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Stephen Colbert Lands in Iraq, Shares Big Laughs with Troops
Multi-National Force - Iraq ^
| Sgt. Lindsey Bradford, USA
Posted on 06/12/2009 6:36:41 PM PDT by SandRat
Stephen Colbert interviews special guest Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general of the Multi-National Force - Iraq during Monday night's episode of "The Colbert Report." Photo by Lee Craker.
CAMP VICTORY, BAGHDAD — It is official - Stephen Colbert came, saw and conquered Iraq, claiming victory on day three of his six-day adventure to the Middle East.
Arriving in a C-17 from Kuwait, Colbert landed at the Baghdad International Airport, June 5, and began preparing for his shows at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace, as part of his tour "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando."
"We wanted to call it 'Feelin HOT, HOT, HOT: Papa's got a brand new Baghdad', but it was too many words," he said.
In March, Colbert announced his visit the Persian Gulf, but was forced to remain tight-lipped about the event in true operational security style. Since then, he introduced a new segment on his hit night-time talk show, trying to guess which one of the seven Persian Gulf countries occupied by U.S. forces he would visit.
Iraq was the winner.
In order to prepare for the trip, Colbert attended basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. The training lasted a total of eight hours, although he says he "might have dipped out an hour early."
Now a slightly trained killer, armed with a smile and his "A" bag full of satirical humor, Colbert was ready to take his show live to Baghdad, where it would be recorded, edited and sent back via satellite to the U.S. It is something the United Service Organizations said was a first for any overseas tour they have organized.
Multi-National Force - Iraq Commanding General Ray Odierno asked Colbert to come and perform for the troops. However, Colbert says he came here for the buzz cut President Barack Obama ordered Odierno to give to him during the opening show at the palace, June 7.
"I also want to claim this as my military time if I decide to run for president in 2012," he said.
Colbert filmed four shows, which began airing in the United States the week, of June 8. The reaction from the service members here has been amazing, he said.
"It's been fantastic," he said of his welcoming. "All these people are so nice out here; I don't understand why they want to fight with each other."
Colbert noted that he knows nothing about the country of Iraq, aside from the few days he has been at Camp Victory.
"It's hot, it's sandy, the sun is blazing. It seems like Texas, but with fewer guns," Colbert said of Iraq.
He added that if he were to describe the country to Americans, concrete and blast walls would sum the landscape, and he compared the air quality to that of an exhaust system.
"Who had the idea to build an entire country in the tailpipe of a car?" he asked a crowd of about 400 people during his first show.
Soldiers, Airman, Sailors, and Marines packed the palace's rotunda every night of tapings, their thunderous cheers echoed off of three stories of marble walls. In addition to Odierno, guests included Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Barham Saleh; Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, Jr., Multi-National Corps - Iraq commanding general; Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe, MNC-I command sergeant major; Sgt. Robin Balcom and Spc. Tareq Salha.
Balcom is a military police officer with the 8th MP Brigade, 93rd MP Battalion's 463rd MP Company stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Balcom was nominated for the show by her commanders because of the multiple tours she has served in Iraq. Being on the show was an opportunity she was glad she didn't pass up because it only happens once in a life time, she said.
Salha, an interpreter with 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light), based in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, said he enjoyed meeting Colbert because he was such a genuine person.
"He is trying to express what we, as Soldiers, go through in a fun way [on his show], and he succeeded," Salha said. "It was an outstanding experience, and I really enjoyed being able to speak on behalf of myself."
President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin and Tom Hanks sent out special thanks to the troops in pre-recorded messages that aired during the show. McCain's comment to "always take the time to remember to clean your musket," grew boisterous laughs, as people shook their heads in amusement. McCain said he learned the importance of a clean weapon during Valley Forge.
Sgt. Jennifer Miller, an awards clerk with Company B, Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Courage, had not seen The Colbert Report before attending the June 7 show.
"His comedy covers all ranges. He is willing to pick on anyone," Miller said. "He is very funny!"
Miller said Colbert's antics will definitely keep her watching from now on.
In addition to the night's performances, Colbert spent time meeting and greeting service members on Camp Stryker, another camp located within Baghdad's Victory Base Complex.
Roughly 200 people showed up for a chance at a picture, a laugh and a handshake with the comedian.
"It's a nice break in the day to come in here and meet him," said Staff Sgt. Jason Moldan, an Army Reservist with the 401st Engineer Company out of Oklahoma City, Okla. An avid fan, Moldan said it's been hard to catch Colbert's show since he's been deployed, but he still remains a steadfast member of the Colbert Nation.
