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Too late, I already read it. I can't type what was coming out of my mouth while I was reading it. I do so "dislike" liberals. |
Posted on 11/28/2003 1:04:20 PM PST by PeteFromMontana
Aides Prodded Reluctant Bush on Iraq Trip
Fri November 28, 2003 03:19 PM ET
By Adam Entous
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - For a president fond of a tough-guy image, George W. Bush was uneasy when an aide casually asked him, "You want to go to Baghdad?"
With Bush safely back at his Crawford ranch on Friday, White House supporters seized on the U.S. Thanksgiving Day visit to Iraq as a public-relations coup that could boost troop morale and Republican fund raising.
But the trip -- one of the most secretive by any U.S. president -- also highlighted how precarious security remains in the Iraqi capital, captured by U.S. forces in April.
Despite unprecedented precautions, the president slipped into Baghdad under cover of darkness on Thursday to minimize the risk of being targeted by surface-to-air missiles and was confined to the heavily guarded airport throughout his 2-1/2-hour stay.
"Obviously there continues to be a security problem in the triangle around Baghdad," Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said in Crawford.
One day after the president left Iraq, another high-profile visitor, New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, toured Baghdad to meet with troops and top officials from the occupation administration and aid groups.
It was White House chief of staff Andrew Card who first proposed the surprise trip -- not the president.
"Andy (Card), as he often does, said (to Bush) almost in passing: 'Thanksgiving's coming up. Where do you want to go? You want to go to Baghdad?"' Rice recalled, and the planning got under way.
Seven months after his dramatic landing in a flight suit on the USS Abraham Lincoln with its "Mission Accomplished" banner, Bush conceded about the Iraq visit, "I was the biggest skeptic of all."
Instead of a flight suit, Bush wore a standard Army jacket to meet with the troops, and acknowledged he thought "all along" it might be too risky and that he "had a lot of questions" about security.
Bush aides considered scrapping the visit less than a week ago after a DHL cargo plane, landing at the same airport, was hit by a surface-to-air missile.
"The president had made clear that he was prepared to call this off at any time," Rice said, adding the DHL incident "made people go back and take a look at whether we thought the plane would be safe going in."
The Secret Service was deeply involved in the planning from the start, although it expressed some initial reservations. The White House went to extraordinary lengths to keep the trip a secret, including outright deception.
"Everybody was concerned that it was a trip with some risk. ... It wasn't going to Cleveland, we knew that." Rice said.
'ONE-DAY WINNER'
More than 180 U.S. soldiers have died since Bush declared major combat operations over in May with his controversial visit to the aircraft carrier.
He has seen his popularity decline as Americans' concern over the operation has grown. Experts said the visit could boost Bush in the polls, but doubted it would last.
"Is this a moment that the RNC (Republican National Committee) will try to use as a fund-raising moment? Yes. ... (But) it's a one-day winner. This is not a solution to anything," said Douglas Brinkley, director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans.
Dan Feldman, a National Security Council director under former President Bill Clinton, called the trip a "great PR stunt ... yet another in a long line of photo ops that don't say anything concrete about improving security and what our long-term plans are."
Rice denied the trip was politically motivated. "This was generated out of the president and the policy side," she said, but declined to say if political adviser Karl Rove or Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman were among the handful of aides who knew about the trip.
She said the administration had briefly considered a visit to Baghdad during the summer or tagged on to Bush's recent London trip.
Rice said the president was concerned about his own security as well as the possibility the visit would increase the risk to front-line troops.
Before giving the final green light, he convened a meeting with his top advisers.
"The (military) commanders still wanted this to go forward. And the president went around the room and just said, 'Do you still think this is the right thing to do?' And each of us thought it was the right thing to do," Rice said.
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Too late, I already read it. I can't type what was coming out of my mouth while I was reading it. I do so "dislike" liberals. |
Phuque these guys.
I don't know, I think I would feel more comfortable in Baghdad. ;-)
There is no confirmation of this in the story. How could he possible know this?
This is the favorite liberal line, and Tom Brokaw seems to be using it to frame every tragic happening on earth.
According to the liberal mouthpieces at Reuters, everything about President Bush is supposedly controversial. "In adding to the controversy surrounding Bush, he said in a controversial speech that America would not surrender to thugs and assassins."
I'm sure dan thought hillary!'s trip was a stride forward for liberty and justice however. putz.
reuters, slobbering mouthpiece of the left.
This is journalism?
Hand me my fly-swatter!
Leni
Too late!
GRRRRRRRR!
