President Bush is in Anbar
AP reports:
President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Monday, using the war zone as a backdrop to argue his case that the buildup of U.S. troops is helping stabilizing the nation.
The president secretly flew 11 hours to Iraq as a showdown nears with Congress over whether his decision in January to order 30,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq is working.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived ahead of Bush, and convened a meeting with the country’s top political leaders to highlight Bush administration hopes for prodding Iraq into a “bottom-up” approach to national reconciliation… Bush stopped in Iraq ahead of his visit to Australia for an economic summit with Asia-Pacific leaders. The trip was a closely held secret for obvious security reasons, although speculation about the trip arose late last month when first lady Laura Bush said she was staying home to tend to a pinched nerve in her neck.
The president, who also went to Iraq at Thanksgiving 2003 and in June was scheduled to leave for Australia on Monday, but Air Force One took off from Andrews Air Force Base Sunday evening instead.
He was joined by his top advisers, including National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. Joining Gates were Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. William Fallon, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East. Fallon flew aboard Gates’ Air Force plane from Washington. The mission to shore up support for the war was shared with only a small circle of White House staffers and members of the media, who were told that if news of his trip leaked early, it would be scrapped.
Related must-read, if you read nothing else this Labor Day holiday: Michael Gordon’s piece in the NYTimes on the Anbar strategy, “The Former-Insurgent Counterinsurgency.”
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I hope The President is giving the Maliki Govt., an ultimatium. Democracy would be wonderful and perferable but it isn’t the only (Political Solution) there is also “Partitioning” I would like to see more Nato Partners come in and help with more of the Heavy Lifting. This isn’t just an American National Security concern it is a Western Civilization Security concern.
Overhearing NBC TV news this am, the reporters seemed perplexed that they weren’t in the loop. It’s good to keep the left winged anti-American demagogues out of the loop once in a while.
This makes me proud. A Commander-in-Chief behaving like a Commander-in-Chief.
Puck NBC and the rest of the Alphabet media. Is this upstaging Couric and her little jaunt to Iraq or what?
The Office of the President of The United States of America trumps everything and everybody in the World.
Period. Next! Enter General Petraeus.
Anyone getting the feeling that Rove leaving the White House has uncorked some energy into the Game?
I do.
As angry as I can become over President Bush’s immigration policies, I am still proud to have him as our president.
Those Marines look proud as they meet their Commander-In-Chief. And, of course, I remain very proud of our troops each and every day.
Why should the President let the press corps know of this secret visit? So the NYT could announce it to the insurgents?
I love when the President visit’s our troops in Iraq because he not only pisses off AQ because they missed him he pisses off the Democrats because he steals there defeatist thunder….AQ/Democrats my mistake they spout the same crap America sucks so they must be one in the same.
There is a war to win in Iraq.
The anti-war leftists and a good many American politicians — whose “we cannot win” rhetoric would shame them by our victory — prefer we not win there. That is pretty sad commentary.
Yet President Bush is in good company today, among those doing what their country asked of them. And they will win if Congress does not quit the fight.
Yea!!!!!
I salute you Mr. President.
Give em hell “W”
Can we flush the Craig story now, once and for all, and push what is good about Our Country, from now until the cows come home?
Let’s start grinding out a vicious ground game in the Global PR War. I read something written by a petty Treasury official from the Reagan years last nite that called Bush’s administration “Brownshirts” and had the gall to say that Muslims are not united enough to fight the US in any way. He went on to say that Iran has no navy, so how could we justify fighting them there so we don’t fight them here on US soil?
I’ve had it. We need to be in these hacks’ faces every minute piling on the information that is out there being created by Americans doing America right.
Too much Dunkin Donuts coffee this morning. Fight on you California Golden Bears.
Image: Bear1909 swargling underneath of barrel of java on this lovely holiday morning free to be his own bad self.
I agree dump the crapper tapper! puns intended. Fight on USC!
