Baghdadis hail Bush surprise visit

AFP ^ | 28nov03 | AFP

[jern]

Baghdadis hail Bush surprise visit From correspondents in Baghdad 28nov03 ORDINARY Iraqis joined American soldiers today in hailing US President George W. Bush's surprise visit to Baghdad in which he fed 600 soldiers the traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner at the city's airport.

"Why wouldn't he come here? He got rid of Saddam for us, we owe him," said Raad Turk Azab, a baker.

Sara Hassan who was peddling fruits in downtown Baghdad said she appreciated the US president's visit but echoed feelings shared by most Iraqis seven months after the US-led troops invaded Iraq.

He "should bring back security to the country, there is no security here", she complained.

"All those who want to visit Iraq are welcome," offered the 64-year-old woman.

Even those US soldiers who did not get the chance to meet the president gave the surprise visit a resounding thumbs-up.

"It was a good move because it shows support for troops here in Iraq on Thanksgiving," said Captain Chris Brown as he stood guard outside two Baghdad media hotels that were hit by a multiple rocket attack last week.

"Even though we didn't see him, one of my soldiers got to see him and this kind of carries over the company.

"It was a great risk. The DHL was hit a week ago, so that makes it even more appreciated," he said.

Just five days ago, a missile attack on a cargo jet belonging to the German-owned courier DHL forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing at Baghdad airport.

Staff Sergeant Josh Casto said Bush's visit would also be a major boost for Iraqis working with the coalition, some of them at great personal risk.

"It shows the Iraqi people that he believes in assisting them by coming here," he said.

But a few Iraqis were critical of the US commander in chief's visit to their country where reconstruction efforts are stalling and anti-coalition attacks flaring.

"Bush invaded Iraq on the pretence that we had weapons of mass destruction and it turned out to be a lie. Now he's destroying Iraq on the pretence that he has to capture Saddam," said Abdelsalem, the owner of an Internet cafe in the posh Mansur neighbourhood.

"He's a coward, he came here at night like a thief, he's afraid of the resistance," protested another man, refusing to identify himself.

Bush flew into Baghdad airport, which serves as the coalition's main base here, in the utmost secrecy, amid the persistent threat from surface-to-air missiles.

His visit lasted a mere two hours. No news of his presence here was released until Air Force One was safely back in the air.

[Darksheare]

"He's a coward, he came here at night like a thief, he's afraid of the resistance," protested another man, refusing to identify himself.

He refused to ID himself because he's Saddam Fedayeen, or AQ.
Hope they're looking for him.

On the brighter note, haven't heard anyone in Afghanistan say they're grateful for Hillarily's visit.

[gcruse]

But a few Iraqis were critical of the US commander in chief's visit to their country where reconstruction efforts are stalling...

So exploding oil pipelines are Bush's fault, too?  The DNC seems to have set up shop in Baghdad.

[GulliverSwift]

"He's a coward, he came here at night like a thief, he's afraid of the resistance," protested another man, refusing to identify himself.

A man who refuses to identify himself ought not to call someone else a coward.

[okie01]

"He refused to ID himself because he's Saddam Fedayeen, or AQ."

Or a Democrat.

[Darksheare]

That's the ironic part, he calls Dubya a coward, and then doesn't ID himself.
And he might be a Dem..
*chuckle*

The Dems are upset that the trip was unannounced.
It was unannounced so that mr 'X' here in the article couldn't take a pot hot at Dubya.
Guarranteed that if there was any advance arning of the trip, the Dems would have blabbed to any enemy ear they could find.

[CindyDawg]

He's a coward, he came here at night like a thief, he's afraid of the resistance," protested another man, refusing to identify himself.

He pulled a fast one on you, huh? He gave you a one finger salute and you didn't even know until he was gone.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ain't it great! At least 3 people had to have a change in undies over that; Saddam, OBL, and best of all Hillary.

[Dog]

fyi...

[Maria S]

Just heard on ABC news: apparently a British Airways flight got close enough to see the presidential seal, and radioed, asking if it was Air Force One. After a long silence, Air Force One answered that they were not...the plane was a Gulfstream (?). I think that's what the announcer said...I know zilch about planes. Of course, it wasn't...that plane is much smaller than the 747. Anyway, the British Airways captain just replied, "oh" and flew on!

[monkeywrench]

Or he doesn't exist at all. Sort of an "unnamed source" type deal...

[dixiechick2000]

"Bush invaded Iraq on the pretence that we had weapons of mass destruction and it turned out to be a lie. Now he's destroying Iraq on the pretence that he has to capture Saddam," said Abdelsalem, the owner of an Internet cafe in the posh Mansur neighbourhood."

Saddam loyalist...

The Mansur neighborhood is where Saddam, and his evil spawn, used to hang out.
We sent a bomb there, once...

[kabar]

AFP. Not exactly an unbiased source. It was probably the AFP reporter who called Bush a coward.

[jackbill]

In another AFP report on the trip, they said that the President was accompanied by "the hawkish Condaleeza Rice".

My, oh my. The French are intimated even by an unarmed woman.

[VOA]

I don't know if it applies here, but IIRC, any plane the President is aboard gets
the "Air Force One" designation.
I think there is a small fleet of "Air Force One"s.

It could be that he flew to some "mid-point", got off one of the larger planes, then
sippped in/out of Baghdad in something a bit more nimble than a 747.

[metalboy]

The type of article(s) I`m expecting soon....

The Bush lies continue

By Michael Moore

Today President by deceit Bush, visited Iraq after LYING to the press that he was spending Thanksgiving on his Texas ranch. Ladies and Gentleman how much more evidence do we need? He willfully lied to the press! He even showed them a menu, when all along HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO IRAQ!! LIAR! LIAR! LIAR! After this sinister lie, how can we trust anything he says?

[twntaipan]

Any bets that the media's reporting of Hitlery's trip to Afghanistan won't include negative comments from the local Afghanis?????

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Baghdadis hail Bush surprise visit

I just hope the democrats join the folks in Baghdad in hailing the CiC for his surprise visit to their newly liberated city.

[submarinerswife]

<<>> Don't worry too much about the French...they will surrender their opinion soon.