I read the dispatch from Reuters with your byline titled, "Aides Prodded Reluctant Bush on Iraq Trip"
It seems to me that you had to work very hard to paint Bush in a bad light, but on that point I must congratulate you for a fine effort. You managed to ferret out some Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt and daub it liberally around your story
The thing is, he still drives you crazy. Your palpable dislike for him is impossible for you to disguise, and while your 'reporting' probably plays well at the DNC, the rest of America (the people who actually do things for a living and are productive) can see right through you
You may wonder why television news (except for Fox) and newspapers (especially the NT Times, Washington Post and LA Times) are shedding audience by the thousands every year.
It's the tripe that you write for Reuters that doesn't square with reality that's making people leave
Here's a clue:
From now on, have your headline writers insert the words "Liberals Wish That..." in front of all of your stories
At least then it will be truthful
Adios, pinko
- IncPen
From now on, have your headline writers insert the words "Liberals Wish That..." in front of all of your stories .
Good thing Whoraldo didn't know!!!!
Thanks for the link
He wasn't wearing a flight suit probably since he wasn't piloting a jet fighter landing on an aircraft carrier. And, by the way, what's wrong with wearing "a standard army jacket"?
This guy's a dolt.
And the horse they rode in on.
I'm glad I won't be around then.
goat.
yeah I think I've seen that before in print...hahahahaha
- AP (11-2-03) It was the third time guerrillas had brought down a U.S. helicopter since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
-Nov. 2 — By Michael Georgy BAISA, Iraq (Reuters) … It was the third time guerrillas had brought down a U.S. military helicopter since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
-. (REUTERS 11-2-03) Fort Carson has sent 12,000 troops, its largest deployment since World War II. At least 20 personnel from the post have died in Iraq, all since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
- (JEFFREY GETTLEMAN The New York Times 11-2-03) President Bush (news - web sites) declared an end to major combat hostilities in Iraq on May 1. But in the six months since then, 222 American soldiers have died, more than one a day. In October, at least 33 American soldiers were killed by hostile fire, twice as many as in September since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
-WASHINGTON (Reuters By Niala Boodhoo 10-25-03 ) - Demonstrators from more than 145 U.S. cities poured into Washington on Saturday for the first major peace protest since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
(news - web sites). -(Reuters . BAGHDAD -By Carol Giacomo and Ian Simpson Sun Oct 26, 2:35 PM ET) The early morning attack on the hotel undermined Washington's claim that it is steadily defeating the guerrillas who have killed 109 U.S. soldiers since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
-( By Rosalind Russell BAGHDAD (Reuters Sat Oct 25, 6:42 PM ET ) Tens of thousands of protesters marched around the White House in Washington on Saturday in the first large-scale demonstration against the U.S. occupation since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
Peace activists, joined by family members of U.S. troops, said the mounting casualties in Iraq had helped spur the U.S. anti-war movement into action after months of relative quiet. Guerrillas fighting the U.S.-led occupation have killed 108 American soldiers since May 1.
- (By Alistair Lyon BAGHDAD (Reuters Tue Oct 28, 3:31 AM ET) Guerrillas have killed 113 U.S. troops since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1. mostly in Saddam's tribal heartland in Sunni Muslim-dominated central Iraq.
-(By TAREK AL-ISSAWI, Associated Press Writer Fri Oct 24,10:48 AM ET) The soldier, assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, was killed by small arms fire before dawn Friday in Mosul, the U.S. Central Command said. No further details were released, and his name was withheld until his family could be notified. The death brings to 106 the number of American soldiers killed by hostile fire since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
- Jim Lobe, OneWorld on Yahoo News Tue Oct 21,10:31 AM ET The 56-page report, which was based on more than 60 interviews of witnesses and family members of victims in specific incidents, local and international human rights observers, the U.S. military, and police records, and media accounts, comes amid growing public concern over U.S. military casualties since U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) declared an end to major hostilities in Iraq May 1.
- (By Brian Williams and Michael Georgy BAGHDAD (Reuters) Sun Oct 12, 9:30 AM ET Facing doubts at home, and tumbling poll ratings, over the daily attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and the proposed $87 billion cost of rebuilding the country, the Bush administration is waging a public relations campaign aimed at highlighting postwar successes. Saturday it hailed the launch of the country's new currency as a sign of economic promise. Attacks on occupying troops in Iraq have killed 94 soldiers since Washington declared major combat over on May 1.
By Andrew Marshall BAGHDAD (Reuters) Fri Oct 10, 2:00 PM ET Also on Thursday -- six months after U.S. troops swept into Baghdad and symbolically toppled a large statue of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) -- a Spanish diplomat was shot dead in the city and a U.S. soldier was killed in an attack northeast of the capital. Since President George Bush declared major combat in Iraq (news - web sites) over on May 1 since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1. , 94 U.S. soldiers have been killed in action.
