FR EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH HIGH LEVEL NAVY COMMANDER REGARDING PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAILHOOK LANDING

a Navy commander | May 9., 2003 | dfu

[doug from upland]

After listening to the rantings and ravings of the DemocRATS who are both jealous and livid after seeing a beloved commander in chief do a tailhook landing on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, I wanted to get the real story.

After about 5 calls and transfers and return calls, I just spoke with a Navy commander who deals with public relations. He is very high level, but because this issue is so sensitive, I agreed that I would not use his name.

When asked whether the visit of the president delayed the arrival of the Lincoln, the answer was a resounding "Absolutely not!" The Lincoln arrived when it was scheduled to arrive. Ships slow down and speed up all the time.

The Navy does not have its ships land early. No. It is just not done. It is a logistical nightmare. Tugs and other port services have to be arranged. In 1991, the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT arrived 20 hours early off the coast of Virginia. It sat out there looking at land for 20 hours. And they never come to port at night.

There were 20-25,000 families and friends expecting to watch the return of the ship and greet their loved ones.

"Psychologically," said the commander, "it would have been a nightmare. People made plane reservations, hotel reservations, long trips by car. Imagine what it would have been like for them to arrive to meet there loved ones, but it turned out that they came a day late for the event. We would have had 20-25,000 people really angry with the U.S. Navy."

The commander gave me his worst scenario for a public relations nightmare. It would be a grandma who drove all the way from Des Moines to see her grandson arrive, only to be told that she didn't make it in time; that they decided to come to port early. What do they say to her?

The commander is amazed at this flap, which has been totally invented by the media. This should be a non-issue with them. Some in the media were sworn to silence, and they were given the May 2 date about 3-4 weeks ago. They knew it would be coming to port at that time. At the appropriate time, the crew and families were notified. You just do not change the date.

As to the landing on a Viking rather than Marine One. The costs are roughly the same. Fuel and other costs for that Viking were already allocated and spent. If the President was not aboard that plane, it would have made a landing on the ship anyway. It would have done so sooner or later because it was in the budget to do it.

What has been lost in all of this, according to the commander, is that it was the Navy's idea for the President to come aboard and make a tailhook landing. They opted for an F-18. Because of security, however, the White House opted for the Viking, a 4-seater which could accommodate Secret Service.

"We would do this again," said the commander. "Ever since President Franklin Roosevelt, every president has landed aboard a Navy ship."

We finished with a laugh at the media. Members of congress and journalists are flown in and not charged. And these are the people creating an issue where none should exist.

[OldFriend]

LOLOLROTF, it's obvious the flight suit was not custom made......the pants were too short!

[SolitaryMan]

I retired from the navy last year and all of what you say is true. The Navy is always doing things to promote its self, including taking congress critters and other high and even low profile people on VIP Cruises and such. Great for crew moral, they are recognized and the crew gets to show their stuff.

[sarasmom]

I feel certain someone has probably brought this up before, but I for one would be pleased if a new tradition was started, similar to the "Ann Coulter Rule".
Any thread about President Bush must include a gratuitous photo of him wearing a flightsuit.
I promise to learn how to post images, should this rule become standard.
I know it may not be entirely proper, as my daughter rebuked me and said I should not say GWB looked incredibly good in a flightsuit,
her exact words were "Mom, that's gross,he is the President and you shouldnt think about him being cute or sexy".
I feel very lucky that she is only 8, and has no idea the former presidents' major legacy for children was to casually introduce "oral sex" into their vocabulary.

[OldFriend]

I am breathlessly waiting for the President to visit the Reagan when it is ready to roll..........

Oh my, the dems will be shooting themselves in the head again!!!

[OldFriend]

Don't know about the media, but when the ship was about ten miles from shore, the President walked on in!!!!

[Miss Marple]

LOL! Here is a picture, and I will freepmail you directions on how to post pictures:

[Fledermaus]

Great work doug.

Personally, I WANT the Dimbulbs to whine everyday. Even "liberals" I know are dismayed at their constant sniping.

The more and more they whine and whine, the more and more decent Americans see them for what they are: worthless pieces of dog feces.

Wait, I take that back - dog feces has more worth.

[reg45]

How about Bobby Byrd's Klan robe.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Great picture of blatherin' Terry finally cracking up.

[POGIFFMOO]

Here's the thing, the Rats know that there's something wrong with everything Bush does. Doesn't matter if it's landing on an aircraft carrier or using the john. The thing that bothers them is that it's not a Democrat doing it.

[reg45]

How (& when) did W (and the media et. al.) get off the Lincoln?

The next day, when the carrier was closer to land, they all took helicopters to shore.

[CindyDawg]

journalists are flown in and not charged

Well, maybe this needs to be changed.

[Grampa Dave]

A great letter from a real man from West Virginia, not that whining/carping KKKer Byrd. Byrd has never apologized for being KKKer, and I don't he has ever officially said that he was no longer a KKKer.

[speekinout]

Here is a picture, and I will freepmail you directions on how to post pictures:

Oh, no! Please don't propagate that method! I don't know what it is, but it doesn't allow me to see the pix on my lowly iMac.
I can see most pix, but some method being propagated on FR is not viewable to me, and I'd like to see the others used more (of course!)

[Rudder]

The commander is amazed at this flap, which has been totally invented by the media.

Hey, it's showbiz...not news. The media always seeks drama, i.e., conflict and tension. Hence objectivity and accuracy take a back seat.

[jackbill]

In 1991, the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT arrived 20 hours early off the coast of Virginia. It sat out there looking at land for 20 hours. And they never come to port at night.

I can attest to that. My youngest son was aboard the TR, returning from the Gulf War in June of 1991 and I was aware of the docking date for two weeks. Unfortunately, circumstances kept me from greeting him, but two of my other sons did - on schedule, on time.

I believe that the DemocRATs are going to rue the day that they took on the Commander in Chief on this issue. Big Time.

[Miss Marple]

Test pcture:

Can you see this picture? If so, the method I use works for you.

[POGIFFMOO]

But of course, they wouldn't want the Commander in Chief to command. They're trying to find a way to make the execution of his job an abuse of power. That's because any time a Democrat is in this position they abuse their power. Hmmmm, should we be surprised?

[sarasmom]

I cant see it. Just a box with a red x in it.

[Just Another Lurker]