I may disagree with the President on several things and have been very disappointed in several of his last policy decisions, but I am very impressed by his visit to the troops. The one area he has never disappointed. I have been watching the video on Fox News of him talking with troops in full body armor while he walks around with no visible armor. I realize he is in very safe environment, but he is still taking a great risk to show his support for our troop’s sacrifices. The risk to his personal safety along with members of his cabinet is a great way to demonstrate the improvements in the security situation in Iraq. It is still a very dangerous, but from all appearances the surge is working no matter how hard the MSM and Democrats are trying to paint it as a failure.
I am especially proud today too. My nephew, 25 years young, is going to be a Father for the first time.
He did his first tour of duty with the Army a coupla years back during the worst fighting in Najaf and Fallujah. His job was being the first guy out of the humvee (smallest, fastest, and best shot in the bunch). Came home to a rough re-entry experience. But he’s been holding a job and is nearly a fully certified operating engineer.
Got called back up just after he got news about becoming a dad. It was a tough call.
But something interesting happened. He’s going to be staying stateside. Has been taken back in as a drill seargent.
Not a word came out of him when he got the letter saying he was being reactivated. He did say if he could have been reunited with his first company he’d have re-upped to go back voluntarily. They were all lost. So he didn’t.
He serves willingly and has paid a heavy price. Now he’s going to be a Father- and the price now, he said, of not serving, has gone through the roof.
I don’t know, people. This Country is filled with loyal great people who MUST fight back against this onslaught of quitters by voting them out of office.
Turn the next election into a referendum in favor of the war against Islamo-Fascism. It is a uniting issue that every Gay man or woman in America should be standing with us on. It is a uniting issue that every champion of the status of women in society should be standing with us on. It is a uniting issue that every young voter 18-29 should be standing with us on if they want to see a Country when they are 50 that is not obliterated by Shari’ah laws and Muslim Retardation.
We MUST name this Country’s struggle with the names of our kin who are following behind us by 10 and 20 and 30 years behind us and more.
Put a name to this struggle- not the struggle against- who is the struggle for? Name it.
Image: Bear 1909 getting under a second barrel of java.
I question the timing.
It’s obvious that Bush is simply trying to stave off continuing criticism of his disastrous war policy by simply showing up for a photo-op. If he were really sincere, he would grab a rifle and serve, unlike how he he shirked away from his responsibility in Vietnam over thirty years ago.
/sarcasm
Nice Bear, and congrats to the nephew. I appreciate his service and dedication, give em a big thank you from aj.
ok … trying for the 3rd time … keep disconnecting from the site when I try to submit a comment … maybe someone is trying to tell me something … lol
Amazing isn’t it? … The President standing with the troops in Anbar Province … the area all the defeatists said we could never bring under control …
How is is that the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, other administration officials and our own Michelle Malkin can go to Iraq and see first-hand what is going on …
but we rarely hear of the “defeatists” of the left going there … Syria and Saudi Arabia are less hazardous to their worthless hides …
We have even had some against the war go and the trip has altered their view of things in Iraq … (Brian Baird and Brookings Institute’s Kenneth Pollack and Michael O’Hanlon come to mind) …
You’ll never see Murtha because he might actually have to face some of those Marines he called murderers …
As for “Land Deed Tommy” Reid and “Bela Lugosi” Pelosi … they don’t have 1/2 a spine between them …
Even accidentally saw Katie in a Baghdad market last night … (hadn’t changed the station yet after the ball game ended … lol) … but her comments were much like others who have gone and not found what they had convinced themselves they would see … she even pointed out “surprising progress” …
of course … the NY anchorette tried to twist the statements back to the alphabet network line …
Give ‘em Hell George
#12 Aunursa…
What’s it like going through life with no ability to think for yourself and no ability to see the forest for the trees?
SC has got the Booty
Question the timing?
Timing is everything. Timing in a leadership role is even more so.
I grew up during the Viet Nam war. Missed the draft by 2 years. I knew boys who went to Canada and never came back. I knew boys who went to Nam and never came back. I knew boys who had flat feet and knew others who went to their draft physicals with peanut butter jammed into their patoots while flying on LSD. I knew boys who were helicopter gunners and killed somebody before breakfast almost every single day.
Bush chose his route. He has to live with that just like everybody else. And now he is paying by having to order the death of men and women who are VOLUNTEERING to serve their Country.
