Bush has thanksgiving with troops

“Link

Everyone here should know that I am generally critical of this administration, but this is a classy move. Hopefully, this heartened some of the troops he visited with. Kudos to W.”

“Yep, that is a pretty cool thing for the Pres to do. He sure didn't have to - and took a big risk flying Air Force 1 into Baghdad Int'l. Wonder how many fighter escorts they had on approach?”

“I feel that was about as responsible as flying on and off an aircraft carrier. Mark my words...you'll see the pics for his re-election campaign..”

“Foolhardy stunt.”

“Oh without a doubt laqtis, it'll be great for the campaign machine.”

“Of course there's a campaign element to it, but if those folks took some heart from it, it's worth it.

And it doesn't seem like such a dangerous thing, considering the secrecy they kept.”

“Like him or not, this is what he his to the troops. Watch on TV to see how jazzed they are.

Goes to show, the White House can be leak proof if it wants to be. ;-)”

“I'm not a GW fan either, but this was indeed a classy thing to do. I feel for those of you who are so blinded by your idealogy that you can't recognize something positive when it slaps you in the face.”

“Right on, wanderer. It's so easy to be critical. That's all some of these people are, critical-know-it-alls, after the fact.

This does not mean that I will vote for him. In fact, because of his policies, I plan to register and vote against him. And I have not voted since the last good candidate, George Wallace. But this president has inspired to take action.”

“I didn't vote for him and I dont plan to again, but...

it was a good thing to do.”

“Your a good egg Phead.

Unfortunately there are those who would see Bush walk on water and deride him for not being able to swim.”

“pffff yea thatll happen

im with phaedrus, like him or dislike him, cool move”

“Phaedy is off ignore.”

“Cool...very cool of Mr. Bush to visit the troops.

Bush sneaked out of his 1,600-acre Crawford ranch in an unmarked car Wednesday evening, slipping past reporters without notice.

Now this is what I thought was interesting...do reporters sleep in the road outside his house or something?

Oh, and anyone can walk on water...just wait until it's frozen.”

“No, Dub, keeping it top secret means only the Bush-selected reporters got to ride on Air Force One with him ;)”

“I wonder how much that plane ticket cost 'em?”

“I smell a FOX.”

“I guess you all missed the cargo plane being hit with a a shoulder-fired rocket last week. For that reason I say it was foolhardy.

As for the political grandstanding, they can't use the 'Mission Accomplished' footage from the Abraham Lincoln, now, so they needed SOMEthing to fill the ads with next Fall.”

“Speaking of Abe Lincoln...I heard on the radio this morning that you could buy some of his hair on eBay...hmmmm.”

“Got any DNA on those follicles? We could grow a new one! <G>”

“Phaedy is off ignore."
bacpac

until he says something you dont agree with”

“He finally said something that makes sense.

I don't have to agree with him.”

“I hate politics and politicians but I liked what he did. The troops enjoyed it, he appeared to enjoy it and that kind of thing must BURN Taliban ass! Hehehehe! Can't you just see their open jaws as they discovered Bush was on their land on America's day of thanksgiving!!”

“I don't think what he did was nessesary a bad thing, however, just like Clinton being "accessible" to a cheap whore in an area where no one could see what was happening (she coulda off'ed him anytime without anyone knowing....), I don't feel comfortable with our leader jetting in and out of a war zone, thus putting himself in danger. This is twice he has done a fool hardy thing.

If the country was more secure, I would not have a problem with it, really. Too bad only 600 troops got to see him. I think it would have meant a lot to the others that are there.

The two times he has put himself in unnessesary danger just makes me ill. As much as I disagree with the man, it would be a HUGE blow if he was killed doing something that wasn't nessesary. Classy thing to do? Yep, you betcha. Hows about waiting until it's a little bit better over there and you could fly in freely. Because of that, I think it was stupid......

So, I'm a bad guy cause I hold high standards for our leader. My feelings about this would be the same whoever was President. Ya'll go ahead, clap away and reward irresponsible behavior. I don't feel comfortable about it and I know for a fact that I'm not alone.


Whatnever.....”

“Gee, what a coinscience:

Sen. Clinton Spends Thanksgiving in Afghanistan


BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (search) promised Thursday that America will stand with Afghanistan as it tries to rebuild after a quarter-century of conflict and warned Taliban (search) rebels that they "are fighting a losing battle."

But the New York Democrat also said more troops are needed in the multinational military coalition providing security. She told The Associated Press it was for others to decide whether those troops should come from the United States or other countries.

The former first lady, who was in Afghanistan along with Sen. Jack Reed (search), D-R.I., on a whistlestop tour to spend Thanksgiving with U.S. troops, said the United States is determined to support Afghan President Hamid Karzai (search).

"I am very impressed by the resolve of the Afghan government, President Karzai in particular," Clinton said after a meeting with Karzai at the presidential palace.

She spoke in a room at the palace still pocked by decades of conflict. Two windows behind Clinton had bullet holes in them.

