Bush Meets With Troops in Aftermath of Controversy Over His Military Record (4th AP Hit Piece Today)

AP Breaking ^ | Feb 17, 2004 | Terence Hunt

[Lance Romance]

Bush Meets With Troops in Aftermath of Controversy Over His Military Record

By Terence Hunt The Associated Press
Published: Feb 17, 2004

FORT POLK, La. (AP) - Snapping a sharp salute before cheering soldiers, President Bush put his credentials as wartime commander in chief on display Tuesday against suggestions he ducked his military duty as a child of privilege during the Vietnam War.

Cheers of "USA, USA" and enthusiastic applause greeted Bush as he took an outdoor stage at this military base that has trained and deployed more than 10,000 troops to Iraq and Afghanistan since America was struck by terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"My resolve is the same as it was on the day when I walked in the rubble of the twin towers," Bush said. "I will not relent until this threat to America is removed. And neither will you."

Bush's appearance provided a TV-ready opportunity to emphasize his national security responsibilities and leadership of the war against terror, a role the White House wants to emphasize with voters as he heads into a re-election battle.

While officials said the visit had been planned for several weeks, it put Bush in a friendly military setting after a bruising week of allegations that put him on the defensive.

Democrats have questioned Bush's stint in the Texas Air National Guard - how he managed to get in and whether he fulfilled his obligations - at the height of the Vietnam War. The Democrats also have contrasted Bush's stay-at-home duty with the combat-decorated record of Sen. John Kerry, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. Under pressure, the White House released Bush's military records last Friday but there was nothing new to document that Bush showed up for service in Alabama when Democrats have suggested he was AWOL, or missing.

Bush did not mention the subject Tuesday as he was surrounded by soldiers.

It also was his first appearance on a military base since former chief weapons inspector David Kay concluded that Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction, as Bush had alleged in leading the nation to war.

Bush said his administration had looked at the intelligence about Iraq "and we saw danger." He said members of Congress looked at the same intelligence and saw danger. So did the United Nations Security Council, he said. "We reached a reasonable conclusion that Saddam Hussein was a danger."

Bush had lunch with hundreds of members of a National Guard unit, the 39th Enhanced Separate Brigade combat team, which ships out to Iraq in two or three weeks. Its members are from 10 states, mostly Arkansas. Sitting in a large tent, they dined on MRE packs, meals-ready-to-eat, filled with canned beef in barbecue sauce, potato chips and cookies.

In interviews, soldiers brushed off the flap about Bush's record.

Staff Sgt. Jim Lee, an Arkansas National Guardsman, said, "I think he did his duty. We're certainly supportive of the president. We're all Guardsmen, so we know what happens when you transfer from one state to another. The records get convoluted."

Pfc. Allen Harmon, also from Arkansas, said, "In a sense you've got to look at people's past. But right now, he's doing a good job."

First Lt. Jason Cannon, a soldier of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment who was wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq, said, "I think it was a really long time ago. The press gets focused on things that aren't that important. I don't think he was AWOL. I've been in the Guard. He switched states. It looks like he was looking for a place to drill."

Pfc Willie Wade, a guardsmen majoring in education at Grambling State University, said, "I wondered (about Bush's Guard flap) when I first saw it. I take it he fulfilled his duty. They showed the papers."

Bush met with the families of some soldiers who were killed in Iraq. Twelve soldiers assigned to Fort Polk have died in Iraq, including two killed by a roadside bomb last week, according to Paula Schlag, a base spokeswoman.

"America depends on our military to meet dangers abroad and keep our country safe," Bush said. "The American people appreciate your sacrifice. Our government owes you more than gratitude; we must always make sure America's soldiers are well equipped and well trained to fight this war on terror."

AP-ES-02-17-04 1605EST

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[Lance Romance]

Yet another AP hit piece. Second author to bring up the supposed "controversy" over Bush's military record.

Couldn't the headline have easily been "Bush Visits Troops in La"?

By the way, this story is also posted by AP as "Bush Tries to Boost Troop Morale in La.".

Can it get any more pathetic.

[pfflier]

Staff Sgt. Jim Lee, an Arkansas National Guardsman, said, "I think he did his duty. We're certainly supportive of the president. We're all Guardsmen, so we know what happens when you transfer from one state to another. The records get convoluted."

FROM AN EXPERT WITNESS. Far better qualified to judge than the press weenies whojust want to get the "hate Bush" sentiment in their hit pieces.

[Williams]

They might as well have said: "Bush was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic troops, despite the fact that release of his Air National Guard records revealed teh President suffered from hemmoroids during flight training school. Democrats say the records raise more questions than they answer. Congressman Barney Franks has pledged to look into it.

[JmyBryan]

Bush did not mention any unsubstantiated, fully refuted slurs. Nor did he attempt to explain why he allegedly beats the first lady or why he allegedly starts drinking early in the morning.

Hey, maybe I could be a newswire reporter too!

