Posted on 06/14/2006 4:50:01 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD, June 14, 2006 – President Bush's surprise visit to Baghdad yesterday caught the troops here unawares. But most were thrilled their commander in chief made the perilous trip. Bush visited Baghdad to congratulate Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Iraq's new government and to thank the troops for their hard work and dedication.
"Baghdad and Iraq is a front in the war on terror. It is a part of our mission to help make sure that the world is a better place. I truly believe the work that you're doing here is laying the foundation of peace for generations to come, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Bush said in his address to the troops in a former Saddam Hussein palace.
The surprise visit caught most troops off guard. "Dangit! I bought into it," said Indiana National Guard Spc. Laura Asher referring to the post exchange and several other shops closing prior to the president's arrival.
"My friend told me the president is here, and I said, 'No, it's a teleconference,'" said Asher, a 798th Area Support Medical Company combat medic.
Bush's publicized schedule had called for a videoteleconference from Camp David, Md., with Iraq's prime minister.
"I was so excited," said Asher, a Valparaiso, Ind., native, who immediately called her father following Bush's speech.
While many troops were surprised, they also said they admired the president for coming to visit them and Maliki.
"This place is pretty 'hot' (because Iraq is a combat zone)," said Army Capt. Christopher Swatty, a Civilian Police Assistance Training Team technical liaison. "It's encouraging to see him come over and say hello."
"I think it shows he cares a lot about Iraq, what's going on here," said Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Virgilio, a 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine, rifleman. "His visit shows he cares about us."
Many other troops agreed.
"Due to the dramatic shift in events -- the final three seats of the new Iraqi government being filled and the death of (terrorist leader Abu Musab) al-Zarqawi -- (Bush's visit) shows Iraq and its government that Bush is standing behind his words," said Army Spc. Tashina Venters, a Coalition Press Information Center coordinator.
(Army Sgt. Jeff Lowry is assigned to the 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
Of that there can be no doubt.
I can't imagine a reaction even remotely similar to a "President" Kerry. Hell, he'd just phone it in from Davos, Switzerland.
You can sort of tell it's AFPS - they didn't comb the country for the three misfits who wanted to use the opportunity to bitch and moan.
Gosh, where were all the quotes from these soldiers when the MSM reported the same story?
Cause they didn't paint the MSM/Kerry/Murtha Agenda that's why.
I don't care what anyone says about George Bush, I love him, if for nothing else than his loyalty to the military.
**
I love him, too. His love of country and his determination to follow his conscience and not polls are also worthy of great admiration.
I would love to ask that idiot Murtha, given the thunderous applause given Bush, if he still thinks our Army is "broken"!
Someone better shove a camera in "moron Murtha's" face we America wins this war and ask him his opinion then. Hopefully, he'll be an ex-congressman by then!
Ah, me, too...and like him I also love and thank all our brave troops from the very bottom of my heart!
Bump............
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