Clinton said Washington is concerned about recent attacks, especially in the south and east of the country, by Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters against aid workers, Afghan government employees and soldiers.

More than a dozen aid workers have been killed this year, most recently a 29-year-old French woman working with the U.N. refugee agency who was gunned down in broad daylight earlier this month south of the capital. The killing led the United Nations and several aid agencies to pull international staffers out of large swaths of the country.

"The U.S. is resolved to stand as a strong partner and to ensure that the terrorists, whoever they are, wherever they come from, will be dealt with," Clinton said. "The message should be: The Taliban terrorists are fighting a losing battle."

Clinton and Reed, who once served as a U.S. Army paratrooper, later sat down for a dinner of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie with about 50 American soldiers at Bagram Air Base (search), just north of the capital.

"I also want to convey to them that the American people are fully behind them as they carry out a very difficult task," Clinton said.

Afterward, Clinton said in the AP interview that more troops are needed to defeat insurgents and to provide the security needed for Afghans to rebuild.

Taliban and Al Qaeda forces are trying "to wear down our staying power," she said. "I believe we need more troops to be able to provide that security."

Clinton said she couldn't say whether additional forces should be drawn from the U.S. military, NATO nations or the armed forces of other countries.

"It is hard to see how in a country this large with the challenges it faces we can expect to deliver the necessary security with the troop strength we have," Clinton said.

Clinton met with soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, which is based at Fort Drum in northern New York.

"I have a lot of respect for her as a woman," said Staff Sgt. Tamecha Moore, 31, from Hempstead, N.Y. "I hope she runs for president."

Clinton has said she has no intention to run for president in 2004.

The two senators, who have criticized the Bush administration's handling of postwar operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, were later traveling to Iraq. Reed is making his second visits to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Bagram Air Base, just north of Kabul, is home to most of the 11,600 coalition soldiers in Afghanistan. An additional 5,500 peacekeepers patrol the capital.

On Nov. 7, American and Afghan soldiers launched a special anti-terrorism operation in two eastern provinces of snow-covered mountains bordering Pakistan: Nuristan and Kunar.

On Sunday a U.S. transport helicopter crashed just after leaving Bagram in support of the operation, killing five U.S. servicemen and injuring eight. The cause of the crash is being investigated, but the Pentagon said the MH-53's engine may have failed.

Some 35 Americans have died from hostile fire in Afghanistan since the October 2001 start of the Afghan war, according to the U.S. military.

Karzai's government has taken important steps toward adopting a new constitution and holding elections in war-torn Afghanistan.

But Karzai and the coalition forces have been criticized for failing to reign in warlords, and for allowing cultivation of poppies — the source of heroin — to boom.

In another development Thursday, Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-American, arrived in Kabul to assume his position as the new U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. Khalilzad, an ethnic Pashtun, previously served as President Bush's special envoy.



---I hope he wasn't thinking that he woulda gotten "upstaged" by Hillary going to Afgani---”

“And I thought I was cynical... LOL


On that point about Afghani heroin --- an author on Booknotes about three weeks ago said that production may be up as much as twenty-fold since the fall of the Taliban.”

“"On that point about Afghani heroin --- an author on Booknotes about three weeks ago said that production may be up as much as twenty-fold since the fall of the Taliban......"

it's the same in Columbia. They grow great coffee, but they can't make as much money as they can growing cocaine. until there is a more porfitable crop, Afgani herion will continue to grow and in great numbers.

I'm not trying to be cynical. I should have prefaced the above post with the "tongue in cheek" disclaimer. Really, I think he should be jetting into every hot LZ 'round the world. It re-enforces to the world what an idiot he is.......”

“I thought it was illustrative that a 'War On Drugs' could actually be successful..... if Taliban-like methods were employed.”

“The Tallie cracked down like a mo fo onthe herion growers, only to find out that they burried a big part of the economy. A few months before we went in, the Tallie let up on the growers to generate more cash for themselves. D@mned if you do, damn if you don't.

I really don't understand why the CIA isn't buying it and putting it on the streets, ala Vietnam. Or more relistically, the US should be buying the stuff and disposing of it. Makes sence if yer a country trying to battle against a growing drug. Heroin is making a full, big time come back.”

“I need to read up on the Opium Wars ---”

“Classy move by Dubya. Yes, it will be in campaign ads. That is the power of incumbency, and any fool knows that.

But visiting the troops in a hot war zone, joining the serving line to dish out food to the troops (even if only for a photo-op) is cool.

He is the commander-in-chief, so reaching out to the troops is always good.

I'll still vote for A-B-B (anybody but Bush), but classy thing to do.”

“Let me throw this out there.....

Whatcha y'all woulda been saying if his plane woulda got shot down doing this? Would everyone still be saying it was a good idea?

I hedge a bet even bacpac would be up in arms if Gee Dub got blasted outta the sky. Like I said before......

support the troops = great thing to do

jetting in and out of a war zone for a photo opp on my dime and putting the leader of the free world at risk = stupid ass.

Everyone but the Pres was strongly against this. The Pentagon was outta there skin over this. Concider the extra costs we spent protecting him during his campagn photo opp (that's all it was).”

