Bush leaves awe in his Baghdad wake (good read)

Tikrit, Nov. 28 (Reuters): Awesome, courageous, a good move for morale, no way — these were some of the reactions of American soldiers when President George W. Bush flew secretly into Iraq for Thanksgiving yesterday.

“That is absolutely awesome,” said Sergeant Aaron Hildernbrandt, from Claremont, Florida, as he watched news of Bush’s two-and-a-half hour swing-through on television in Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit.

“I think that shows real personal courage,” said his companion Sergeant Gilbert Nail of Oklahoma, both of whom had just returned from a patrol through Saddam Hussein’s hometown.

Bush secretly left his Texas ranch late on Wednesday and flew on Air Force One to Baghdad, where he helped serve Thanksgiving lunch to around 600 soldiers at Baghdad International Airport.

The lightning presidential visit seemed to go some way to dispelling an impression of low morale among US troops in Iraq given by many recent reports.

“I think this is a great move. For him to actually come here and spend time with the troops on the holiday. This is a good move,” said Private Michael Debratta from New York as he manned a checkpoint in central Baghdad.

“This is definitely a good move for morale. It makes us feel better that our leader is actually here on a holiday.”

Bush’s bold visit was kept secret from all but a very small pool of White House reporters who travelled with him on the long flight from the US.

The President, wearing a grey military zip-up top, was welcomed by Paul Bremer, the US-appointed governor of Iraq, and helped serve food to a group of stunned soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 1st Armored Division.

They cheered and shouted as Bush, who is the overall commander of US forces, entered the military mess at the airport, and whooped and whistled as he made a short address.

“I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere,” Bush said. “Thanks for inviting me to dinner... I can’t think of a finer group of folks to have Thanksgiving dinner with than you all.”

Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, the commander of the 1-22 Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division, which is leading the hunt for Saddam around Tikrit, was astonished at Bush’s visit.

“I think that’s great. It sends a strong message from the commander-in-chief that we’re focused on winning. It’s a real morale booster.” The US has more than 130,000 troops in Iraq. In recent months they have faced a deepening insurgency from loyalists of the former regime, who almost daily set off explosions or fire mortars at US positions.

More than 180 US soldiers have been killed since Washington declared an end to major combat on May 1. But despite those losses, soldiers said today’s visit from Bush was just the sort of thing to keep them upbeat.

“It’s a total morale booster,” said Nail in Tikrit. “I didn’t get to see him but what matters is that he cares enough to come and visit.”

Britain’s Times newspaper hailed Bush’s trip as “one of the most daring stunts in modern American history”.

“Probably not since the American Civil War, when battles raged only a few miles from Washington, has the incumbent of the White House deliberately placed himself in so much danger,” the newspaper’s diplomatic editor wrote.

“Election raid on Baghdad,” declared a front-page headline in France’s Left-wing newspaper Liberation, beside a photograph of Bush carrying a platter laden with roast turkey and fruit and surrounded by US troops.

“This ‘Baghdad coup’, primarily intended for the US public, was a brilliantly conceived and executed piece of election propaganda,” the newspaper said.

But opinions on the trip differed in other sections of the press, with Britain’s tabloid Daily Mirror newspaper and The Independent both running a similar photograph of Bush holding a platter with the headline: “The Turkey has landed”.

In Baghdad, discussions were under way on amendments to a new US-backed plan to hand sovereignty back to Iraqis by July, after the Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said the political roadmap paid too little heed to Islam and did not include enough Iraqi involvement.

Thank you MEG, knak.

Iraqi response to the President's visit: brigette posted a few blogs from Iraqis who attended the anti-terrorism rally.

Blurry screen alert.

http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/

Friday, November 28, 2003

I was there.

A wonderful sunny day in Baghdad, I couldn't sleep last night, I was anxious.
The day is my day.
I've stayed awake late watching the news channels broadcasting the news about president bush's visit to Baghdad.
I tried to figure out the meanings behind this visit.
I shared the tears with him, tears of joy, anxiety, and care for the future of his country men.
I was also afraid for the future of my people and I felt some kind of unity of feelings with all the good on earth.
I expressed that today as I marched with my brothers in the demo. That fights the terrorism and defends freedom and democracy.

My friends told me that they will come with me, I waited but no one showed up but that didn't break my determination to go,
as it means a lot to me.
I arrived at al-Tahrir square from where the demo. should start, and I was surprised to find that the numbers of police men and journalists were more than the demonstrators themselves.
We needed some men to hold the sign boards (these were also more than us).
I was a little bit disappointed, because I was dreaming of a huge demo. but when I took a minute to think about what this demo. represents, I restored some of the hope to my heart.

There were 3 cars carrying symbolic coffins for the victims of terrorism.
There were people from some Iraqi ethnic minorities and others who represented no particular party or group.
We decided -regardless of the small number- to march to al-Firdows square where the statue of the tyrant was knocked down on the 9th. of April.
The people who were standing or passing by through the ever crowded (Saadoon street) were watching carelessly and reading our signs.
After a while some men joined us, ordinary simple people with their simple clothes telling their suffering.
Fear started to vanish away from their hearts and people continued to join us and the small crowd grew bigger.

We became several thousands, and I saw the future in their eyes, I didn't feel they were strangers; we were closer to each other than ever, carrying the same feelings and ambitions.
I found myself walking amongst a group of the demonstrators carrying the flag of the Turkman's front, and I tried to say the same words they were saying, although I don't know their language but I was sure that these words represent my feelings too.
This the first time I march in a demo.
No one forced me, and I remembered the old days when we were obliged- by the tyrant's orders- to march in huge crowds in faked demos. crying out with his name and our love for our beloved leader.
His security men used to be surrounding us, watching the expression on our faces and how damn unlucky a man is if they notice that he was not doing the desired effort (shouting loudly).
We used to consider the police men as our enemies and there was even a proverb that says:" a police man will never see heaven"
Today, we consider them our defenders and our brothers.
they're sacrificing their lives tacking the front position to face the terrorists, they will definitely get rid of the bad reputation they earned in the past and they will learn to treat us respectfully, we're their brothers and our enemy doesn't distinguish between a civilian and a police man.

I've been there, and I came back stronger with a deeper belief that there are others who care for us, and next time, the participation will be wider.
Our victory in this challenge is a victory for all the honest, good and free people on earth.

- posted by Omar @ 20:36

63 posted on 11/28/2003 5:28 PM EST by brigette

Now that is what I call Presidential. Our CIC stickin' it in the eye of Saddam and his miserable ragtag gang of insane idiots right in Saddam's former neighborhood. Talk about morale booster! Right on target!

I heard the news at approx. 9:30 am Pacific Time, while the Detroit football game was just being aired while our National Anthem was being sung hearing the cheers of our brave and surprised troops and the football stadium crowd cheer to the lines of the Star Spangled Banner I could never have been more proud to be an American thankful for our FReedom and Liberty and the courageous men and women who have, who are, and always will stand firm, and resolute at great risk on the front lines of battle so that we will remain free.

I am humbled and deeply grateful by their sacrifice and also the fearless steadfast determination of our CIC's leadership to protect, defend, and uphold our people, our nation and our beloved Constitution in this serious and critical battle against terrorism.

We are truly blessed.

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