Posted on 10/13/2005 11:45:01 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush sought to rally U.S. troops in Iraq ahead of Saturday's vote on new constitution and to brace them for an expected surge in violence, saying ``the enemy understands that a free Iraq would be a blow to their vision.''
``We put in motion something that can't be stopped, and that is the march of freedom,'' Bush said Thursday in a video conference with soldiers from the Army's 42nd Infantry Division, based in Tikrit, hometown of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Bush spoke two days before Iraqis vote on a new constitution. A compromise endorsed on Wednesday by the Iraqi parliament made key concessions to minority Sunni Arabs, increasing the chances that the document will be approved. Passage of the constitution would open the way to national elections in December.
``We're never going to back down, we're never going to give in, we'll never accept anything less than total victory,'' Bush said. ``Thank you for all your work. When you get back to the United States, if I'm hanging around, come by and say hello.''
The president engaged in a question and answer session with 10 American servicemen and women and one Iraqi soldier, whom he saw on a large video screen set up in a room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.
``Do the Iraqis want to fight, and are they capable of fighting?'' he asked. He was told they were.
``The Iraqi army and police services, along with coalition support, have conducted many and multiple exercises and rehearsals,'' Capt. Stephen Pratt of Pocatello, Idaho, told Bush. ``Along with the coalition backing them, we'll have a very successful and effective referendum vote.''
1st Lt. Gregg Murphy told the president that at last January's elections to select an interim government, ``We had to lead the way. This time, they're doing everything. ... They've got it laid out.''
While polls show declining support for the war, Bush told the soldiers: ``You've got to know, the American people are standing strong with you,'' Bush said.
The exchange was carefully choreographed.
Before it began, a Pentagon official coached the troops, telling them the president planned to ask questions on three topics: The overall security in Iraq, how they were preparing for the vote on Saturday and how much progress had been made in the training of Iraqi troops.
Allison Barber, a Pentagon official, said Bush would ask them specifically, ``In the last 10 months, what kind of progress have we seen?''
She asked who was prepared to answer the question. ``Master Sgt. Lombardo,'' one said.
After Bush asked just that question, Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo responded: ``Over the past 10 months, the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces are improving ... They continue to develop and grow into a sustainable force.''
Bush said that the United States and its allies are facing ``an enemy that actually has a philosophy.''
``And the philosophy is so opposite of ours. It is the exact opposite of what America stands for. We stand for religious freedom and freedom to speak and women's rights and capacity for people to realize their dreams.
``We are facing an enemy that is ruthless and cold blooded,'' Bush said.
U.S. officials have predicted a spike in violence ahead of Saturday's vote.
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They inserted the terms choreographed, prepped. Just a bit ago Ron Reagan, son of the great Pres. Reagan, was so rude saying that Bush did not allow the troops to speak freely and now MSNBC seems to be pushing this.
I am very angry about what I am watching evolve from what was an excellent conversation, brief, about the vote.
What MSNBC is now feeding right now on TV that somehow the troops were coached or told what to say is hogwash.
It is limited amount of time, they knew what the purpose of the video conference was to be .... but to make it into something it is not .... it ticks me off to no end.
****One of the soldiers said she was told what was possible to be asked .... this from MSNBC breaking ... the anchor chick says maybe this will stop the controversy.****
THEY STARTED THIS CONTROVERSY. GOODNESS GRACIOUS.
(((((SIGH)))) They never stop do they? I hate the MSM!
Hmm, so the Q&A was prepped... big deal. They do the exact same thing at corporations when they have a company morale meeting.
Thanks for the ping!
Watch this next "controversy" turn into front page news tomorrow.
Did he mention that x42 harrangued a cative audience of troops for hours after Mr. Bush was inaugurated in 2001?
I just saw the last part of it on C-Span and I enjoyed it very much. I hope to get a chance to see the whole thing this evening.
Was this as "choreographed" as, say, a Clinton "town hall" meeting? As rigged as the Al Gore "dialogue" on gun control?
As "prepared" as John Kerry's whaleboat ride to the Democrat National Convention?
The media never, ever, not even once, noted this during eight years of Clinton's painstakingly executed photo ops.
I hate these ****ing traitors.
Liberals and their media whores are full hate and anger as usual and they know that a huge crushing defeat is awaiting them when the Iraqis will vote YES on the constitution draft.
Why can't we fight back against them? There must be a way.
I'm sort of glad the base is so mad right now. It's like our way of telling our elected officials that they need to fight the demorats or they can fight us but they're going to get a fight one way or the other. I think there's a tagline in there.
Just heard about this a few minutes ago on a radio news blurb. I think they called it a "choreographed exchange". This was FOX news.
Obviously the thing wasn't a spontaneous chit-chat, but I thought the enthusiasm of the soldiers who spoke seemed authentic.
As I sit here, thinking how Alex Witt said, well maybe the breaking news about the soldier saying she was not prepped will stifle the frenzy that Bush's handlers had set the entire thing up. It is wrong, it is irresponsible. Further when I googled the other articles by the same AP person, none, not a one framed the article in the same way MSNBC did .... they made this a story and it wasn't. It would not shock me if this overtakes the rest of the days news.
Ron Reagan's son, should apologize, to the viewers. He was gleeful, using this to say this is why the American people are disenchanted with this White House. He said "this looks practiced" to me. He said "they were handpicked to be on his side." He went on to say "like those fake town hall meetings." To make such remarks without ... not one verification of the allegations he was making is irresponsible journalism, expected irresponsibility as we are talking about Ron Reagan and wrong.
His side kick Monica Crowley did her best to put this allegation into perspective, she said "3 topics, one, overall security in Iraq, secondly how those troops were preparing for that upcoming vote on and progress in training of Iraqi troops." She then said, "limited time with the president, you have extended satellite delay, who was prepared to answer in a succinct way". "American President's do this all the time, this is nothing unusual Ron."
The exchange was painful to watch. I actually have no idea what they were attempting to convey with this "show." Bush was bumbling, the scripting was obvious, and the time delay made for uncomfortable pauses.
"The exchange was carefully choreographed. "
Where did you get your information it was choreographed. You mean like the Democrat talking points are. Got to prove it to me.
> Hmm, so the Q&A was prepped... big deal. They do the exact same thing at corporations when they have a company morale meeting.
Sorry, not at a good company. But they are internal so all the employees can get the "real" scoop-- this actually improves morale even if uncomfortable questions are asked. No way are these broadcast, which is a big difference between them and the President's rally which was very public. Company morale meetings *do* have good presentations, though, which could be seen as "propaganda".
I haven't seen a "Why We Fight" style documentary come out-- I think we need some and a Capra to direct them.
They're pissed at W for holding up that plate of turkey.
Ron (gag) Reagan should be forced to change his name to something like Ron Tutu. I can feel my blood pressure rise whenever I see or hear his current one in association with his.
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