Obama in Baghdad Updated
The Reuters headline reads “Obama hopes visit to Iraq can help resolve problems.”
It appears that Obama thinks his mere presence and aura will help “resolve problems.”
Because of reported bad weather, he won’t make it into the IZ (still called the Green Zone by some) to talk with Iraqi leaders. Instead, he’ll be at Camp Victory making phone calls and meeting with Iraqi PM al Maliki. Later, according to ABC News, he’ll participate in a ceremony awarding 10 Medals of Valor.
Let’s hope he refrains from telling the troops they’re fighting in a “dumb war.”
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I can only imagine the scorn the Left would heap on President Bush if this had been his trip (drive-by visit! dog-and-pony show! holed up on a military base instead of getting out among the people! bad weather? b.s.!)…
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Update: Six hundred troops cheered Obama. Obama again emphasized that his mere presence will help with “resolving issues?”
“It’s important for us to use all of our influence to encourage the parties to resolve these issues in ways that are equitable. I think that my presence here can help do that,” he said.
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Categories: War
Pundit & Pundette
» Bishop Jenky, Nicki Minaj, and the "98%"JustOneMinute
» We Hear From The Department Of Good Ideas And False Choices
Only say the word and ye shall be healed.
They better have a first rate basketball court ready and waiting for him. Or else!!!
Just visiting the family outside the green zone; nothing to see here, just move along.
I feel so bad our military has to salute this nasty-ass president. He’s unworthy.
BHO to troops:
Nah, I didn’t mean YOU troops were arrogant.
Yes, Europe is a leader in the making of wine and cheeses.
You misspelled “Whine”.
Here’s a patriot I’m sure our military sincerely loves getting visits from… because he truly respects and supports them.
My son sent me an e-mail about a half hour ago…. he and his contingent are not impressed. He’s in Kirkuk.
Believe me, I was tempted…
Where is the jumping to the feet, the roars, the crazy applause? There was, wasn’t there?
Well he is the rare breed of man that people who rip off video game plots to use as their own ethical philosophies call a lightworker.
And clearly he’s done such a good job of it so far. I mean North Korea just launced an ICBM but he says it not a problem, so clearly his lighworkiness has managed to do something. Right? Right?
PBHO visiting Baghdad is nice-his visiting Constantinople/Istanbul is nice. His coming come is less so, unless that home is Kenya. Did he pick up any more harem kittens while over there? Perhaps a prayer rug, burka for BitterMoma, AK-47?
You think the MSM will report the difference between the rousing applause Bush got while visiting the troops Bagdad to the lukewarm reception Obama gets?
yeah might as well get used to wearing them…I wonder if the stimulus package includes a prayer rug for every american, and a compass pointing towards mecca so we face the right way….
He probably really needed TOTUS there!
Oh my, what to say, what to say?!!
Watch for coercion
Will he bow to him too?
I hope our CINC (ptooey!) felt the same awe and respect I do in the presence of our warriors. My guess? His thoughts were “I won”.
I wonder if the troops will applaud him like they did W.
If there’s no video, we will know they didn’t!
There is word going around town where I live that the Might O is coming for a visit in May. All my life I have wanted to see a president and the one chance I may have, it’s the clown-in-chief. I won’t even bother. I did see Bush Sr.’s motorcade once when he came to Quantico to golf. And I must say it was thrill…I know silly me.
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I watched President Clinton’s first visit with the military on an aircraft carrier on T.V. The closeups of the troops faces said it all–stiff upper lips, unhappy looks on most faces, doing their best to respect their commander. Their disdain for the dishonest President and his backdated documents that kept him out of the draft were obvious.
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I saw the second President Bush’s visit to the MISSION ACCOMPLISHED aircraft carrier. The troops faces said it all again–they respected him and his military service.
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Possibly some of the Black military personnel will respect President Obama due their pride in his achievement in becoming the first Black President.
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I think most of the military (of all races and ethnic backgrounds) will recognize his disdain for the military and their needs and service. President O’Bummer’s actions in gutting the U.S.S.A. military and his willingness to cut defense spending (aka “supporting the troops”) and wasting out money on greenie and socialist agendas (aka “spreading the wealth”) are obvious to them.
