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lord_picard
Captain
Joined: 27 Feb 2003
Posts: 713
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 Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:24 pm President Bush goes on secret visit to Iraq |
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| Quote: | | President George W. Bush was back in the United States early Friday after braving the threat of missiles over Baghdad to join 600 troops for an emotional Thanksgiving dinner in Iraq, in a trip arranged under strict secrecy. The US president landed in Waco, Texas, at around 1000 GMT. He was expected to drive by motorcade to his ranch in nearby Crawford. His arrival followed a lightning visit to Iraq aimed to boost troops' dwindling morale on a key US holiday.News of Thursday's visit was not even released until Air Force One had already left, for fear of the sort of missile fire that forced an emergency landing by a DHL civilian cargo jet last week.Troops of the 1st Armored Division which patrols the area around the Iraqi capital leapt to their feet, threw their arms in the air and cheered when the surprise guest arrived at their US holiday feast on Thursday."I was looking for a warm meal somewhere, thanks for inviting me to dinner," said the US commander in chief, wearing a blue shirt and a gray army bomber jacket and with his eyes moist, to deafening applause from the troops."I can't think of a finer group of folks to be having Thanksgiving dinner with," Bush, with brightly colored military standards behind him, told the soldiers from the 1st Armored and 82nd Airborne divisions and the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in a huge hangar-like mess hall at Baghdad airport. "I bring a message on behalf of America, we thank you for your service," he told the troops, who have come under regular attack during the persistent insurgency that has dogged the US-led occupation for the past seven months.The US president went to Iraq, delivering a defiant message to insurgents who have peppered the coalition military with guerrilla attacks, causing more deaths in action since he declared major combat over on May 1, than in the preceding six-week invasion."We didn't charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, and pay a bitter cost of casualties, defeat a ruthless dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins," Bush cautioned."We will prevail. We will win because our cause is just... We will win because you're part of the finest military ever assembled. We will prevail because the Iraqis want their freedom," Bush said."I have a message for the Iraqi people," he added."You have the opportunity to seize the moment and rebuild your great country... The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone forever." During his brief visit to Iraq, Bush also met with members of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, some of who said later that Bush had expressed willingness to change his administration's transition plan.The Washington Post on Friday said that in an attempt to appease Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Washington was now considering holding elections for a provisional Iraqi government, rather than have its members selected by regional caucuses, a plan which Sistani reportedly rejected.Bush also had a message of support for his troops, far from their families and loved ones on the main US holiday.We are proud of you. America stands solidly behind you," he said. "You're defeating Saddam's henchmen so the Iraqi people can live in peace and freedom. You're helping calm trouble in a violent part of the world." |
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davecenter
Commander
Joined: 22 Oct 2003
Posts: 391
Location: The Bridge
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| Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:50 pm |
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I'm really glad he flew over there. The troops need to see him every once in a while.
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Some think they are great, some want to be great, but very few are truly great
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:26 am |
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I thought it was cool. Watched it on CNN, the troops jumped up fast and cameras started snapping,  They asked some of them what it meant to them that he did that, and they were awed.
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Thu Dec 04, 2003 5:03 pm |
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George W. Bush has a heart of gold, the tears in his eyes as he was greated were genuine. I don't care what any so-called 'bleeding heart' liberal says.
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harrykims#1fan
Fan Girl Muskateer
Joined: 08 Feb 2002
Posts: 2916
Location: Leicester UK
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| Sun Dec 07, 2003 5:20 pm |
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Lets just say the trip is not secret any more 
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