First Flight Lands At 'Bush International'

WCBS880.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

First Flight Lands At 'Bush International'

Captured Iraqi Airfield Renamed In Honor Of The President Mar 27, 2003 3:35 pm US/Eastern (AP) (TALLIL AIRFIELD, Southern Iraq) The first U.S. airplane landed Thursday at a key Iraqi airfield, which forces informally renamed "Bush International Airport."

The captured airfield is expected to be a major resupply base and transport hub for American forces.

A C-130 transport plane glided down onto a 12,000-foot runway newly cleared of concrete blocks, wrecked vehicles and other barriers placed on the strip by the Iraqi military to prevent its use.

A hastily erected sign at the airfield's entrance read "Bush International Airport" for the U.S. president.

The sprawling base is located four miles from Nasiriyah where U.S. Marines are trying to root out resistance by groups loyal to Saddam Hussein's regime, such as the Fedayeen militia.

The airfield, second in size only to Saddam International Airport in Baghdad, had been out of use since the establishment of the no-fly zone following the 1991 Gulf War. The zones were set up to protect Iraq's majority Shiite Muslims in the south of the country and the Kurds in the north.

Tallil's main runway, once used by Iraqi jet fighters, is long enough to take the military's largest transport planes, as well as civilian jumbo jets.

Tallil sits astride a major logistics corridor for U.S. forces, running from Kuwait toward Baghdad. Aircraft flying in could help speed the flow of supplies from Kuwait to troops in the field.

"It's been sitting in a time warp, waiting for someone to wake it up," said Col. A. Myers of the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command. His unit, from Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, had the mission to revive it.

The airbase, overrun by the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division on March 22, had been only partially occupied and maintained in the past decade. Jumbles of rusting equipment were strewn around the derelict control tower and U.S. troops were clearing out ramshackle buildings before moving in.

Regular air traffic was expected in coming days, weather permitting.

[zarf]

Sounds like a European outcall service.

[JennysCool]

A hastily erected sign at the airfield's entrance read "Bush International Airport" for the U.S. president.

Anyone seen a picture of the sign?

[ffusco]

http://www.houston-iah.com/

[SoCal Pubbie]

Isn't there one little detail left out? What, or whom, exactly came out of the plane after it landed?

[Sub-Driver]

uh, wrong one.....

[Boston Capitalist]

Speaking from personal experience?

[ChadGore]

MMMmmm AC-130 (c)homer

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[zarf]

No, I just read the Yellow Pages.....; 0

[HapaxLegamenon]

There is one problem. "Bush International" (IAH) is in Houston, TX, and is named for Bush 41. We will have to call this one "W" international!

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[VRWC_minion]

THe rats are going to hate this.

[fatima]

Thanks for the post.This is so nice,can I have a rum and coke with a twist of lime and a few snacks on the flight.If the President says no I understand.

[OperationFreedom]

I love it.

I am all for naming everything over there after Bush for awhile... just to annoy the Saddam lovers over there... and OVER HERE!

[SouthernFreebird]

Amen.... gotta love the 'in your face' attitude of our service members! LOL.... God Bless 'em

[Captain Beyond]

IMO since it was US troops on the ground that took it over and have secured it. Then they can call it whatever the heck they want. They are there we are not. If the name Bush International makes them happy so be it. Who are we to argue with the troops in the field over something as trivial as this.

[nhoward14]

Attention ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to Dubya International Airport in lovely Baghdad, Iraq. The temperature outside is a balmy 75 degrees, except for the immediate vicinity of Saddam Hussein, where the temperature is 2000 degrees....

[SamAdams76]

A C-130 transport plane glided down onto a 12,000-foot runway newly cleared of concrete blocks, wrecked vehicles and other barriers placed on the strip by the Iraqi military to prevent its use.

Are the Iraqis really so stupid as to think that tossing some cinderblocks and junked cars on a runway is going to keep up from using it?

[VRWC_minion]

This is not a war for the glory of our President or our party

No, but it speaks volumes about the the attitude of the troops. If the troops like Bush so much that they name the airport after him that is a hugely symbolic gesture that will confound the rats, piss off the French and make the Iraqi's very, very nervous.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

The troops are willingly risking their lives under this Commander in Chief. THEY are very aware of the LIBERATION of the IRAQ people that this President has the COURAGE to do..and THEY have the courage to risk it all.

Not only are they protecting US from the threats Saddam Hussein poses to the World and US.. they are liberating the Iraqi people. If THEY choose to call it "Bush International Airport".. that speaks VOLUMES to the RESPECT they have for this Commander in Chief.

Dang.. if that offends ya.. wait till you see this!! BTW.. the TROOPS/SAILORS made this banner!!

"WE WILL NOT TIRE, WE WILL NOT FALTER, WE WILL NOT FAIL" "PRESIDENT BUSH"

[Political Junkie Too]

That's Bush Intercontinental, this is Bush International. Next will be Bush Interplanetary.

-PJ

[Erasmus]

There is one problem. "Bush International" (IAH) is in Houston, TX, and is named for Bush 41. We will have to call this one "W" international!

Actually, IAH is "Bush Intercontinental Airport."

[ffusco]

I can't resist:

All your sky are belong to us!

[homeschool mama]

Very cool!

[Wright is right!]

"Are the Iraqis really so stupid as to think that tossing some cinderblocks and junked cars on a runway is going to keep up from using it?"

No, the debris was there to prevent anyone from using it that didn't first control the ground. In other words, it prevented us from using it as an initial beachhead. It made us drive our guys'n'gear in 240 miles and have to clear it before we could use it.

Michael

[HapaxLegamenon]

Actually, IAH is "Bush Intercontinental Airport."

Your right! Sorry for my error.

[Spruce]

You don't suppose that's where these monsters are heading?

[k2afe]

This airport designation is B I A not IAH . The name is
Bush International Airport. There will be many flights
into BIA in the near future especially troop transports of
the M.A.T.S. Semper Fi

[dnandell]

But wait! Our beloved media (aka liberal idiots) are claiming our troops are running out of supplies. Starving to death and will soon be defeated by a triumphant Saddam riding out of Baghdad on a white horse!!!

We're landing C130 in places like this? Can you say, instant resupply?

[Stentor]

We're landing C130 in places like this?

I'm kinda surprised they didn't turn around on the grounds of "way too much runway".

[dnandell]

Yeah! I wonder if anybody in the media understands that supplies can be dropped from the air.

[CPOSharky]

IAH is Bush InterCONTINETAL Airport.

[Happy2BMe]

Whoa - where ARE those C17s heading?

Very impressive - U.S. Airpower!