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Our brave military recognize JIMMUH CARTER II when they see him. His actions and weakness will put their lives at risk unnecessarily. We don’t need any steenking anti-missile defense systems or lasers or winning weapons. We can always bring back the draft if things go wrong.
***
John Bibb
***
Tell me about it – MSNBC alone would have ranted for three weeks, denouncing it as nothing more than the ultimate in distraction PR!
Speaking of MSNBC, could it be that faux reporters/Dem mouthpieces David Shuster and Nora O’Donnell are on the way out at that channel?
An article on Newsbusters says Shuster’s show (whatever it was called) got
bumpeddumped, while TVNewser reports that O’Donnell was cast into the no-man’s-land of mid-morning.Look for him to rename “Camp Victory” to “Camp Equality”. Because if we separate the victors from the losers we’re going to have some hurt feelings, and we don’t want that.
I don’t want to criticize Obama if he actually is visiting the troops. But if it becomes obvious that it is a publicity/campaign stop, he is going to hear plenty!
God bless him and keep him safe!! May the angels watch over him.
Really, why would anyone who professes to oppose something so much as Obama did the war in Iraq, then turn around and make a trip there except for deflective publicity.
I would love nothing more than to see some YouTube clips in the coming days of the troops sitting in stony silence as Obama comes in and stutters through a flat teleprompter-delivered
liespeech about how he supports what they’re doing. The silence would speak volumes.Please give my thanks to your son and his fellow soldiers. Also let them know that he is in our prayers.
Alas, I have no problem with Obama visiting the troops. It is his job and maybe seeing them in this way will move his heart a little.
I just heard audio from the visit. The TOPUS seemed to keep waiting for the applause that never came. His speech seemed to be written in anticipation of cheers, but it was more like crickets chirping.
AMAZING!!! A day after he tells TURKEY, the US is not at war with ISLAM, and the day after DEFENSE SECRETARY GATES says he wants to gut our DEFENSE CONTRACTS, O-BOZO turns up in IRAQ… N. KOREA launches a test to see how it’s MISSILE program is progressing, and B. HUSSEIN wants to GUT our defense systems… We will CURSE the day WE put this BOZO in the WHITE HOUSE…
You salute the rank; not the man/woman.
As the troopers salute this T.P.I.C. under their breaths will be – This is for you R.E.M.F.
I’m guessing the entire crowd assembled will throw their shoes.
If not, well, then they should.
I feel for the troops who will have to be the ones receiving of a medal from this troop bashing phony.
HOOOAH!
I was in the Air Force when Jimmy was CINC and I have a son on his second tour with the Navy. When I ask him about the feelings of the troops for their current commander, it’s like re-runs of the conversations when my Dad asked me about the troops under Carter. Almost word for word.
I’m thinking he’ll get out next year (if they let him) rather than put up with even less than they have now. It’ll be tough to give up the “great pay” but. . .
Jvette
Thank you very much. I somehow doubt that such a change of heart, that I would welcome as well, would occur. I see in Obama a populist president who , with the backing of a leftist support system, going to Europe and trashing us as a country. I have no hope of Obama changing.
Yeah, I understand that. I still feel bad for anyone that unselfishly puts their life on the line for their country, and then has to salute him as their COC.
American voters seriously let our military down.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/IZXX0008
The weather for bagdad. “bad” weather includes 7 mph winds and showers. 61 degrees.
just saying
And this is an object lesson in irony.
I served under Carter and Clinton. You just remind yourself that your alliegance is to the Constitution and your service to the American People.
CINC’s come and go, but Duty, Honor, Country never changes.
ErinF …
I took an oath 46 years ago that I still follow to this day and always will …
As a result of that oath I will always support and respect all the members of our military forces and I will always respect the Office of the President of the United States …
However, that does not mean I will always necessarily respect the individual holding that office …
OT, but of all the news they could let us in on, this morning’s CBS news included some tripe about a Chia Pet Obama. Did any of you see this nonsense?
Apparently it was sold in a Chicago-area Walgreens, and has since been removed. The ‘inventor’ of Chia Pet is befuddled.
yeah; welcome to my world.
No SSG sonofdy, you don’t salute with one finger.
Bad SGT sonofdy
Still not right SPC sonofdy.