/sarcasm

[68skylark]

Staff Sgt. Jim Lee, an Arkansas National Guardsman, said, "I think he did his duty. We're certainly supportive of the president. We're all Guardsmen, so we know what happens when you transfer from one state to another. The records get convoluted."

I'm amazed to see such a sensible quote included in the otherwise stupid press coverage of this issue. I've been a National Guardsman. I'm not sure I have every scrap of paper from all my drills. When the president's enemies attack him for this, I feel it's also an attack on me and others who have served in the Guard.

[ravingnutter]

There was a report on KTSA Talk Radio today that a soldier that served side-by-side with him will be a guest tommorrow. They would not release his name, but they did imply that the media was just asking the wrong people...something to the effect that you don't ask a soldier at one fort if he has seen a soldier from another fort. Will post any updates.

[optimistically_conservative]

What the h@ll is going on at the AP? First Scott Lindlaw and now Hunt?

It's like they are trying to out-Reuters Reuters.

Either that, or the Kerry Campaign/DNC is writing their copy.

[prognostigaator]

Write to the editor.....

per Rush Limbaugh's advice this am show....

[TADSLOS]

I'm sure the AP reporter was deeply ashamed for bringing up the subject after listening to the soldiers' thoughts on the "issue"./sarc/

[Rokke]

Actually, compared to other AP and Reuters trash I've read recently, this piece isn't that bad.

[PhiKapMom]

I always loved KTSA -- nothing here in OKC can compare!

[Maria S]

"Bush did not mention any unsubstantiated, fully refuted slurs. Nor did he attempt to explain why he allegedly beats the first lady or why he allegedly starts drinking early in the morning."


Hey! That's all MINOR stuff compared to the fact that he allegedly had 7 cavities when he had his National Guard physical...I want to know what THAT'S about!!!

[mountaineer]

Apparently, the Associated Press (and Reuters) don't quite grasp the meaning of "beating a dead horse."

So there! I will continue to claim that George Bush's military service is questionable and controversial! Take that!

[pfflier]

As a regular I only kept a few thing that I thought were relevant (PCS and promotion orders etc).

It is unrelaistic to think that anybody, that is not obsessive compulsive, would keep pay statements and receipts from 30 years ago.

The press weenies are out on a hatchet job mission, to sell the unreasonable, to the gullible.

[pfflier]

As a regular I only kept a few thing that I thought were relevant (PCS and promotion orders etc).

It is unrelaistic to think that anybody, that is not obsessive compulsive, would keep pay statements and receipts from 30 years ago.

The press weenies are out on a hatchet job mission, to sell the unreasonable, to the gullible.

[peekaboo]

I just came back from the Alexandria International Airport, here in central Louisiana. It was a thrill just to see the huge Air Force One waiting for the President to arrive from Fort Polk. No one was allowed to go to the Base which is about 55 miles away. When I entered the road leading to the airport, many of the entrances were blocked with sheriff's vehicles. I wound my way around the old England Air Force base that had closed during the CLinton Admin. When I came close to a fenced off area there was a crowd of about 100 people. There were a number of secret service persons there, keeping the "crowd" away from the fenced in area. NO one was allowed to go anywhere near the fence, which was about 50 feet away from where the crowd had gathered. I had my two grandsons with me. We waited and watched as Marine One approached the runway. Some were able to see the president as he boarded Air FOrce One. They said he turned around and waved to the crowd, the rest of us were just hoping for some sign that the President knew we were there. If you all could have seen this harmless little crowd, made up of young mothers, their children, a few white males and a handful of black couples, all waiting in anticipation for our wonderful President. Even though we did not get close, it is an experience that I will always remember. I pray everyday for our president's safety. Seeing the way the sheriffs and secret service were contorlling this very family type crowd, you can imagine what they need to do in large cities.

By the way, our local NBC station reporters attended the event at Fort Polk and actually carried it all live from the time he entered the event, until it was over which included him picking up at least 12 babies and young children. there was one really cute little boy about 4 years old, dressed in fatigues holding a flag. The president gave hime a bid hug, before handing him back to his father.

By the way, the crowd was huge, the local reporter, reported that there were between 10,000 to 15,000 military, famailies retired veterans and federal employees in attendance. I bet you won't hear that reported either. The young reported when asked to give a feel for the crowd stated, "The crowd was really enthusiastic, it just makes you proud to be an American when you see all of these young people so overjoyed to see their Commander in Chief>"

I wish I could have gotten pictures, but we were never close enough.

[Fresh Wind]

AP = Absolute Propaganda

[NYCVirago]

Bush met with the families of some soldiers who were killed in Iraq. Twelve soldiers assigned to Fort Polk have died in Iraq, including two killed by a roadside bomb last week, according to Paula Schlag, a base spokeswoman.

They couldn't bury this any lower in the story, could they?

[Kewlhand`tek]

i was there for the speech , being a member of 39th myself, its good to see SSg Lee set them straight. I was kinda put off that i didnt get selected for dinner with the President

[talleyman]

"Enthusiatic, cheering troops? How can that be? They obviously need re-education, comrade!" - Kommissar Kerry
"Right - I'll drive." - Kommissar Kennedy