CLANK, CLANK! (Great commentary on GWB's Baghdad visit)

The Palace of Reason ^ | 01 December 2003 | Liz Pavek

[maica]

Real Americans don't bail when it gets tough.

@@@

America has remained strong while some of our 'old' allies have become shells of countries because we believe that freedom is valuable. New Americans, who came here for that freedom, are a constant infusion of strength. It is up to us to reestablish these ideals in the children being indoctrinated in our government schools, or we risk losing that strength in the next generation.

[maica]

This was on the Daily Dose thread but it needs to part of this thread, as well.

+++


To: All

. . . I greatly enjoyed the following article from Jack Kelly:


Doing the right thing is often the shrewdest political move

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Doing the right thing is often the shrewdest political move. President Bush got an uproarious welcome from 600 surprised soldiers assembled for Thanksgiving dinner in the mess tent at Baghdad International Airport.

"For two hours, the president walked among us, not a receiving line where we came to him, stiff and formal, but coming to us, reading our name tags on our uniforms and greeting us by name," a soldier who was there said in an email to Andrew Sullivan.

"He looked me in the eye when he shook my hand, he joked with some, whispered to others, spoke a little Spanish to my friend. Two hours of almost non-stop motion, how exhausting after a 12-hour flight. He did it to be with us, and we appreciate it."

Soldiers who didn't get to see the president also were appreciative. Reuters correspondent Dean Yates interviewed Sgts. Aaron Hildernbrandt and Gilbert Nail in Tikrit.

"I think that shows real personal courage," said Nail. "It's a total morale booster."

"That is absolutely awesome," said Hildernbrandt.

"This is definitely a good move for morale," said Pvt. Michael Debratta at a checkpoint in downtown Baghdad. "It makes us feel better that our leader was actually here on a holiday."

CPT Roger Mayrulet said the president's visit was even more of a boost to Iraqi morale.

"I had Iraqis wishing me 'Happy Thanksgiving' all day today," Mayrulet said in an email to National Review Online. "They only learned of the holiday by finding out the reason why Bush came to visit us."

"I went to a nearby restaurant to buy dinner and IMN was displaying Bush's speech to his troops," recounted Zeyad, an Iraqi web logger. "Everyone stopped eating and stared at the tv...I'm still shocked to this moment that he took the risk to come here. I used to like him before, but now I admire the guy."

Admiration is too mild a word to describe the response of Alaa, a middle aged Iraqi engineer who writes the web log "The Mesopotamian:"

"We know that you have come, not as the president of an invading nation, but as a friend who wishes to renew a commitment to our people...It gives us pain that the visit is so short and that the masses cannot in the present circumstances come out and give you the welcome you deserve, but the day will come when the millions will come out to welcome the best friend that the Mesopotamian people have ever had, and we will be among the most devoted and allied people that America will ever have.

"The bones in the mass graves salute you, Avenger of the Bones. Hail, friend and ally. Hail, Sheikh of Sheikhs."

"I am very proud for the great, great visit of Mr. President to Iraq," said a woman from Mosul in an email to NRO. "The reaction from Iraqi people is very very great. They feel it is good support and insure American are going to stay until the job is done."

There was carping from the usual suspects. European and Arab newspapers and some Democratic party spokesmen described the trip as a publicity stunt. The French newspaper Liberation implied it had been done to draw attention away from Sen. Hillary Clinton's trip to Afghanistan and Iraq.

I would not have wanted to be within lamp-hurling range of Hillary when she received word of the President's trip. The contrast between the riotous reception he got and the tepid welcome she received is not the sort of thing Democrats would want to put in a campaign highlight reel.

At Thanksgiving dinner in Afghanistan, the soldiers were more interested in the turkey than in their distinguished visitor, according to Geraldo Rivera of Fox News. The response at lunch the next day in Baghdad was more restrained still:

"(Hillary) seemed disappointed at the cool reception she got at the CPA mess hall for lunch," said the web logger "John Galt," who was there. Most just stared silently. A few left."

The carping about Bush's trip diminishes Bush's critics, not the president. Democrats talk about leadership. Bush provides it. American soldiers - and most Iraqis - know the difference.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1203/jkelly.html

95 posted on 12/02/2003 10:25 PM EST by DrDeb

[hoosiermama]

Was talking to one of my coworkers about Bush's Thanksgiving visit. Told him how my father, who had spent four and a half years in the south Pacific broke into tears when he watched the visit.
The coworker who had spent his nineteenth birthday in Nam, said with tears in his eyes, I can relate to your dad, what we would have given for a visit for the CIC, for anyone to tell us what a good job we were doing, to know the country stood behind us!

Let's not forget! The call ARE a great opportunity.

[Lurker]

"Avenger Of The Bones".... I like that.

L

[Lando Lincoln]

Thanks kimmie7......each time I read this piece I get more from it. In many ways, GWB is a special and rare man. I can understand why he terrifies the weak-kneed left.

Lando

[blackie]

Great commentary on GWB's Baghdad visit ~ Bump!

The democrats are very, very sad! :)

[Lando Lincoln]

Thanks so much for the attached Jack Kelly article. Good Lord, I respect GWB!

Lando

[Lando Lincoln]

RC....what a great service you provide. I can only imagine the amount of "pings" you keep up with.

I respect GWB so much. I pray the good Lord protects him and the brave coalition troops!

Lando

p.s. I will keep an eye out for these articles (more pings!!!) - LL

[Lando Lincoln]

Here's a BIG Brass Balls ping (Clank,Clank!). I found this article to be especially on the money!

Lando

[Grampa Dave]

This is a great story. Thanks for sharing it with us.

What you posted here should be automatic with conservatives: "Real Americans don't bail when it gets tough. And if you find companies out there cutting off their workers called up to service, you'll probably find a Democrat running it. Don't do business with those a-holes."

Sears appears to be one of the best.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for reposting this incredible testimonial of a real Iraqi not some conjured up one in the drugged out mind of a maggot working for the NY Slimes.

"We know that you have come, not as the president of an invading nation, but as a friend who wishes to renew a commitment to our people...It gives us pain that the visit is so short and that the masses cannot in the present circumstances come out and give you the welcome you deserve, but the day will come when the millions will come out to welcome the best friend that the Mesopotamian people have ever had, and we will be among the most devoted and allied people that America will ever have.

"The bones in the mass graves salute you, Avenger of the Bones. Hail, friend and ally. Hail, Sheikh of Sheikhs."

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this. It is amazing how people from ages of 20 to 80 get tears in their eyes when GW's visit to our troops is discussed.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[headsonpikes]

Brass bumps!

[deport]

The Big Dog kicks a little sand bump.....

Thanks for the ping

[Gritty]

BTTT

[Liz]

Duh.

[MeekOneGOP]

Wow ! Yes, but I haven't any of his Iraq visit believe it or not. Except one that I made up.

[I've been busy with making some of hitlery's hateful comments to the troops and about Bush in Iraq].

But I have some others that are appropriate, I think ! ...

[MeekOneGOP]