Not catching on, are you PFC sonofdy
…
The Marines will act professionally. Maybe not enthusiastically, but respectful. I am sure many of them, and I include myself in this group, regardless of race were encouraged with the idea of a black president. Too bad it had to be this man. Next time maybe people will look beyond the glitz for the substance. Ah well, this too we shall overcome.
I respect the office too…from what I see it’s very nice.
His job as Head of State, Chief Executive Officer and Commander in Chief is to protect our rights and to defend US, not apologize for US.
Epic fail.
I see nothing good coming from this visit, unless you see more dissent towards him as a good thing.
Did it come with marijuana seeds?
Michelle pointed that the current administration is going to greatly weaken the military. Fewer F-22s, cut backs or elimination of anti-missle systems, cutbacks or elimination of the airborne laser defense system, big reductions in the Future Combat Systems (FCS) the Army has much of its future ground combat systems geared for.
Reductions in training resources and material support will follow.
Why do I not feel as secure as we did when President Bush was in office.
God help our nation!
It looked more like fingers crossed to me but…
tre–no; those were all scooped up off the coffee table in the den & added to the pipe.
oops; sorry. That was me, at a friend’s house last night.
All, in thinking about this thread, i re-read General DOuglas McArthur’s Duty, Honor, Country Speech, delivered on May 12, 1962.
I think you will find this passage interesting, especially the first paragraph. SSG sonofdy and all still on duty, here is your azimuth, follow it.
“Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government. Whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing indulged in too long, by federal paternalism grown too mighty, by power groups grown too arrogant, by politics grown too corrupt, by crime grown too rampant, by morals grown too low, by taxes grown too high, by extremists grown too violent; whether our personal liberties are as firm and complete as they should be.
These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night: Duty, Honor, Country.
You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense. From your ranks come the great captains who hold the Nation’s destiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sounds.
The long gray line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million ghosts in olive drab, in brown khaki, in blue and gray, would rise from their white crosses, thundering those magic words: Duty, Honor, Country.”
Over on huffpo the idiots think the troops love the defeatist in chief.
ErinF said (#4):
If they could salute the lying chicken-hawk Bush, why not Obama?
SpeakEasy said (#44):
There are Marines who don’t care for Bush. Even they will honor their training and the traditions of the country by giving the President a proper salute. That said, opinion polls show that a majority of US soldiers in Iraq preferred Obama over McCain or Bush. If you feel otherwise, link to polls that back you – or just mouth off.
I call BS.
LGM is clueless about the military and should shut his mouth about it. IMHO
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/08/military_favors.html
Because the lamed brained one will ask.
I think its time for conservatives to leave the military, and let the liberals defend THEIR country.
cause it sure ain’t the country I used to recognize.
When he tries to pin those medals on the chests of those Soldiers, I have to wonder: will the Soldiers receive him in the same way the wounded Rangers at Walter Reed did after Mogadishu?
Or we could take a poll here. We have many current military on this site as well as veterans.
Is it me, or has lgm turned nasty lately?
Ok, lgm, show me the numbers on this. I don’t believe for a second that our military on the battlefield would overwhelmingly support a military-cutting, no-nuke, socialist lib over an ex-POW.
lately?
clueless is a nice euphamism.
Military favors McCain, poll finds
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/08/military_favors.html
Military Times Poll Shows Skepticism for New Commander in Chief
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01/military-times.html
Sen. John McCain captured the support of 71 percent of respondents to the latest poll. Sen. Barack Obama notched an uptick, too, going from 23 percent to 25 percent.
http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_elexpoll_102708/
I apologize to the regulars for responding to a troll, but it is relevent to the topic, and lies are offensive.
They also think Trig is Bristol’s child.
Yeah. He’s always been snarky, smug, and contemptible, but these days he seems to me to have learned to be kind of mean in his commentary like our other trolls. Maybe he always was.
I saw the coverage of Obama with the troops a while ago. You could soooooo tell that they were faking the cheering and hugs they were giving him.
Thanks for the data RTater.
I’m going to take the liberty of designating lgm a drive-by-troll. He/she/it comes in, hurls a load of shiite at the wall to see if it sticks, and screeches away.
lgm must have gotten his/her/its polling data from KOS.
Just saw video over at Free Republic. It looked as though they were enthusiastically receiving him, jockeying for a chance to get close and take his picture. I can’t say if it was for him personally or for the fact that he is president and an historic one at that.