“Bush Sr. was explaining to a riggers convention how his gear
made by the Switlik Parachute company saved his life on a one way mission in the Pacific. The crowd asked him to do a sky dive.
He thought fuggit why not? A 72 yr. old president doing his first
freefall since WW2.
Bush jr. put his money where his
mouth is. Showing that a pvt is
just as important as he is.
That's fuggin All American!”

“I can't see it as a terrible thing that he risked personal injury or death to give a morale boost to some troops.

BTW, Hillary gets props, too.”

“laqtis - You are sure critical of the president. So he took a calculated risk. I take risks every day. If his trip had been one-way, so what? We have back-ups, the VP, etc.

Maybe I missed it, but I did not see you critize the risk to Sen. Clinton in Afghanistan. I guess a Senator is expendible.”

“criticize”

“slimmer - Hillary is not our President, therefore, if she would have died, it would not have been as big of a blow as loosing the President. It would have been more of a blow to her state she represents and the overall impact to our nation would not be as large as loosing him.

For the record, I feel that it is very risky for any of our leaders from our Government to put themselves in danger. I really didn't like the fact that McCain and others in there a few months ago. I was real freaked when Wolfowitz was almost killed in that rocket attack not too long ago. Bush going over there when there is still combat happening is not responisble. There are other ways that he could show his support for them, without putting himself in danger. Expectations are higher for him than they are for you and me. Also, I don't feel comfortable about our "back up plan" if he dies. Chaney calling the shots is just plan scary (but on second thought, what's to say he's not calling them anyhoo).

we all take risks every day when we wake up. Hell, hiking is one risky activity! However, I'm not in charge of a country. I'm not the leader of the free world. I know when the risks out weigh the benifit and adjust. What would have been wrong with holding out until Christmas? Why right now?

Again and I will keep stating this until I gets blue in the face. My feelings have nothing to do with the fact that I don't like Bush as a President. I don't care if Mother Frickin Treasa was the President,. I'd still rake her over teh coals fer doing something like this. I am not afraid of anything other than losing OUR leader. This brazen additude has been stepped up a notch now. Why not go to Afgani? They need his support too! They've been there longer and have a smaller force! What's going to be the next "stunt"? Again, if this wasn't a big deal, nobody in the Government woulda batted an eye lash. All of his people thought it was too risky! This is not a simple thing he did and mark my words, it will have a backlash.”

“What do you feel the backlash will be?”

“Sure it was risky. That’s why it was a cool thing to do.”

“Which doesn’t preclude me from posting an outrageous photoshop of the event.”

“I betcha he took a real big dump, right there in Bagdad!!!”

“Hey, I don't like Bush's positions and think he lacks qualities necessary in a president.

However, this was good. If any of these Democrats win the election, they will have to fight this war. We should all want anything related to the place to go smoothly.

Apparently, a British Airways pilot saw Air Force One on its way and asked incredulously over radio "Is that Air Force One?" The AF #1 pilot radioed quickly with the name of another, similar looking plane and the incident passed.

Finally, read yesterday's paper and today's paper very, very closely. Thanksgiving is the day on which politicians release information that they don't want the public to know. It generally dies for lack of interest in the holiday mix and the politicians don't have to answer for it.

Example: Democratic Gov. Granholm of MI announced approval of natural gas drilling permits in the near wilderness Mason Tract of lower MI yesterday. No one probably noticed.”

“"Sure it was risky. That’s why it was a cool thing to do."

I agree.. He's only another person just like the rest of the troops. It made him more human.”

“We know what a great symbol of American prestige Air Force One is, but what would the consequences have been if a Stinger had connected with one of its fuel tanks?

That's right --- from what I'm hearing, they didn't think to fly him in on a more unobtrusive plane; they took the 747! How often does a 747 land at the former Saddam International Airport? Much less one with That paint-job?

D-U-M-B.

Unbelievably so.



Can you imagine the fallout from something like that? Remember all the threats two years ago about turning Arabia into one very large sheet of glass.... You know the same people would have been at it again if this stunt had backfired.

Would those people have given Bush and his PR flunkies their fair share of the responsibility? Or would Baghdad be a candidate for a quick impression of Dresden?

And For What?”

“If this was cool, I can think of lots of other cool things for George to do, LOL.... He could use a parachute or a skateboard and not put other people's lives at risk.

Pretzel, anyone?”

“Air force One probably has some
pretty good defensive systems on it.(Escape from New York)
I don't believe anything until I see Violins' photoshop anyway!

In the meantime I'm heading out for a quarter pounderW/cheese.”

“Air force One probably has some
pretty good defensive systems on it.(Escape from New York)
I don't believe anything until I see Violins' photoshop anyway!

In the meantime I'm heading out for a quarter pounderW/cheese.”

“I coughed when I hit the submit button.dang!”

“I'm no expert but I gotta think it would be pretty hard to take out Air Force One with a surface-to-air missile.

It's not like they let him ride a Segway or something.”

“ROFL!”