Sen. Clinton to spend Thanksgiving with troops in Afghanistan, visit Iraq

Newsday.com ^ | 11/25/2003 | Devlin Barrett

[PeteFromMontana]

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will spend Thanksgiving in Afghanistan before traveling to Iraq with a former Army paratrooper turned senator to meet with soldiers and ask questions about the United States' ongoing nation-building efforts.

The former first lady and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., have both been critical of the administration's handling of post-combat problems in the war on terrorism, particularly after major military operations ended in Iraq.

Clinton and Reed said Tuesday they were concerned about the current efforts to win the "hearts and minds" of Iraqis.

[Doctor Raoul]

Doc, whatta ya think, can we make it over there to Freep her?

Seriously, we are working on it.

[Mo1]

Ping

[MJY1288]

LOL, I knew this would be a source of good fun here on FR, I can't wait for the boo's that heffer gets.

Is there rules about soldiers heckling a Senator?

[AGreatPer]

"Seriously, we are working on it." Tell me where to be and get the airplane and I am there.

[Mo1]

For Clinton, the trip is also a chance to bring attention to one of her long-time public causes: the advancement of women in the political systems of other nations.

The only attention she wants to bring, is to herself

If it was really about the advancement of women in Iraq .. then why didn't she going when the group of women from Congress went a few weeks back

Gawd I hate this women

[Doctor Raoul]

For Clinton, the trip is also a chance to bring attention to one of her long-time public causes: the advancement of women in the political systems of other nations.

If she wants to be out front, let her walk point.

[MJY1288]

If that pear legged witch thinks she is going to give a speech about her "long-time public causes" I hope she is booed off the stage. The brave soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan need to be told how much we appreciate their service and their dedication, not about some Carpet Bagging Junior Senators concern about the advancement of women in other nations. That two faced War Horse should of that about advancing women in the politics when she found about her husbands unsavory liaison with a 19 year old Intern

[Jeff Gordon]

It would be tragic if she were kidnapped by Al Queda and held for the ransom of captured terrorists.

[Carolinamom]

Rest assured that this trip will be the sum total of her military experience. Padding the resume, "you know." Remember how she claimed that she had tried to enlist in the marines? Now she will claim expertise on the war since she flew in for a day or two...probably get herself a GI hat like the ball cap she wore when she claimed love for the NY Yankees. Anything for a photo op and galzillions of write-up in the liberal press. I can see her now being interviewed by Kattie Kurick as to the failures and quagmires she personally witnessed.

[Col Freeper]

Here is my recommended response to this planned visit:

Plan A: (For the military)

Step 1 - Make sure Hillary gets a flight suit or other appropriate full coverage military garb to wear (yea, I know that it might take a special order to acquire such a garmet).

Step 2 - Make sure that as many pictures as possible (from all angles) are taken to "record" her visit. It would be particularly good to let her drive a tank, but any photo showing her in "macho mama" poses.

Step 3 - Distribute the photos freely and extensively to the media and the internet. This will allow for appropriate comparisons to the "Dukakis the tank commander" photo and the photos of President Bush on the aircraft carrier.

Step 4 - Support the photos with the argument that the military wanted to give Hillary an equal opportunity for a photo op, to "balance" the complaints by the democrats about President Bush's flightsuit photos.

Plan B: (For Freepers)

Step 1 - All Freepers with military members either in Afganistan and IRAQ, or those who will encounter Hillary on the way to/from those locations, should ask their family members to take as many photos of Hillary as possible (digital cameras probably preferred) and send the photos to FR. Hillary will be more likely to "pose" if she thinks: "Gee, the military folks really like me, just look at all these requests for photos!".

Step 2 - Have a contest on FR to select the best "modified" picture of Hillary, such as an overlay of a flightsuit and/or other appropriate gear onto Hillary, or an overlay of Hillary into/on appropriate military locations/equipment.

Step 3 - Select the winner and post the efforts of the winner and selected runnerups (with appropriate notification that the photos have been modified) on FR.

Either of these plans, if implemented, will provide 1) some comic relief for those of us frustrated by Hillary's constant escape from justice, 2) perhaps transfer a little of that frustration over to Hillary and her followers, since the thing that drives them nuts is when they are ridiculed, and 3) perhaps be picked up and spread across the net and give some notoriety to the best FR artist.

Just a thought. (Of course, the lefties who lurk at FR will know about these plans as soon as I post this, so we may hear their screeching starting up very soon.)

[MJY1288]

Doc??? Do you know what the protocol is for soldiers greeting U.S. Senators?

If they can't boo Hillary, I want to record the reception she gets and compare that to the level of cheering GWB gets when he addresses of the Troops

[AwesomePossum]

She who hated the military, secret service and police is now the loving defender of our guys over there...Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.............................ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ..................(have to stop every so often to catch my breath).................ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha........(my stomach hurts)..................... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[armymarinemom]

Here is my recommended response to this planned visit:

Mine in Iraq is with an Aviation unit but for Blackhawks. I can only imagine what she would look like in one of those one piece flight suits. He is located at BIAP which I would assume is on the locations to visit.
The one if Afghanistan is Airborne and they could only get her rigged to jump. That of course would be a temptation for a HANO jump.

[MJY1288]

"(Of course, the lefties who lurk at FR will know about these plans as soon as I post this, so we may hear their screeching starting up very soon.)" They have been screeching for the past three years and they have been coming here to find things to screech about for longer than that, No sense stopping now :-) BTW, great ideas :-) But I say you need one more suggestion for Hillary on this self promoting photo-op... FReepers should spread the word to the troops that Hillary is on the way and they should do their country a great service and get as many of them to show up and remain completely silent, let her give her "All about Me" speech in total silence and just leave when she is done

[Lucy Lake]

Ping...just in case you missed this one!

[StriperSniper]

TURKEY IN THE STRAW

[Col Freeper]

I can only imagine what she would look like in one of those one piece flight suits.

LOL, exactly. Just think of such a photo available worldwide via the internet.

Any idea how many military personnel it would take to wrestle her into a flight suit? Would they get triple hazardous duty pay? Early disability retirement? Purple Heart? Could she be airlifted strapped under a Chinook? What's a Chinook's lift capability? :-)

I believe the active minds of the vwrc here on FR could come up with some very humorous concepts for some modified photos, eh?

[Col Freeper]

But I say you need one more suggestion for Hillary on this self promoting photo-op... FReepers should spread the word to the troops that Hillary is on the way and they should do their country a great service and get as many of them to show up and remain completely silent, let her give her "All about Me" speech in total silence and just leave when she is done.

I like your idea, however, I wouldn't want to get any of our fine servicemen/women in trouble. So I tried to formulate plans that fit a "plausible deniability" defense.

Besides, now that the lefty lurkers are onto my suggested plans, it will drive them and Hillary nuts wondering if every photograph taken of her will be "the" photograph that receives worldwide dissemination.

If nothing else, it might force Hillary to "watch her step" as she forces herself onto our poor military folks, who are already putting up with discomfort and danger in those countries.

[Let's Roll]

I thought this was from The Onion.

Gimme a break - don't our guys have enough to contend with? I'm sure they'll welcome her as enthusiastically as the NYC Firefighters did.

[MJY1288]

Is there rules about how the troops greet or respond to a Senator?

I don't think there is any rules about soldiers being completely silent when they are ordered to assemble in front of a pig like Hillary or even a President. Just as long as they don't make a public statement. I know the rules about the Commander-in-Chief, and out of respect for the country, No matter who the Cammander-in-Chief is, Soldiers have a duty to respect the CIC