FR EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH HIGH LEVEL NAVY COMMANDER REGARDING PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAILHOOK LANDING

a Navy commander | May 9., 2003 | dfu

[doug from upland]

After listening to the rantings and ravings of the DemocRATS who are both jealous and livid after seeing a beloved commander in chief do a tailhook landing on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, I wanted to get the real story.

After about 5 calls and transfers and return calls, I just spoke with a Navy commander who deals with public relations. He is very high level, but because this issue is so sensitive, I agreed that I would not use his name.

When asked whether the visit of the president delayed the arrival of the Lincoln, the answer was a resounding "Absolutely not!" The Lincoln arrived when it was scheduled to arrive. Ships slow down and speed up all the time.

The Navy does not have its ships land early. No. It is just not done. It is a logistical nightmare. Tugs and other port services have to be arranged. In 1991, the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT arrived 20 hours early off the coast of Virginia. It sat out there looking at land for 20 hours. And they never come to port at night.

There were 20-25,000 families and friends expecting to watch the return of the ship and greet their loved ones.

"Psychologically," said the commander, "it would have been a nightmare. People made plane reservations, hotel reservations, long trips by car. Imagine what it would have been like for them to arrive to meet there loved ones, but it turned out that they came a day late for the event. We would have had 20-25,000 people really angry with the U.S. Navy."

The commander gave me his worst scenario for a public relations nightmare. It would be a grandma who drove all the way from Des Moines to see her grandson arrive, only to be told that she didn't make it in time; that they decided to come to port early. What do they say to her?

The commander is amazed at this flap, which has been totally invented by the media. This should be a non-issue with them. Some in the media were sworn to silence, and they were given the May 2 date about 3-4 weeks ago. They knew it would be coming to port at that time. At the appropriate time, the crew and families were notified. You just do not change the date.

As to the landing on a Viking rather than Marine One. The costs are roughly the same. Fuel and other costs for that Viking were already allocated and spent. If the President was not aboard that plane, it would have made a landing on the ship anyway. It would have done so sooner or later because it was in the budget to do it.

What has been lost in all of this, according to the commander, is that it was the Navy's idea for the President to come aboard and make a tailhook landing. They opted for an F-18. Because of security, however, the White House opted for the Viking, a 4-seater which could accommodate Secret Service.

"We would do this again," said the commander. "Ever since President Franklin Roosevelt, every president has landed aboard a Navy ship."

We finished with a laugh at the media. Members of congress and journalists are flown in and not charged. And these are the people creating an issue where none should exist.

[sit-rep]

I will cimfirm your Commanders report. While I was in, it was no surprise to find out you've been doing circles for the past two days. Scheduals are followed. If you are early, you will... "find something to do" untill your window opens. Finding something to do out at sea as a snipe, usually ment breaking out the bug juice to clean deck plates...

[ohioWfan]

Beautiful! Just the facts, ma'am!

Thanks, doug! And a PING of TRUTH to the rest!

[RightWhale]

That's all fine. The real issue is whether wire #4 is the first or last cable you come to upon landing. A poster said it is the first, and several jumped on that saying it is the last. Don't know if the question was ever officially FResolved.

[aruanan]

Thanks, Doug.

[doug from upland]

I should have asked. Darn.

[Grampa Dave]

Doug, one of our freepers michael sf has his first person thread account of his son on the AL when President Bush landed, greeted the crew and then gave his speech to them and the nation.

Michael, also, points out that the ship docked on time and was not delayed in his thread. Just more proof of how the rats who hate America lie!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/908669/posts

Some comments:


First, my son, and most of the sailors where thrilled to have the President on board. He termed it a "huge" honor. The Lincoln is also about to receive a Presidential Unit Citation, which was another reason to justify the trip to the Lincoln. During the 9 month deployment the Lincoln served in the Afghanistan Action, Southern Watch and in Operation Iraqi Freedom. They flew an untold number of missions and did not lose a single plane either to attack or mechanical problems. Also every sailor that left Everett on July 20,2002 returned home safely on May 6, 2003 (or before).

My son also reported to us three weeks ago that they would be home on May 6th and that we could make plans accordingly. Thus hotel room, plane and car reservations and even tickets to take in the Mariners, were all made, before we knew that the President would be speaking. They arrived home on schedule.

This dispels Democratic lies that the trip by the President delayed the trip home of the arriving ship.


Contrary to other reports the ship was not stopped. Instead it was "crawling" along at 3 knots. Thus President Bush became the first President to land in an airplane on a moving ship.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/908669/posts

[HOYA97]

Can you get this to Rush or Hannity?

Great work by the way!

[Vinnie]

You da Man Doug.

Personally, I think the WH should ignore the dims. This is a non-issue that is biting the dims in the a$$. Most citizens loved it and see the petty dims for what they are.

The only people upset are the dyed in the wool dims that would be upset if Bush walked out to the carrier.

[sit-rep]

cimfirm = confirm...

This was not a bad mistake. I do not know what it was!!

[FairOpinion]

How about getting in touch with your Navy source again and tell him how important it is for his info to get out and ask him to have a Navy press release about this, or someone who can sign his name to it, but still Navy write an article, or something, so it gets out directly "from the horse's mouth" so to speak. I think that would be the best way.

Or ask permission from your Navy source and have Hannity get in touch with him, but I think my first suggestion about a Navy Press release would be the best.

[unspun]

Ping of Excellence in FReeping
And a cross post, with apolgies to Merchant Seaman, if he's still with us.

Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln - A First Hand Report

[doug from upland]

Thanks for the link. I read that story and commented. Please link this store over there. Thanks.

[Timesink]

Doug, good catch! Anyway to get this message out to the media? Everything stated here about the logistics makes such common sense and shows how clueless the media is about how the military works.

You could try sending it to Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit, but he'll probably just ignore you unless you already run an A-List blog yourself. Maybe if someone passed it to Damian Penny or Tim Blair first ... or Asparagirl. She deigned to log in here with the riff-raff for a few days earlier this year.

[Aeronaut]

The real issue is whether wire #4 is the first or last cable you come to upon landing.

Its the last one. That's why the ideal landing grabs number three. You miss four you go around, or you go swimming.

[doug from upland]

The business day is over, and I don't want to impose on the commander again. I was very grateful for the time he could give me. I have a feeling that a Navy publication is going to have the story. If anyone so desires, send this to Waxman.

[Grampa Dave]

unspun just linked that thread to your thread.

Michael SF's comments are dynamite. He can document reservations and travel times showing no delay of the Ship.

[Miss Marple]

Personally I think the real controversy is if the flight suit was "custom made," as Maxine Waters charged.

I am going to look over this photograph closely to see if I can determine the answer:

[doug from upland]

I hope the RATS keep it up. They look even more foolish than usual.

[RightWhale]

the flight suit was "custom made

The pants were short as last year's pants on a 13-year old.