Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
We the living see our commander in chief
as the leader the age requires.
Posted on 12/02/2003 9:01:41 PM PST by Lando Lincoln
What President George W. Bush did on Thanksgiving Day was beyond imagining. What he was able to accomplish was incalculable. If you haven't been looking at the news anywhere, here's what happened:
The White House announced that the President would be enjoying Thanksgiving dinner at the ranch in Crawford TX, and that it would be a quiet dinner at home. The reality was that the President secretly got aboard Air Force one, flew to Andrews, and at Andrews AFB, changed planes and flew to Baghdad to visit the troops there.
That he would go to the hottest battleground in the war to show the troops there that they are strongly supported at home is the first and most obvious reason. Presidents have visited battlefields before, generally when all is safe. One even had the troops remove the ammunition from their weapons for his safety, according to rumor. But George W. Bush landed at Baghdad International Airport (albeit without lights after dark, and with the cabin windows covered to present a minimal target) and went to the hangar where most of the Baghdad-stationed troops were assembled for Thanksgiving dinner. Rumor has it that there was the soft but unmistakable sound of clanking coming from the President's vicinity whenever he walked…
Although the trip had been planned since sometime in October, there was not a single leak. The First Lady didn't know until he kissed her goodbye. His parents, who came to Crawford for Thanksgiving dinner, didn't know, either, and were shocked when they heard. From the information we get, a handful of Secret Service and military knew what was going on. A few reporters from the White House press pool were allowed along on the trip, but they were told that any leak of the trip would mean it would be called off and the plane would simply be turned around and brought back to Andrews. To help insure secrecy, all electronic communications equimpment was confiscated for the duration of the trip to forestall any premature announcements, and only returned to the owners on the homeward leg of the journey. The surprise in all this is that the secret was kept, but kept, it was. Astonishing, in this day and age, considering the antipathy between this administration and the alphabet news stations, which appear to take particular delight in revealing anything and everything the administration has planned, as far in advance as possible, simply to steal his thunder and to tell the audiences what to think about his plans.
Something else that made itself evident through his appearance in Baghdad was the utter love for him that the troops bear. When the Commander of the base began the Presidential Proclamation for Thanksgiving, he paused, and commented that he should turn the reading of it over to someone else with more seniority and authority, at which time, the President walked onto the stage. The troops shot to their feet with a rousing, two-fists-in-the-air, deafening cheer and hoots of "Hoooo-Yaaah!!"
As deeply as President Bush is hated by leftists worldwide, he is correspondingly loved and respected by his troops and supporters. It's no surprise that there were tears of joy and love on the cheeks of many of the people present, including the President.
His speech was brief, but the President didn't leave the stage without speaking of the courage of the troops, the importance of their mission, and the fact that they would not leave before "the job is done." He managed to encourage the Iraqi officials who were present, telling them that he was sure they would lead their country well. He spoke of the gratitude of the American people, and how proud he is of the troops. He stated, "We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, 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," and the rousing ovation from the crowd was captured on the videos seen by the entire country as soon as they were released. Then, as if all of the above was not enough, he went to the serving line and began handing out the plates of food to the troops.
There are ramifications to all of this that might not be visible at first glance. One thing that becomes apparent is the real love and respect this President has for the troops who serve under him. That love is apparently returned, if the reactions of the troops in Baghdad were any indication.
Another thing that appears after reflection is the courage it took to do this, and the message it sends. Not just to the troops, who will have been encouraged and strengthened by the visit; not just to the Iraqi officials, who are probably grateful for his vote of confidence in their ability to lead the country into freedom. But most of all, the visit sent a message to the insurgents: "Pay attention! Here I am, able to walk among you whenever I so choose." The guerillas who are sniping at the troops have just had sand kicked in their faces by the BIG dog.
At any rate, George Bush's surprise visit to Iraq is astounding. The press, especially the cable news shows, are agog. Pleased or not, they won't be shutting up about this for a few days. And it was a very effective neutralization of the visit to Iraq that Hillary Clinton planned for the following day.
The game of Strategery proceeds. The Leftists had better learn to play it pretty soon, or they are going to lose all the marbles.
Thanks, folks !That third pic, I'm not sure who I 'borrowed' that from. It was such a long time ago.
It's a great one, alrighty ! ...
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
We the living see our commander in chief
as the leader the age requires.
We the living see our commander in chief as the leader the age requires.Amen !
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