- BAGHDAD (AFP) Tue Oct 7, 8:47 PM ET The deaths brought to 92 the number of US soldiers killed in combat since US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) declared official hostilities over on May 1.
-Wednesday, July 23, 2003 Posted: 12:52 AM EDT (0452 GMT) UNITED NATIONS (CNN) CNN correspondents Barbara Starr, Rym Brahimi and Nic Robertson contributed to this report. • One U.S. soldier was killed Tuesday morning and another wounded when rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire hit their vehicle in a 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment convoy north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Tuesday's death brought the number of Americans killed in Iraq to 94 since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
July 7, 2003 , Houston Chronicle 4:55PM Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq With ambushes, shootings and bombings taking place daily -- blamed on Saddam loyalists and other disgruntled Iraqis -- 30 American soldiers have been killed by hostile action since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.
- - San Jose Mercury News Attacks Kill 3 U.S. Soldiers in Baghdad JIM KRANE Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq - In two days of attacks in Baghdad, three U.S. soldiers have been killed, raising the total to 30 American combat deaths since major hostilities ended May 1.
USA Today - Jul 07 11:53 AM Speaking on ABC's Good Morning America, Franks acknowledged that the 145,000 U.S. and 12,000 allied forces in Iraq are still involved in a war. About three dozen American and British troops have been killed in Iraq in hostile action since May 1 when President Bush declared an end to major combat operations there.
at Guardian Unlimited - Jun 24 6:37 PM ……………While 18 US soldiers have been killed by enemy fire in Iraq since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1. yesterday's events mark the first British fatalities since April 6, bringing the number of British personnel killed since the start of the conflict to 43.
at San Jose Mercury News - Jun 25 2:02 AM Posted on Tue, Jun. 24, 2003 By TOM LASSETER and DANA HULL Knight Ridder Newspapers …………….. Also Tuesday, in the western town of Fallujah, a U.S. soldier was wounded and three Iraqis were killed during a firefight at a checkpoint, according to the U.S. Central Command. Fallujah for weeks has been a flashpoint for Iraqi-led ambushes and subsequent American-led raids of homes. Seventeen U.S. soldiers have been killed in attacks since May 1, when President Bush declared major combat operations over.
at BBC - Jun 25 11:22 AM US Central Command has reported the deaths of 187 American service personnel in Iraq since 1 May when President Bush declared that major combat was over.
at CNN - Jul 01 10:47 AM - Since Bush declared the end of major combat May 1, 23 Americans and six British soldiers have been killed in attacks blamed on remnants of Saddam's ruling Baath Party and other groups.
-at Kansas City Star - Jun 25 5:36 AM ... A helicopter carrying ... since May 1, when President Bush declared major combat operations over.The killings in Amarah came the same day that the U.N. special envoy to Iraq ...
-at CBS News - Jun 26 12:52 AM (CBS/AP) A U.S. military vehicle was ambushed Thursday on the outskirts of Baghdad. U.S. soldiers say at least one GI died - after suffering a serious head wound - and another was injured. ... in Iraq. At least 19 U.S. soldiers have died in hostile fire since major combat was officially declared over
at Seattle Times - Jun 28 6:24 AM Mystery surrounds disappearance of 2 soldiers ... by hostile fire in Iraq since President Bush declared major combat over May 1. In the southern city ... said wounded Americans were evacuated by helicopter. Two U.S. soldiers were ...
Revenge Motive In Iraq Killings at CBS News - Jun 25 2:48 AM (CBS/AP) Local police in Majar Al-Kabir, Iraq, say the six British military police who were killed Tuesday were slain by armed townspeople angry over civilian deaths during a demonstration. ... In other developments: President Bush said Tuesday ... since May 1, when major combat was declared over. Most of the attacks have occurred in the belt of central and western Iraq ...
From Jamie McIntyre
CNN Washington Bureau
Tuesday, June 24, 2003 Posted: 1:22 AM EDT (0522 GMT) CNN correspondents Barbara Starr and Andrea Koppel contributed to this report
• A U.S. soldier was fatally wounded Sunday in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on a convoy in Khan Azad, 12 miles south of the Iraqi capital, an Army spokeswoman said. Nineteen U.S. troops have been killed in hostile action since President Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq on May 1, according to the Pentagon. Another 37 have died in what are described as nonhostile incidents.
U.S. Forces Inflict Heavy Toll at CBS News - Jun 13 8:28 AM (CBS/AP) American forces cracking down on Iraqi fighters have killed nearly 100 and captured dozens in two days of fighting. ... declared over on May 1. Since then, about 40 Americans have been killed in ambushes and by sniper fire, mainly in the central area of Iraq where ousted President ...
161.
