Editorial: Bush in Baghdad / The president's morale-boosting secret journey

Pittsburgh Post-Gazetter ^ | 29 November 2003 | Editorial Board

[Lando Lincoln]

Give credit where credit is due. President Bush's brief trip to Baghdad, although the ultimate photo op and ripe to be spun as an endorsement of his policies on Iraq, was a timely gesture of support for the troops in the field.

[Lando Lincoln]

Another mostly favorable editorial about GWB's Thanksgiving visit to Baghdad. God bless that man.

Lando

[Desert88]

the ethics of the deception will be debated, at least in media and academic circles

Yes, I don't think the average American is paying any attention to the non-issue of "the deception."

"The deception" is nothing more than a bunch of indignant, arrogant, liberal reporters upset because the president -- the very same one they accuse of being so dumb -- put one over on them. Ouch! That's gotta hurt the ol' journalistic ego.

[Misplaced Texan]

In the end, the biggest morale boost Mr. Bush can give to the troops is to internationalize the war so that these brave Americans can come home from a place where they are increasingly resented. And the sooner, the better.

They just don't understand that we will be there for many years. This is not just a matter of democracy in Iraq, but a defeat of radicalism that threatens the shores of the US.

[pierrem15]

In the end, the biggest morale boost Mr. Bush can give to the troops is to internationalize the war so that these brave Americans can come home from a place where they are increasingly resented. And the sooner, the better.

And whose army do you think would have to be called in to "internationalize" the effort? We already have Italy, Poland, Spain, Nicaragua, El Salvador, the Netherlands, etc.

The real point of "internationalizing" the war is to allow Saddam to regain power and Bush to lose the election.

[Archangelsk]

"The deception" is nothing more than a bunch of indignant, arrogant, liberal reporters upset because the president -- the very same one they accuse of being so dumb -- put one over on them.

It's very easy to put one over on a group when you can marshal the resources of the Presidency. I think Ross Perot pulled off a more amazing feat when he got two EDS employees out of Iran during the height of the hostage crisis. (Of course, he did have Bull Simons leading the effort and at age 60 that guy could take on a platoon of Secret Service with only a lit cigar).

[Eala]

Agreed! This needs to be remembered:

[Lando Lincoln]

I agree with you. We can not worry about resentment over Iraq. Especially that which is fabricated and nurtured by European elitists bent on maintaining power, academic "intellectuals" and the leftist media. To do so is to surrender - and in this circumstance, to surrender is give evil an impetus to complete the apocalyptic destruction of our way of life.

Lando

[Ruth A.]

For a president who has been accused of not caring enough about those he has sent into harm's way, a record that includes not attending the funerals of the fallen and thoughtlessly inciting terrorists with false bravado ("bring 'em on"), the Baghdad trip was a statement of rebuttal.

Tell me which presidents have been able to attend funerals of fallen troops and how many.

This is a very slippery slope, and no code of morality carves out an exception for deceiving reporters.

When there is no risk that the media will become a risk to national security, then this statement might require some thought.

[Lando Lincoln]

Thanks again Eala!! It's both fascinating and sad that the man who knows what is going on and holds the power melds in with the troops, asks for their blessing and lifts spirits. The other person, who does not fully understand what is going on, nor has power, primps like an elite dignitary. And, she deflates their morale by stating that "the outcome is not certain". What a contrast! Yet, much of the idiot masses buy into this claptrap. Thanks again!

Lando

[MEG33]

Apples and oranges.This was the President of the United States paying a well deserved visit to our troops.

He did get to visit with some Iraqi council memebers and talk to the top officers but the mission was to thank the troops and tell them we aren't going to be chased out by thugs and assassins.

God bless our troops and those who wait at home.

[Bobsat]

In the end, the biggest morale boost Mr. Bush can give to the troops is to internationalize the war so that these brave Americans can come home from a place where they are increasingly resented. And the sooner, the better.

By the numbers:

• Internationalized: Done. Notice the flags of the several countries with casualties this week. Also notice that it has NEVER been a unilateral effort of the U.S.

• Americans will come home when their job can be turned over to others. Target: June, 2004.

• The sooner, the better is exactly what we're working toward without abandoning the progress made thus far.

[Maigrey]

My question to the journalists is this: what did the people do when they didn't have cell phones and pagers?

Oh how we forget in such a short period of time...

[Restorer]

This is a very slippery slope, and no code of morality carves out an exception for deceiving reporters.

I'd be very interested in a citation as to the Article of the Constitution that requires the President to even talk to reporters. He'd be completely constitutional if he just ignored them.

Not that it would be particularly wise, politically speaking. :)

[Colorado Doug]

In the end, the biggest morale boost Mr. Bush can give to the troops is to internationalize the war so that these brave Americans can come home from a place where they are increasingly resented. And the sooner, the better.

The UN, we need the UN . . .
Oh, wait they already turned tail and ran, didn't they?
Never mind.

[CyberAnt]

Obviously you didn't read the last paragraph .. he wants Bush to "internationalize the war" so our boys can come home. How can people even say this when it's the "international" people who have been targeted the most lately.

[CyberAnt]

They kept their mouths shut!!

I loved this comment by the author: "Reporters are in the business of keeping confidences and someone doesn't stop being concerned about national security when they pick up a pen or a camera".

Somehow I don't think people from the "Times" would abide by that statement.

[Rose in RoseBear]

Pingpingping!

[GrandmaPatriot]

Does anyone have a list of which media organizations were represented on this trip?

[Billthedrill]

This is a very slippery slope, and no code of morality carves out an exception for deceiving reporters.

Of all of the self-aggrandizing bullsh*t I've read today this takes the cake. When this fictional cosmic code of morality also delegitimizes reporters and editors deceiving their readers, then we'll talk.

[Lando Lincoln]

Hi GrandmaPatriot.................the press members on that flight with President Bush were:

They were Fox’s Jim Angle, Steve Holland of Reuters, Richard Keil of Bloomberg Business News, Terence Hunt of the Associated Press, the Washington Post’s Mike Allen, one TV producer, two TV photographers and five still photographers. (Although many Reuters stories on the visit carried Larry Downing’s byline, a Reuters staffer told Toogood Reports that Steve Holland was on the plane. Terence Hunt was confirmed by an AP staffer. The other names came from news accounts.)

So, you see, despite some of the howling by the elite media and the left, GWB did have a select group of the media along on the trip. Hope this helps,

Lando