wrong, just what is supposed to do?.

He could have sent them a text!

Frank, whatever he did he would have been dammed. He should attend a few funerals, but which ones? If he didn't attend a certain one he would be criticised so he probably sends a personal letter thereby treating all the same. His trip was a PR exercise and I suppose the secrecy was maintained by using the military networks and giving it a special designation apart from 'Airforce 1'. He would be fairly safe though, the fighter escorts would have been supported by everything they could get in the air, I bet the local TV reception was crap that day! By going he will have impressed a fair few voters and that is what he is building upto... the election.

[Wholley]

Listen Up,Ye of Little Faith.
It matters not what you think of Bush.
What he did was selfless and undeniably brave.
He did what was right in my opinion.
He really does not have to worry about his re-election.
Just scope the opposition.
Even HRH Hilary Rodham Clinton could not find fault with his trip,apart from trying to upstage him.
he is not the smartest president ever,but he may prove to be one of the
most honest.
Digging as I type.
Wholley.

[Whitey]

I don't trust politicians. Send his kids on this noble war against terroism, sure lead by example. Truth is we are going to have to draft soon, the rumor is the board has already been hired. I can't wait to see the reaction either.

[Frank S.]

What he did was selfless and undeniably brave.

Yes, what he was made to do was brave.
But this wasn't his idea.
And that makes me question who really is in charge.

But... I think we've covered the question of the trip.

[Frank S.]

Truth is we are going to have to draft soon, the rumor is the board has already been hired. I can't wait to see the reaction either.

Me either. We must have heard the same thing from maybe different sources.

Oh boy this'll be an interesting year in many ways.

[Whitey]

Frank,
I saw it on the news, it was a 20 second then never see it again story. We are going to have to draft, the recruiting shortfalls are going to require it. Why is it brave for Bush to sneek into Iraq? 19 year old kids go on convoys everyday, stand guard infront of buildings in plain sight. Bush owed that vistit to those soldiers, and maybe it is a risk he should have made back in the 60's. Sorry, the troops will buy it because they are troops, I would have. But being out now, I see it so clear. It is a sign moral is bad there, that the war or the "War" they want us to believe in isn't going well. I mean, who do you fight? If I was a president, I'd have been leading by example, my son would be slaying dragons, and I'd be leading a Bn. This war ain't nothing but redistribute the wealth and everyone is seeing it. I wouldn't mind much, but we ain't getting much of the wealth out of it down here in the little people land.

[nbforrest]

Americans love a John Wayne Hooah macho kinda guy.

I too think Bush is Just another politician. It takes a bit more ballsack for the president to go to Baghdad I think. He is a bigger target. Imagine the havok if some habib snuffed the President? The muslim world would explode. I agree with the secrecy, I agree with the visit. I would love too, to see a world leader in the trenches with Joe if even for a week or two, hell even one patrol. I remember seeing a picture of gentleman Jim Gavin in the hedgerows fighting along side two privates during the invasion of Normandy. No wonder the men of the 82nd fought so hard that day, the General was putting steel in flesh alongside em.

[Whitey]

I mean it was cool and all, but it was calculated. Bush seems to be changing, I don't know if it is election year or what. He seems kind of worried and like he genuinely cares, but man it is hard to be for sure. I also liked the Carrier deal at first sight, but later thought it was a scam.I'm sure the soldiers liked it though. I guess if it helps lift some kids spirits and helps keep him alert overthere and alive then cool. BTW I'm voting for Bush, just because the opposition seems worse. But that is the only reason.

[Jon]

The only reason that Bush went to Iraq is for publicity and to win over hearts of American voters. The same reason why he came over to the UK.

It was not brave. It was wise for him not to mention it in advance because that would have signalled a war at Bagdhad Airport. However, fools will believe that he did not mention it because it was not ment to be a publicity stunt.

[nbforrest]

I disagree, in one sense everything politicians do is political. Its in thier nature, Its why one shouldn'y play with rattlesnakes; they bite its thier nature.
On the other hand, Bush didn't have to go at all. He Was here in the Springs recently and a few of the guys in my unit went to see him. They got the impression that he really likes Joe.

[Frank S.]

It's a complex issue, made more complicated by the fact that it does appear Bush likes 'regular Joes'. However, the same secrecy which was applied to his trip could have been applied to shorter trips to military funerals. He owed it to the dead as much, if not more, as he did the living.

[Whitey]

How about that Hillary? The troops looked forced to shake her dick beater.
If Bush was smart he'd get her exiled.

[Jon]

What I meant is that Bush kept it secret so that when the Americans saw it on the news, they would be surprised and would applaud him more because they may have the impression that he done it out of heart, not out of ratings. Anyway, it was the same as kissing a baby - to look good (no pro-paedophila meant).