I haven’t seen video of the speech.
As for as the medal receivers, they will be proud regardless of whom places it on their chest. My dad, a lifer in the AF had his second star pinned by Bill Clinton. He and mother hated him and his low opinion and treatment of the military, but they were still thrilled to have had it done by the president.
LGM
knowing my affiliation as many do, I call you out as an unmitigated liar. My son and I call you on this garbage you spout. He reads MM and often we laugh over trolls comments. But, when you think you know what Marines think….. just have a nice cup of STFU
A majority of people in the United States believe you’re an idiot. If you feel otherwise, link to polls that back you – or just mouth off.
Hey sonofdy, I think I’ve figured out that new salute. Look! I’m saluting lgm!
He is DUH ONE and he has DECREED IT!
lgm has left the building
If I could just get close enough to touch the hem of his garment my credit score would improve by 150 points and my leprosy would heal! All hail the light worker! We are so lucky to have been blessed with his wisdom and grace and teleprompter skills.
Excuse me but I have to go and barf now…
Jvette
I’m glad you have the opinion you do, but can only speak of my experience… I had the opportunity to have a medal pinned on me by Pres. Nixon… I feigned illness and did not attend. Why? I had no respect for him…. and this was long before Watergate. He was an imperial SOB just like Obama… some character traits transcend political parties. I’ve never looked back on my action , and to this day do not feel, as the Corps doesn’t feel, I did anything wrong.
LGM:
If this is true it would be a bit of a surprise to me.
In any case, the opinions of the rank and file soldier are one thing. I imagine that if one was to poll the leadership (NCOs and officers) you would find a decidedly conservative slant.
I am not saying the opinions of 18-20 yr old junior enlisted soldiers do not matter (of course they do). However, what I am saying is that among the professional and experienced military men and women you won’t find as much support for Obama as you imagine.
Example? Keep in mind that while Clinton was POTUS, the Dems – across the board – were screaming Iraq possessed WMD’s and that we should do what ever was necessary to stop Iraq.
You are just being an idiot and racking up your troll points at huff-pos – right nazi?
I wonder how many units they had to scour to find that many obamabots.
If Obama wanted to impress the troops he could have loaded up Air Force One with things like spare batteries, memory sticks, iPods, hot coccoa or Kool Aid packets, and several cases of Red Man.
Ohhhh, a post-partisan swipe!!! Color me shocked. So, former Pres. Bush was a liar yet Obummer is continuing the dastardly “chicken-hawk’s” (not true if you’ve actually served in the military) war and policies. No, no irony at all in this statement.
You, and many clueless, pacifist worms in American know jack about the military. If you did, you wouldn’t say something so completely uninformed. Why don’t you check out the Military Times poll done a few months back where a majority of service members DID NOT support Obummer? The poll is cached in the site’s archives.
Or you can continue to mouth off like you always do on this blog.
I don’t know if you’re being snarky or just plain stupid but you do know that many of these men and women are “made” to go to these “productions.” If you even know anyone in the military (which you probably don’t) why don’t you ask them or people in their unit, how they feel about “the one.”
Believe me, my husband and his unit are not very “thrilled” at who is currently president. Military members have a trained eye when it comes to fakers and the people in my husband’s unit are definitely not faking their disdain.
You’re a sucker if you think that Obummer’s reception is representative of the military as a whole. The black military members aren’t representative of the military as a whole either.
Yup, polls means so much when you consider the questions:
Do you support BHO or Hugo Chavez?
Poll finds;
Majority of Americans support Obama
Hint look at the unit patchs on the uniforms, almost nonw were the same meaning they are hand picked. Or asked to be there.
Was the margin within the percentage of error?
600 troops cheering?… not hard to do…. means nothing, really. heck, we cheered a band when it came to our fire base……. couldn’t stand their music… but you thanked them for the effort… hardly a ringing endorsement, though. Obama will make this a political stunt. The difference between him and Bush?…. Bush didn’t strip his troops of funds and equipment or express said intent and Bush never trashed the US in Europe. BIG difference.
Not sure. I am sure it was a tough choice for liberals and freaks from Holly-weird.
