Posted on 06/04/2004 6:57:20 PM PDT by ambrose
Bush's nuclear "football" enters Vatican
Fri 4 June, 2004 15:01
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - While George W. Bush and the pope talked peace in the Vatican, a military aide held a bulky black attaché case containing the codes the U.S. president would need in order to launch a nuclear war.
It is known as "the football". It has been all over the world and on Friday it entered the hallowed halls of the Vatican.
It was never very far from the president. While he and the pope were speaking alone in the pontiff's private study, it was in the next room.
And when Bush and the pope delivered speeches and Bush awarded the pope the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it rested on the shiny marble floor between the firm legs of Major Paul Montanus of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Sometimes a leather strap links "the football" from the military aide's wrist to the handle of the soft leather case.
But there was no strap visible on Friday. Apparently Montanus felt safe enough in the Vatican, under the frescoes of Renaissance masters.
In 1987, when former President Ronald Reagan visited the Vatican and the Soviet Union still existed, the Army major carrying "the football" didn't let it out of his grasp -- not even for a second.
That man approached the pope ramrod straight and shook hands with the pontiff with his right hand while holding "the football" with his left.
Asked on Friday why the leather strap was not being used, Montanus told Reuters with a sly smile: "We have various ways of keeping track of it."
The football has been to some strange places.
In 1991 when Bush's father was president, he allowed the military aide who was carrying the football to receive communion at the altar while clutching the football at the Episcopalian Christ Church in St Simons Island, Georgia.
When Bush senior visited the Queen in 1991 the man with the football was there in a courtyard of Buckingham Palace wearing a tuxedo.
But apparently even the football needs some down time.
Newsweek magazine reported in 1991 that Bush senior accidentally left the football behind after attending a Los Angeles tennis match.
The Navy commander who had been holding the bag gathered several Secret Service agents and sped off after the president. They were reunited 15 minutes later, Newsweek said.
The article neglects to mention Clinton deliberatley leaving the "football guy" behind once, forcing him to walk back to the White House.
Newsweak obviously approves!
To "walk back"? Seriously? If so, then the toon should have been kicked out of office for that.
It's Reuters. Whaddaya expect.
The whole article is 'Republican President takes weapon of war into place of peace'. They *couldn't* accomplish that end by also highlighting a Democratic incident.
I notice the POS writer uses the term "Bush" without Mr. or President in front of it. No respect whatsoever.
Yep, the guy wrote a book and told about it. His name escapes me, now. Anyone else remember?
Democrats are salivating over the prospect of possessing the football once again.
WALK SOFTLY, BUT CARRY A BIG STICK!!
Wasn't it in Dereliction of Duty, Robert 'buzz' Patterson?
Yes. Lt. Col. Robert Patterson, author of ''Dereliction of Duty: The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Compromised America's National Security.''
This is a story?
Thats the one. Another thread about the book spoke of Clinton at a golf tournament and his refusal to order a strike on Bin Laden. Apparently, he was told about it several times before he said something to the effect of, Ill deal with when we get back. Of course his dalliance blew a chance to get Bin Laden; something Clinton would become adept at during his Occupation..
I do have a problem with this. If the briefcase did NOT enter the main church ---- I know the guards are armed, but it is STILL the House of God.
I am not a 'religious' person but it makes me uncomfortable thinking of the briefcase in a Church.
I hate to nitpick, but if the president were to launch nuclear weapons, HE WOULD BE RESPONDING TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS. So it would not be our president "launching a nuclear war." We would be responding to the nuclear war started by the other guy.
Was that Richard Miniter's book?
Reuters is the enemy.
I saw him interviewed on Fox now that I think about it.
I just spent the better part of eight hours working on algebra homework. Im afraid I dont share your sentiment!
Well, get over it. A very important part of our nuclear doctrine is that our system can launch its missiles within a very short period in response to incoming nuclear attack. It is our ability to respond to a heinous attack that makes it not in their best interest to initiate a nuclear war. It may seem weird, but that doctrine has kept the world out of nuclear holocaust for almost 60 years now.
The football goes where the president goes. If the President meets the Pope, then the football goes too.
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