Fate is an interesting MidWife. Yet, so many who sit in judgement of Our President fail to look at the full picture enough to see it.
GW Bush is the most mocked President since Abraham Lincoln. Hands down.
And the heavy praise for Bubba Clinton?
Image: Bear1909 scratchin his furry noggin. Hmmmm.
aj- You got it. I will pass it along.
There is nothing like being able to go up to a squared away soldier and giving thanks for what they’ve done and what they are doing.
bear1909
May I echo support and thanks for your nephew’s service and offer my congratulations on the pending fatherhood …
Anyone that has not yet done so definitely needs to read the Michael Gordon piece that MM linked to …
I found myself in awe that I was reading something from the NYT that was this well written and truthful …
well worth the read …
So true, also I’ll add disrespected. A lesser man in his shoes would have been a nightmare for us all. I may not agree with everything he does but I respect him and deservedly so.
DL- thanks!
I am all fired up today. Yesterday, my 9 year old and I watched “Troy”. We watch “hero” flicks regularly.
There is a scene before the first big battle in front of the City where Prince Hector (ably played by Eric Bana) tells his troops what his simple code is for living: “Serve the gods. Love your woman. And defend your Country.”
Case closed. Let’s start running the table on these knuckleheads.
bear1909
I’m in your camp all the way …
I am sick and tired of all the “pussy-footing” around when it comes to all the attacks on this country and our way of life … resurfacing an old bumper sticker (just for Edwards benefit) …
America – Love it or Leave it
Let’s nominate General Petraeus for President? Just a thought.
testing to see if I can post to this thread yet …
have been longing to see the Texan I voted for…niiiiiiice…our troops need this…
Europe has already given up to the Islamic Invasion Force and should be called Eurabia. It’s up to the USA to fend them off.
It is good to see our CinC doing this.
I am a firm believer that we, as a government, need to keep MORE secrets from the MSM as far as operations go.
Like others have said, he has angered me beyond words with his stance on immigration and open borders, but this visit to Iraq is a good thing.
get the definite impression someone along the line miscalculated the time difference between Iraq and the USA … lol … extremely unusual for a Prez speech to be this far off an announced time …
prolly being careful.
This is great!!! I am so happy when Pres. Bush surprises the troops like this and crushes the Dems and the press like this!!
He is and always was a good politician when it comes to timing. I am never as proud of our President as when he appears with our troops. Good for him!
I am sure we will hear all about his low approval ratings in the news tonight. Oh well…that’s all they have to shoot at him.
May their arrows pierce their own hearts….
yep … good answers from Gen Pace though …
interesting point … my granddaughter was in the other room and suddenly called out to me … seems her TV watching was being interrupted for the president’s speech …
interesting considering she was watching the local ABC station … I was watching FNC …
a quick check showed that CBS, NBC, and the local FOX stations did not interrupt to show the Prez speech …
my tv is off. What went down? Who said what? link me
This made my day. And I just came back from a 3-night restful stay in a cabin with the family (wait, did I say ‘restful’?).
The President of the US in the “most dangerous” part of Iraq.
Proud to serve under this CinC.
Kevlaur
bear1909
Prez speech to troops in Anbar … check http://www.foxnews.com … there is a link to video of a speech to the press out on the tarmac … I am sure that soon they will have the video of the speech to the troops …
Hope grandson stationed at Al Asad got to meet President Bush … that would almost be as exciting as Grandpa seeing Marilyn Monroe in Korea! Celebrating 54 yrs together this week – secret to long marriage: we think the same about politics and politicians. Semper Fi!
lol dl, you prolly knew they wouldnt interupt their cash cows “the spew” and “the price is right” even if they are re-runs. my goodness the calls they would get! rofl….and they just dont care unless of course theres a story of tom cruise and rosie catching the cult-land express rocket to whatever dumb planet scientology morons are on this weekend. zoom zoooooooommm.
Congrats Gramma! Dang you guys deserve a medal. Just remember dont set stuff in front of the milk and all should be great from here on out.
I question the timing. Has to have something to do with the Craig Affair!
You are joking right?
William Teach
Surely you jest …
These kinds of trips are planned to the most minute detail many weeks in advance … so I can assure anyone that thinks this has anything to do with Craig or anything else within the last month they are well out of their tree …
Another reason I love “The Dub.”
