A Baghdad Thanksgiving's Lingering Aftertaste (Milbank alert)

WashingtonPost ^ | 12/12/03 | Dana Milbank

[Pikamax]

A Baghdad Thanksgiving's Lingering Aftertaste

By Dana Milbank

Friday, December 12, 2003; Page A35

Stars and Stripes, the Pentagon-authorized newspaper of the U.S. military, is bucking for a court-martial.

When last we checked in on Stripes, it was reporting on a survey it did of troops in Iraq, finding that half of those questioned described their units' moral as low and their training as insufficient and said they did not plan to reenlist.

With the Pentagon just recovering from that, Stars and Stripes is blowing the whistle on President Bush's Thanksgiving visit to Baghdad, saying the cheering soldiers who met him were pre-screened and others showing up for a turkey dinner were turned away.

The newspaper, quoting two officials with the Army's 1st Armored Division in an article last week, reported that "for security reasons, only those preselected got into the facility during Bush's visit. . . . The soldiers who dined while the president visited were selected by their chain of command, and were notified a short time before the visit."

The paper also published a letter to the editor from Sgt. Loren Russell, who wrote of the heroism of his soldiers and then added: "[I]magine their dismay when they walked 15 minutes to the Bob Hope Dining Facility, only to find that they were turned away from their evening meal because they were in the wrong unit. . . . They understand that President Bush ate there and that upgraded security was required. But why were only certain units turned away?"

[Coop]

They understand that President Bush ate there and that upgraded security was required. But why were only certain units turned away?"

Well, Sgt. Russell, it sounds to me as if they really don't understand.

[SunStar]

Yawn...

[IGOTMINE]

I wonder how long and how hard they had to look to find that whiner?

[sinkspur]

Continuing to beat a dead horse.........

[Coop]

"Forget the Commander-in-Chief's safety or troop morale! Where's my cranberry sauce?!?"

[Michael.SF.]

This is real desperation on the part of the Post to paint Bush in a negative light.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The comPost never misses a chance to pee on the picnic table.

[Bringbackthedraft]

On site report was that there was a dinner for big wigs, no mention that the President was going to be there. Due to limited space only a select few were allowed in. The Washington Post has their heads up their butts as usual. Still trying their best to beat a dead horse to death with the Bush Dinner issue.

[linn37]

the terrible Bush ruined Thanksgiving... Thats it its time to IMPEACH!

[gridlock]

Why couldn't every soldier in Iraq be allowed into the facility? That would have been fair, wouldn't it?

< /sarc>

[Pompah]

The comPost never misses a chance to pee on the picnic table. Kinda fits right in with their "Yellow Journalism" reputation, Don't you think.?

[Blood of Tyrants]

I thought that yellow journalism referred to the color of their underwear.

[carlo3b]

This Lesbian B*tch from the WhiteWashing Post will do anything to bash Bush

LGBT Community Gets Bell Rung by Salvation Army

Washington, DC -- We are disturbed and saddened by the lead story that appeared earlier this week in the Washington Post. In the article, Post reporter Dana Milbank exposes the inner workings of a covert quid pro quo agreement reached without the benefit of public scrutiny between one of the nation's largest charitable organizations and the highest offices of the Bush administration.

[AHerald]

This Lesbian B*tch

Dana Milbank is a man, at least biologically speaking. However, he does write, fight, throw and pee like a woman.

[carlo3b]

Must have been a cross dresser in a picture I saw... LOLOL

[DeepDish]

Bush may have made a small mistake here. He may have wanted to see soldiers from as many units as he could and so asked for a mix. This would throw off scheduling at the dinner tent. I am not even sure I should call it a mistake because in this world if you please one group you automatically p*ss off the rest.