Posted on 11/29/2003 2:31:22 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush (news - web sites), having surprised the nation with his Thanksgiving trip to Baghdad, asked Americans on Saturday to volunteer to help military personnel and their families.
Ignoring criticism at home and in Iraq (news - web sites), Bush said he felt privileged to have been able to offer the nation's gratitude in person to some of the soldiers deployed in Iraq when he appeared at a Thanksgiving dinner at Baghdad International Airport on Thursday.
"I'm pleased to report back from the front lines that our troops are strong, morale is high and our military is confident we will prevail," the president said in his weekly radio address.
Bush taped the address from his ranch near here, where he was spending the weekend resting from his nearly 36-hour secret journey before returning to Washington on Sunday.
The tranquility of his agenda on Friday — some fishing with dad, a little cedar-chopping and other chores around his 1,600-acre property after arriving home shortly before daybreak — couldn't have been more different from the day before. Then, employing cloak-and-dagger secrecy and security tactics, he jetted across the ocean and back to visit troops deployed in one of the world's most dangerous places.
Although the trip was over, the airwaves remained full of talk about the Baghdad visit.
Some carped that it appeared a political stunt meant to produce striking images and public sympathy for a president under fire about his Iraq policies.
Others said the very riskiness of the journey that required extraordinary security only underscored why Bush is under scrutiny for his Iraq strategy, which has failed to prevent a rising death roll to Americans serving there.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, some Iraqis complained Bush didn't take the opportunity to see firsthand how dire their situation is and were offended he would use their country as a stage for what some saw as an electoral gambit.
White House advisers denied any political motive for the trip. They signaled they were not worried that the public would buy criticism of a president who braved personal risk to himself to visit lonely U.S. troops.
"Let the chips fall where they may," Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites), told reporters. "But for the American people, I don't care what your party, they know that the president of the United States, as commander in chief, going to see these troops is an important step."
At a school where the White House press sets up shop when the president is in town, Rice also dodged questions about whether the Secret Service (news - web sites) had lodged objections to the trip, saying only that agents were "prepared to go forward" and were "right in the middle" of the planning.
"I'm not going to try to characterize what they thought, but they were involved in the planning from the very beginning," Rice said. "The president made clear that he wasn't going to take undue risk."
In his radio address, Bush paid respects to "such brave men and women who stand between us and the dangers of the world," acknowledging the difficulties of their families back home and the loss of families who will never again see loved ones lost in the war.
"The courage of our soldiers and their families show the spirit of this country in great adversity," Bush said. "And many citizens are showing their appreciation by helping military families here at home."
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| Fri Nov 28,12:41 AM ET |
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U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) stops to pose for photos with U.S. troops at Baghdad International Airport Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, in Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites), during a surprise Thanksgiving day visit. Bush boarded Air Force One unannounced from TSTC Airport in Waco, Texas, on Wednesday and made a brief stop at Andrews Air Force Base to switch planes before departing for Baghdad. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) |
I'd bet that he's fully aware of the "criticsm," while what the author means, is that President Bush chooses to not be beaten by "ignorant criticism," such as the "Ignoring criticsm" usage by the author.
In addition, if I may point out, in everyday life, criticsm is a part, and knowing how to be critical, as well as criticized, without malice, is an art that is not well-regulated by many, and therefore, they resort to war.
If anything, President Bush is a man too sensitive, at times, to criticsm; a man not willing to go to war over what "offends" Stalin's "useful idiots" (above article's author, may be an example of what is a "useful idiot," for those of you who do not know what is a "useful idiot" --- other references, Hillary Clinton, Jane Fonda, Jesse Jackson, Mr. Susan Sarandon, et al).
I am very critical of President Bush, because there are some areas of the intel business, about which the public is unaware, but I know that he is aware, and he has not been forthright in some of his statements about some things. He has also "left the barn door open" regarding our borders. He has also provided many sanctuaries and some comfort to our enemies, when he said that he would make no distinction between the terrorists and their supporters. He has also proven time and again, to be unaware of the principles of limited government, the foundations for that, the history and American heritage that is worthy repeating by way of "public education," which is, by the way, the very definition of the Founding Fathers' and their purpose for including it in our Constitution, that we know how and why we are free, we maintain our knowledge, and we teach the young people and those new to the country, in our ways, the American way.
