(Condi)Rice Visits Pendleton Marines

Orange County Register ^ | May 24, 2007 | VIK JOLLY

[kellynla]

CAMP PENDLETON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a short stop at the Marine Corps base here Wednesday, thanking military personnel for their service and telling them they were on the forefront of defending American values.

In her remarks to about 30 Marines and sailors from the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Rice repeated the Bush administration's message that Iraq was a historic opportunity to pursue democracy.

"I know it's not the easiest of times. It's hard to get away from family and friends. … But I want you to know that you're deployed on behalf of a grateful nation," she said, standing just outside the hangar, with squadron helicopters in the background on the flight line. "Whatever you hear and wherever people stand on what we're doing, everybody supports you."

The military announced Wednesday that gunbattles and roadside bombs killed seven soldiers and two Marines the day before, bringing the total U.S military death toll since the war began to at least 3,431.

Rice shook hands with military personnel after her C-40 touched down at about 2:50 p.m. in blustery conditions. She told them they were helping new democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq. Because of that, America would be safer, she said.

"That's what you are doing," Rice said. "These are historic opportunities that we're all pursuing."

[kellynla]

I only wish she had an Executive Order in her purse that GWB gave her to release the "Pendleton Eight" who are incarcerated in the Pendleton Brig.

[kellynla]

ping

[SandRat]

I was just about to put up the DoD thread on this visit. Still will so you can match stories.

[freema]

“Whatever you hear and wherever people stand on what we’re doing, everybody supports you.”

A LIE.

[kellynla]

“Whatever you hear and wherever people stand on what we’re doing, everybody supports you.”

A LIE

Yep...

[freema]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1839357/posts?page=4

[Marine_Uncle]

She could have choosen better words. But who knows just how many people support our troops in a meaningfull way.
At least she paid them a visit, and thanked them.
These damn political scandalous military hearings and trials surely have changed the face of this GWOT to a degree.
What can I say that has meaning over what our troops in the field must feel. Awful lot of snafus going on of lately concerning our military, and I am not suggesting those heroic Soldiers and Marines are in that category. They go and fight with honor and get screwed as a result.