Actor Willis' $1m Saddam bounty (Go Bruce Go!!)

BBC News | 9/26/03

[areafiftyone]

Actor Bruce Willis has performed before US soldiers in Telafar, northern Iraq, and offered $1m (£603,000) to the man who captures Saddam Hussein.

"We're here to support you," the star told troops as he sang a set of blues songs with his band, the Accelerator.

"If you catch him, just give me four seconds with Saddam Hussein," he said.

Willis will next fly south to visit US soldiers in Tikrit - Saddam's home town - before performing two concerts for troops in neighbouring Kuwait.

"Somebody that supports the military like he has and that comes to visit soldiers - that's important to us," said Greg Pagan, from 3rd Brigade of the 101st's Airborne Division based at Telafar.

'Thumbs up'

"It's awesome," said commander Col Michael Linnington. "It's great for morale. "He's a macho actor. Soldiers identify with action movies and action actors. He's a guy's guy."

During an interview Willis said: "Peculiar thing back home is that the liberal media was trying to portray it as a bad war.

"But being over here just a couple of days, seeing how well our troops and the allied troops are being received here, (I) think the Iraqi people are happy we're here," the Hollywood star said.

Willis will also visit troops in Kuwait

"Children are being taken care of, starting being inoculated, starting being looked after. Wherever these guys go they get thumbs up. They no longer have to contend with the terrorist leader," Willis said.

But the star later admitted he had not met many Iraqis because he had been travelling the country by helicopter.

Willis, a Republican party supporter, was one of the few celebrities to publicly back the US' stance during the recent war on Iraq, which was led by President Bush.

Willis recently played a US special forces commander sent in to rescue medical staff in war-torn Nigeria in the film Tears of the Sun.

[samtheman]

One of the good guys.

[Daus]

But the star later admitted he had not met many Iraqis because he had been travelling the country by helicopter.

Neither have most of the reporters in Iraq. It doesn't stop them from having an opinion.

[areafiftyone]

Sorry I forgot to post the link. Here it is - BBC News

[PleaseNoMore]

Tears of The Sun was a great movie, IMO. I don't normally like action films but, OTOH I like about anything with Bruce Willis in it. It is so great to see that he doesn't stumble in his support of the troops and that he doesn't cave to the Hollywood mentality.

[dennisw]