Labor day is for all workers, and this is a reminder that soldiers do not get the day off, nor do they get Summer vacation.
May God Bless them all.
Happy Labor Day to all, and Double-M, I see you decided to work today as well.
eric
http://www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com
I think these photo ops are smart and really important for putting the pressure on the Dems.
This is going to be a hell of a fight–and it may all come down to Petraeus’s performance.
Having read the text of the verbiage to the troops and having viewed the video, the more I admire GWB as a man of conviction and not poll-driven. That is the epitome of backbone and stamina.
And, I will add…GWB may not always be “right” but he does take a stand on the issues that he believes in. We cannot say the same for the current crop of Presidential Aspirants, can we?
http://takeourcountryback-snooper.blogspot.com/
#15 trinitytim,
Perhaps you missed the sarcasm tag?
I was impersonating a deranged moonbat. Judging from your response I did too good a job.
well, i’ve heard it all now. was in the grocery store here in Berkeley California and someone was talking to another saying: “IslamoFascism is an oxymoron you know. I am so sick of these neocons.”
I quickly slapped the back of my own head to remind myself of my GPS coordinates at that moment.
But come on…Bush’s visit to al-Anbar province and these mucus heads having that discussion- all of this unfolding on the same planet.
There are going to be some pretty desparate hombres when the rockets get launched against Iran.
They aren’t even moonbats. More like Moon Loons.
“IslamoFacism is an oxymoron.” What is in that Kool Aid?
like condi said–they won’t believe until they’ve seen the mushroom cloud over wichita
bear1909
I hear ya … just saw some “news” about the trip on the alphabet networks … every one of them is framing it as the only way the Prez can get anyone to listen to his Iraq speeches and then claiming the British turning over Basra to the locals is going to cause the US a lot of problems in the south … saying the Brits are giving up in that part of the country …
Took the speech and turned it every which way to make it look like it was just a desparate way of setting up the upcoming report on the surge …
May the next attack strike a bunch of these traitors directly … I am disgusted with the MSM attacks on the troops and this country … send the SOB’s packing … I’ll gladly contribute to David Gregory and others one way tickets to any extremist Muslim country and see if they change their minds about it then …
Freedom to criticize is one thing … but this has reached a point well beyond freedom of speech … they have become out and out traitors guilty of sedition and traitors I believe can be tried and executed for their crimes …
Remarkable level of restraint, bear. I would have flamesprayed them.
Honestly, what kind of normal adult uses the term “neocon” in line at a grocery store? It’s right up there with throwing a shoe.
I’m still giddy over his famous surprise Thanksgiving visit. That was a cool Presidential moment.
dl,
I’ll even throw in the peanuts.
aj writing check to the one-way ticket fund…
Well, it’s about time W woke up and remembered that he’s the President. I wish he had done more of these things and supported the troops along our own southern border which is just as much part of the war on terror as anything else. This reminds me of what I call the “Old W” – when he stood next to that firefighter in NYC – an extremely dangerous place for him to be, a sniper can get you from anywhere – and declared both war on and victory against the terrorists. I’m still no longer a fan, but he’s definately up a few notches in my mind again, now.
Good luck and congrats to your nephew, Bear. As for the ultra left, we really need to remember how this game goes: we have facts and reason, they have emotion and theatrics. It really does come down to that, so every time we have a strong theatrical moment plus reason and facts, it send them into a narcoleptic tailspin. Just thank God that you’re you and not one of them. Sheesh – imagine!
thanks aj … I figure it’s the least we can do to help the poor misguided and delusional MSM …
gosh i love this man’s resolve. call it a man-crush if you will.
Looks like we’re ready to say in Anbar, Mission Accomplished.
President was here and there was a lot of excitement. His visit was so stealth the NYT didn’t have time to reveal it to their “stringers”.
Matt Sanchez
Ramadi, Anbar
Or in Gordon Brown, who is far more concerned about his approval ratings than leading the country. Call-me-Dave ain’t exactly better either.
What I would give for a 21st century Churchill.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070904/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq
We still got a long way to go apparently.