It’s funny but all the polls in the CCCP between 1937 and 1953 showed an overwhelming number of Russians preferred Stalin to Trotskii.
I wonder if the same guys do Obama’s polls…
Yes, an opportune photo-op. Nothing more.
I don’t think folks like LGM are really in touch with reality. They base a lot of their perceptions of the military on popular culture and movies and what they “think” they know from the news they’re fed through a MSM filter.
The younger enlisted ranks reflect a softening of some “taboo” subjects as “don’t ask don’t tell.” So, yes, the younger enlisted ranks may support Obummer but I don’t know if that will necessarily prove a significant trend.
My husband is a military officer and he and his unit are among those that you mention. They don’t think much of Sec Def Gates either. Gates is a professional bootlicker who is more a politician than an advocate for the military.
emjem24:
Yes. I imagine things are not all that different from when I was on active duty not too many years ago.
The military has always been fairly conservative. I think the major reason is that the left-wing side of the fence leans more toward pacifism. One can’t very well be in the military and be a pacifist. Furthermore, I would say that an NCO or officer that doesn’t understand the fact that sometimes violence is justified and warranted would be a rare breed indeed.
Obama must have remembered more things he hated about America, and told the pilot to pull it in, so he could make a speech about them while they were fresh on his mind.
Nor do I think you did anything wrong. It a testament to men such you, your son and my dad that in this country we can hold differing opinions and ideas and beliefs and air them publicly.
I thank you for your service and appreciate your point.
Did Obama bounce that Idea of his that the injured troop use their own healthcare providers for treatment?
Didn’t think so.
The “Chicken-Hawk” put on a uniform, learned to fly and could have been sent to Vietnam had those above him decided to send his unit. You, and your buddies Bill “Chicken-Licken’” Clinton and your new hero Barack “Satay-Chicken” Soetoro have stayed safely away from any possibility of serving. Remind me again why a guy in uniform is a chicken-hawk, and a guy who runs away is your hero.
Jvette
I thank you father for his service and your mature approach to discussions in this thread.
Yes, and 90% of your frequent flyer miles will go to flying them to a stateside medical facility – the big jets are tied up flying Nancy Pelosi and her family around.
Interestingly enough there are some pockets of liberalism in the US Military. I have known some VERY LEFTIST JAG officers. Not all, mind you, but I have probably met more leftists in that speciality than anywhere else. It must be something about law school…
You got to give Obama a hat tip. He’s the first President I have ever seen who wore a business suit to a combat zone.
As Marisa Tomei remarked to Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny, “Oh ya, you blend.”
Methinks his wearing of a suit was a ploy to convince people of his courage( none) and to downplay the urgency of Iraq. Remember his cross is Afghanistan.
Just doing my part to participate in the Denialfest. lolertrain.
I think somebody made a good point the other day about how many people seem to live in bubbles. I think many people in the US don’t live in the real world and don’t apply life lessons to their own lives because they don’t think that anything is wrong.
Speaking as a military spouse, I feel that many Americans are out of touch with what’s happening, not only in their own country, but their own military. Military families and their active duty members put up with a lot. Many Americans whine about not having “job security” yet that’s something that many military spouses will/have never enjoyed. Many spouses even encounter discrimination because of their military member’s career.
So many Americans are convinced that if they can be someone/something else, or if our country can become something else than what it is, their lives will matter. Many Americans (of the left-leaning persuasion) complain about how costly the health care system yet they have no idea that socialized/government-run healthcare already exists. It’s called Tricare and it already practices the things that experts warn against such as rationing, lack of doctors, and a one size fits all approach to medicine that’s more about dollars and cents than saving lives.
If the American voters actually respected our military and learned from all the things the military achieved and overcome, they wouldn’t want the same government screwing up their lives like the military/government has already done with Tricare and quality of life issues involving military spouses.
It would be interesting to see how many on MM’s blog are military or ex-military, or are married to military. Then take a poll of what they think of Obama. Anyone care to guess what the result would be? And I believe that would be representative of all the military.
Exactly what does this mean? Did you actually have a point to make or would you rather just come off looking uninformed like LGM?
Seriously, are you going to base overall military support for Obummer on a slick PR visit? Are you going to base overall military support on a segment of the military population who don’t even represent the totality of political thought?
Are you that much of a sucker?