	Movie star Bruce Willis plays harmonica before a concert in the Taal Afar airfield, 460 kms (280 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq , Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze) AP - Sep 25 5:44 PM
	Three U.S. soldiers of 101st Airborne Division sit on a helicopter during a concert for the movie star Bruce Willis in Taal Afar airfield, 460 kms (280 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq , Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze) AP - Sep 25 2:31 PM
	Movie star Bruce Willis smiles before his concert in Taal Afar airfield, 460 kms (280 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq , Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze) AP - Sep 25 2:31 PM
	Three U.S. soldiers of 101st Airborne Division sit on a helicopter during a concert giving by movie star Bruce Willis in Taal Afar airfield, 460 kms (280 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq , Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze) AP - Sep 25 2:31 PM
	U.S. soldiers of 101st Airborne Division applaud during a concert given by movie star Bruce Willis in Taal Afar airfield, 460 kms (280 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq , Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze) AP - Sep 25 2:31 PM
	Actor Bruce Willis , wearing a U.S. Air Force flight suit, plays a tambourine as he performs along with 'The Accelerators, ' Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at a USO show at an undisclosed airbase, which is supporting the U.S. effort in Iraq . Willis is touring with his blues band to entertain US forces in the area for the United Service Organizations (USO). (AP Photo/Mike Theiler/USO) AP - Sep 24 2:29 PM
	Actor Bruce Willis , right, wearing a U.S. Air Force flight suit, belts out a song along with The Accelerator's guitarist Doug Hamblin, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 at a USO show at an undisclosed airbase, which is supporting U.S. efforts in Iraq . Willis is touring with his blues band to entertain US forces in the area for the United Service Organizations (USO). (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, USO) AP - Sep 24 2:23 PM
	Actor Bruce Willis , wearing a US Air Force flight suit, belts out a song as he performs along with Krispy Kreme founder and CEO Bruce DiMattia, September 24, 2003 at a USO show in an undisclosed airbase in South West Asia. Willis is touring with his blues band The Accelerators to entertain US forces in the area for the United Service Organizations (USO). EDITORS: The location is undisclosed at the request of the host country. REUTERS/USO/Mike Theiler Reuters - Sep 24 2:15 PM
	Actor Bruce Willis , wearing a US Air Force flight suit, plays a tambourine as he performs along with his band The Accelerators, September 24, 2003 at a USO show in an undisclosed airbase in South West Asia. Willis is touring with his blues band to entertain US forces in the area for the United Service Organization (USO). EDITORS: The location is undisclosed at the request of the host country. REUTERS/USO/Mike Theiler Reuters - Sep 24 2:11 PM
	Actor Bruce Willis (R), wearing a US Air Force flight suit, belts out a song along with The Accelerator's guitarist Doug Hamblin, September 24, 2003 at a USO show in an undisclosed airbase in South West Asia. Willis is touring with his blues band to entertain US forces in the area for the United Service Organization (USO). EDITORS: The location is undisclosed at the request of the host country. REUTERS/USO/Mike Theiler Reuters - Sep 24 2:09 PM
	Actor Bruce Willis (L) poses in a pressurized flight suit with United States Air Force personnel in front of a USAF U-2 high-altitude aircraft at an undisclosed airbase in southwest Asia, September 24, 2003. Willis is touring with the United Service Organizations (USO) with his band, The Accelerators, to entertain American military in the region. EDITORS: The location is undisclosed at the request of the host country. REUTERS/Mike Theiler Reuters - Sep 24 11:23 AM
	Actor Bruce Willis poses in a pressurized flight suit in front of a United States Air Force U-2 high-altitude aircraft at an undisclosed airbase in southwest Asia, September 24, 2003. Willis is touring with the United Service Organizations (USO) with his band, The Accelerators, to entertain American military in the region. EDITORS: The location is undisclosed at the request of the host country. REUTERS/Mike Theiler Reuters - Sep 24 11:21 AM
	Actor Bruce Willis , center, poses with U.S. Air Force security forces in front of a U-2 high-altitude spyplane and a KC-10 refueling aircraft, background, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 at an undisclosed airbase, supporting U.S. efforts in Iraq . Willis is on a United Service Organizations (USO) tour with his band, 'The Accelerators,' to entertain American military in the region. (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, USO) AP - Sep 24 10:17 AM
	Actor Bruce Willis , center, wearing a pressurized flight used by U.S. Air Force U-2 pilots who fly the high-altitude spy aircraft, poses with Air Force personnel Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 at an undisclosed airbase, supporting U.S. efforts in Iraq . Willis is touring on a United Service Organizations (USO) with his band, 'The Accelerators,' to entertain American military in the region. (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, USO) AP - Sep 24 10:17 AM
	Actor Bruce Willis poses in a pressurized flight suit in front of a U.S. Air Force U-2 high-altitude aircraft, Wednesday September 24, 2003 at an undisclosed airbase, supporting U.S. efforts in Iraq . Willis is on a United Service Organizations (USO) tour with his band, 'The Accelerators,' to entertain American military in the region. (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, USO) AP

[freeperfromnj]

It's good to see these conservative Hollywood types finally coming out of the closet. It was great to see Chuck Norris doing a couple of talk shows yesterday and lending his support as well.

[areafiftyone]

Well considering the anti-american news source - you KNOW they have to get some kind of swipe in to make our Democreep enemies happy.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[.cnI redruM]

I used to consider Bruce to be a self-infatuated dork. Now I think of Bruce as a self-infatuated dork who tries very harder to be a decent and patriotic American. There's hope for that guy. I feel like I can attend his movies without giving $8 of aide and comfort to the enemy.

[areafiftyone]

Thank you for posting those pictures! Whoo Hooo what a great guy!

[areafiftyone]

I used to think that way about him. Especially when he married Demi Moore. But now that he is away from her his real true self is coming out.

[tioga]

-agree...
-a man's man who doesn't need her thighness and the nannystate to tell him how to think, what to say, and when to say it...

[rj45mis]

Excellent PR. Willis hasn't forgotten that he is an American and this Land of the Free has given him much for which to be thankful.

[Bikers4Bush]

Time to add a Bruce Willis wing to my dvd collection.

[kjam22]

Start with "5th Element".

[Imal]

Bruce, if I ever said an unkind word about you, I take it back.

If only more actors loved their country and the people who defend it, we'd be a damn-sight better off.

Salutations to the Unbreakable man!

[Rebelbase]

" Krispy Kreme founder and CEO Bruce DiMattia"

He might be the CEO, but he's not the founder.

[Bikers4Bush]

Great flick.

[Johnny Gage]

Welcome to the party Saddam!