And finally, I am not happy with the many logistics failures in addition to the gross lack of aviation support for our military effort (we need many, many more C-17 aircraft and helicopters, maintenance, support facilities, crews, etc.)
But ... George Bush is a man who is hard on himself, in trying to adhere to God's blessing, that he endeavor daily to do the right thing --- he is very contemplative of almost all his decisions.
He is not a man to waste our young people on legacy-making adventures, with them to remain nameless and him to glory.
Yet the thing that escapes him is that this war is not his, nor is it the government's --- it's our fight. If he wants Americans to help, then all he has to do is get out of the way.
The police forces and the military forces cannot, and should never be, "government forces." Instead, they are citizen forces who are specially trained to do and go where any of us would and sometimes have to when there is no such law enforcement officer or solder or sailor or airman around ... then it's our job to muster as the situation requires.
Americans do it all the time, when hurricanes strike, when a house catches fire, when cars collide on the highway; ordinary people do not wait for "certified, sworn, insured 'experts'" to pull somebody out of a burning bus before the flames get to that somebody.
No.
Americans --- the very definition of Americans --- are self-determined.
It's a big job, accountability, responsibility, sufficient education, moral uprightness, and somebody has got to do it.
Americans do, every day.
That's why foreign people call us "those crazy Americans."
That's why foreign people, many who even imagine themselves to be our political opposition, all cried and were stunned on September 11, 2001.
Because Americans are generous, loving, and fierce for liberty.
Truth is, the average American is a hero to many in corners of the planet who stil only are able to dream about freedom, about living here (one reason why George Bush has sort of left the barn door open this long).
So my two cents is, dear federal government, get out of the way, because it's our fight; and I don't mean it's our fight too.
I mean that it is our fight, the continuation of the struggle to maintain liberty.
If only the suits --- the government handlers burrowing and rutting inside the Beltway, constantly fussing over how to manage Americans --- were not so stuck in their own self-important quagmire, that, their endless worrying about controlling the people, what the people should or should not do, what the people will or will not do.
These "higher-ups" just don't get it or do not want the people to decide.
Please, dear government managers, don't try to manage the love that Americans have for their sons and daughters and fathers and brothers and mothers and cousins in uniform.
That's our job; not your job.
President Bush's visit was magnificent, because he did for love.
Now, we're getting somewhere.
How about checking in every once in awhile to make sure the plumbing's OK and the doorknob doesn't need tightening.
How about taking the kids fishing or just helping them build a snowman.
How about calling from time to time just to see if she needs anything. Chances are she'll say no, but your call will mean a lot.
I'd bet that he's fully aware of the "criticsm," while what the author means, is that President Bush chooses to not be beaten by "ignorant criticism," such as the "Ignoring criticsm" usage by the author.
Was supposed to be:
I'd bet that he's fully aware of the "criticsm," while what the author means is to convey that there should be some distress for the reader, in that President Bush is ignoring the criticsm by the "liberal media" (indeed, he chooses to not be beaten by "ignorant criticism" such as the usage of "Ignoring criticsm" by the author.)
And, for the hearty, write to the Congress and write to the makers of the C-17 aircraft and helicopters, and ask for more equipment. Lots more.
The shortage is causing us to take decisions that are very limiting; the shortage is limiting our capabilities and maneuverability; the shortage is hurting our kids in the field, because they need backup, and we need to do a lot of it by air.
We are going to lose aircraft, a lot of aircraft and crews. It's going to be tough. But we will save many more lives, and we will more quickly run the terrorists to ground, but going more on the offensive-defense, so to speak (many tactics to remain un-explained, here).
What we could really use, are pilot-less or crew-less helicopter gunships that can be controlled from the ground, such as from a main battle tank or command car.
Do we have crew-less helicopter gunships?
Now there's a literary gem. Under what circumstance could the death toll be other than rising? Only if we're not there.
Donate a commissary gift certificate. You can do it in person or on the website and get FAQs answered on:
WWW.commissaries.com/certificheck/index.htm.
Surprise a family in your community. Go to Toys R Us or Wal Mart, look for junior officers or enlisted shopping for their kids, pick up the tab.
In a military town where you see the troops eating at Burger King or whatever pick up the tab.
Do it anonymously or thank them personally. The smile is worth it.
Remember we sent them there. Welcome them home and take care of their families!
Spread the word.
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