[The Louiswu]

It’s a war zone, not a tourist destination. Having visitors in those forward areas is dangerous to the visitor as well as the troops in that area, and the troops don’t need any more complications to their already dangerous lives. I am sure there are plenty of grateful troops in the safer zones for those gentlemen to meet with. IMHO

[kbennkc]

It’s a war zone, not a tourist destination.

Agreed . I would guess this decision was made by someone who knows what he is are doing , not Rahm or Axe .

[ExSoldier]

It’s a war zone, not a tourist destination. Having visitors in those forward areas is dangerous to the visitor as well as the troops in that area, and the troops don’t need any more complications to their already dangerous lives. I am sure there are plenty of grateful troops in the safer zones for those gentlemen to meet with. IMHO

You're kidding right? First off, there is no such thing as a SAFE ZONE anywhere in any zone of conflict. Next, most all of those units have civilian reporters embedded with them. If it was me, I'd sooner dive on a live grenade for Gene Cernan or Armstrong than any one of the slime reporters I'd be forced to lug around. These guys are all military officers and many have Vietnam combat records. It was only with the space shuttle program that they allowed civilian "techs" and teachers to ride along on PR. The Challenger showed how good and safe an idea THAT was. Ollie North rides into battle with the troops. I'll bet if he offers some judicious advice under fire, they listen and listen hard.

[nevergore]

Well articulated but wrong answer.....

These men are combat veterans and understand the danger....

Our men in FBO’s already know the possible additional risk this may bring and most, if not all, are willing to accept the challenge.

[EDINVA]

Referring to them as ‘tourists’ is rather insulting given their pasts. Maybe you are too young to remember, but none of these gentleman are tourists to war zones much less danger.

[magellan]

"It’s a war zone, not a tourist destination. Having visitors in those forward areas is dangerous to the visitor as well as the troops in that area, and the troops don’t need any more complications to their already dangerous lives. I am sure there are plenty of grateful troops in the safer zones for those gentlemen to meet with. IMHO"

Good grief! We sent John Elway and Robin Williams to Bagdhad in December 2004. And darn near every Senator and Congresscritter has been to Baghdad.

And if you want to pi$$ off the guys in Iraq and Afghanistan, let the USO tours only visit the REMFs in Qatar and Kuwait.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I don't have all the facts, so don't nobody flame, but.....The only problem I now have about this is that now the WHOLE WORLD knows they are going and where they currently area, and you can bet Islamofascists in and around both of those countries would consider this CODEL-type group a prime hit soft-target, and they would now probably have to armour up ten-fold and come in at night with lights off. I have no idea, but there may well have been actionable intelligence gleaned that they were in danger. In principle I am all for this, but I also know how the jehadi works and it might not be particularly advisable at this time--is what I am thinking instinctively. Best to just come in, quiet, make the rounds, and get the hell out of such places. I would say, if Iraq and Afghanistan are scrapped, just have them return via Korea and go up to the DMZ. They will be safer there and the guys and gals in service up there face just as brutal an enemy, but the environment is much more easily controlled.

Bush's one day covert trip to Baghdad on Thanksgiving a number of years ago was a textbook case of prudent travel by high level American VIPs to war zones in the Middle East infested with Islamobastards. In my view, this delegation has been compromised. Too much press. If al-Jazeera or somebody like that carries this, it's over. Washington has "weenies" alright, but sometimes they have solid people as well who know when and when not to go forward on something. It is just conjecture on my part, but this also has to now be figured into the equation.

[JMKirnan]

Amen! I’m sure that since these heros already lived through so much, they’d like to survive this trip & not treat it like a death wish...

[El Gato]

It’s a war zone, not a tourist destination. Having visitors in those forward areas is dangerous to the visitor as well as the troops in that area, and the troops don’t need any more complications to their already dangerous lives. I am sure there are plenty of grateful troops in the safer zones for those gentlemen to meet with. IMHO

The SecDef was just yesterday walking the streets of a newly liberate town in southern Afghanistan. Sans "vest". If he can do that, these guys should be able to fly into Baghdad International (Sather Air Force Base or Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.

Lots of USO tours have gone to those places. If they can, these guys should be able to as well.

In point of fact there was a group of NFL players at Bagram on 5 March 2010.