When asked if this was a great USO tour or the greatest USO tour, Colbert didn't miss a beat when he answered "the greatest." Camp Victory agrees.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: colbert; frwn; iraq; leibowitz; needmoney; obama; ratings; uso
LOST LOCKS - Multinational Force Iraq
Commanding Gen. Raymond T. Odierno helps
Stephen Colbert become more "soldierly" by shaving
his trademark hair into a more traditional military
"buzz cut" in an episode of "The Colbert Report"
broadcast from Baghdad. Colbert filmed a week of episode's
from Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace in Baghdad as part of a USO tour.
U.S. Army photo by Lee Craker
1
posted on
06/12/2009 6:36:42 PM PDT
by
SandRat
To: MozartLover; Old Sarge; Jemian; repubmom; 91B; HiJinx; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; ...
FR WAR NEWS!
If you would like to be added to / removed from FRWN,
please FReepmail Sandrat.
WARNING: FRWN can be an EXTREMELY HIGH-VOLUME PING LIST!!
2
posted on
06/12/2009 6:37:12 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
3
posted on
06/12/2009 6:51:47 PM PDT
by
Textide
To: SandRat
I am very glad that we have not forgotten our Troops.
I pray that Colbert saw another side of what our men and women in uniform are doing to defend our Country and the rights we enjoy.
Very joyful to know our Troops got a few well derserved laughs.
Anyone know when the shows will air in the USA? I’d love to Tivo them.
THANKS STEPHEN COLBERT!!!
4
posted on
06/12/2009 6:52:50 PM PDT
by
not2worry
(WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND)
To: not2worry
5
posted on
06/12/2009 6:57:44 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
I just finished reading the Newsweek that Colbert guest-edited. He seems to be sincerely troubled at the current lack of coverage given to the war in Iraq and genuinely concerned that the sacrifices of our servicemembers aren't forgotten over there.
6
posted on
06/12/2009 7:02:02 PM PDT
by
Drew68
To: SandRat
I'll give Colbert props for going over there for the troops.
But he's still an ass, though.
7
posted on
06/12/2009 7:20:06 PM PDT
by
Tanniker Smith
(The sun glinted off chiseled pectorals sculpted during four weight-lifting sessions each week and...)
To: Tanniker Smith
Our guys and gals have been over there since 2003 and this POS finally goes over there to raise morale? I wonder what has changed...
8
posted on
06/12/2009 7:25:09 PM PDT
by
IGOTMINE
(1911s FOREVER!)
To: IGOTMINE
Those are Obama’s troops now!
9
posted on
06/12/2009 8:15:03 PM PDT
by
SlowBoat407
(US out of GM... NOW!)
To: Tanniker Smith
10
posted on
06/12/2009 8:33:46 PM PDT
by
jdfromny
(At what point are we officially "North Americans"?)
To: SandRat
A friend of mine works for the Colbert show as a sound guy and is on this trip. I wish them all a safe and fun trip. I hope the troops have a good time with it.
11
posted on
06/12/2009 8:47:02 PM PDT
by
Huck
("He that lives on hope will die fasting"- Ben Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac)
To: Tanniker Smith
My sentiment exactly.
I wonder if this is really just a superficial attempt to get ratings on the Comedy Channel since much of their prime-time programming takes a hard-left position.
That worthless bastard Jon Leibowitz leads the way in that department.
South Park remains the only program I watch on the Comedy Channel since Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the only ones that use Obama as the butt of some of their jokes.
12
posted on
06/12/2009 9:14:19 PM PDT
by
Prole
(Please pray for the families of Chris and Channon. May God always watch over them.)
To: SandRat
"His comedy covers all ranges. He is willing to pick on anyone,"
Welllllll, almost anyone....
There being TWO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS to that rule, of course...
13
posted on
06/12/2009 9:18:08 PM PDT
by
Prole
(Please pray for the families of Chris and Channon. May God always watch over them.)
To: SandRat
It was a good bit. Congrats to him for doing it and going there. Even Obama had a moment of non-suckishness in the thing. The troops obviously got a kick out of it.
Giving credit where credit is due.
14
posted on
06/12/2009 9:23:57 PM PDT
by
Ramius
(Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
To: IGOTMINE
FYI....
Both the character Colbert (silent “t’’) and the real Colbert (pronounced “t’’), a Catholic family man, are ardent supporters of the troops. He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Yellow Ribbon Fund (a charity that assists injured service members and their families), and he’s a board member of DonorsChoose.org, which benefits the schools of military kids.
To: SandRat
Why doesn’t Colbert use his time to demand 0bama bring the troops home NOW. You know, he’s the same a**hat he has always been.
16
posted on
06/13/2009 5:21:50 AM PDT
by
bushfamfan
(United States of America: July 4, 1776-November 4, 2008)
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