162. Fighting continues, despite claims otherwise at armytimes.com - Jun 17 3:21 AM ... President Bush declared on May 1 that major combat operations had ended in Iraq, ... was over.It is not.Since the president made ... Army Apache helicopter was shot down in ...
163. Slain soldier honored at Fayetteville Online - Sep 16 9:32 PM By Kevin MaurerStaff writer CAMP MERCURY, Iraq - Spc. William Moore and Spc. Trevor A. Blumberg were inseparable. They considered themselves brothers and planned to grow old and retire together. ... in Iraq. The most recent was Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson, who died Sept. 2 in a helicopter crash ... died since May 1, when President Bush declared major combat operations over. ...
164. U.S. military apologizes to Shiite Muslims at Shawnee News Star - Aug 14 10:09 AM In the southern city of Basra, a roadside bomb killed one British soldier and wounded three others, British military spokesman Capt. Hisham Halawi said. The killing was the first British combat death in nearly two months. ... Safety Academy in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday Aug.14, ... Black Hawk helicopter blew down an ... in combat since May 1, when U.S. President George W. Bush declared major fighting over. ...
165. U.S. military apologizes to Shiite Muslims at Lubbock Online - Aug 14 10:50 AM ... BAGHDAD, Iraq The U.S. military ... American Black Hawk helicopter blew down an ... in combat since May 1, when U.S. President George W. Bush declared major fighting over. In ...
166. 'I'm hurting right now, mom' at Asbury Park Press - Jul 13 10:03 AM By MICHAEL AMSELSTAFF WRITER Spc. Shaun Cunningham always prided himself on his mental toughness. ... Iraq started March 19, at least 210 U.S. fighters have died. At least 80 have died since President Bush declared an end to major combat ... since I have been over ...
167. 3 American troops killed in Baghdad at Kentucky New Era - Jul 07 11:02 PM ... Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's cascade of ... hostile action since President Bush declared major combat over on May ... city of Sulaymaniyah by helicopter today, Anatolia reported. ...
168. War is Iraq is 'over,' but families cope alone at Duluth News Tribune - Jun 23 12:48 PM ... Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the thick of things.That was before President Bush declared major combat in Iraq over last ... lost their lives in Iraq since the war began in ...
169. Attacks Kill 3 U.S. Soldiers in Baghdad at Macon Telegraph - Jul 07 6:08 AM One Iraqi suspect was killed and another wounded.Tension has increased in the town since a bomb blast on Saturday killed seven Iraqi police recruits as they graduated from a U.S.-taught training course. ... by hostile action since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1.Also, in northern Iraq, U.S. forces ... city of Sulaymaniyah by helicopter Monday, Anatolia reported.U.S. ...
170. Attacks Kill 3 U.S. Soldiers in Baghdad at Tallahassee Democrat - Jul 07 6:05 AM One Iraqi suspect was killed and another wounded.Tension has increased in the town since a bomb blast on Saturday killed seven Iraqi police recruits as they graduated from a U.S.-taught training course. ... by hostile action since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1.Also, in northern Iraq, U.S. forces ... city of Sulaymaniyah by helicopter Monday, Anatolia reported.U.S. ...
171. Two American soldiers killed in convoy attacks in Baghdad at Katu.com - Jul 07 12:34 PM ... in Baghdad TOOLS BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Iraq's cascade of ... action since President Bush declared major combat over on May ... their office in northern Sulaymaniyah by helicopter Monday, the ...
172. Attacks kill 3 U.S. soldiers in Baghdad at Lubbock Online - Jul 07 6:41 AM ... by hostile action since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1.Also, in northern Iraq, U.S. forces ... city of Sulaymaniyah by helicopter Monday, Anatolia reported.U.S. ...
173. Attacks Kill 3 U.S. Soldiers in Baghdad at Clinton County Life - Jul 07 10:12 AM ... Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's cascade of ... hostile action since President Bush declared major combat over on May ... city of Sulaymaniyah by helicopter Monday, Anatolia reported. ... 174. Zero suicides is our goal," she said. "We may not get there, but we're going to try." In all, 422 U.S. troops have died in Iraq. The military has characterized 129 of the deaths as "non-hostile," including 105 since President Bush officially declared major hostilities over on May 1. Most if not all the confirmed suicides occurred after May 1, according to the military. According to an AP analysis of military reports, non-combat deaths include 13 caused by a weapons discharge, two from drowning, one from breathing difficulties and one described only as "medical." An additional 13 are listed with no cause given. By David Branch, AP USA Today 11/22/03
A vicious dolt.
Boy... you must reeeely be upset. Y'all need spell chequer and sintax chequer.
Especially since the landing, done in complete darkeness, with all lights out and shades drawn, was done with President Bush right up front with the pilots.
Reluctant? In your dreams, Reuters. Open your eyes and look at a real man, a real leader.
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