Blip-
Yeah...I DO think he flew in to thank the troops for both their sacrifice and service to their country!
Might be an unpopular notion these days (unfortunately) but these men and women are laying their lifes on the line every day and I think its GREAT that President Bush went to thank them personally and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. Atta Boy George!! :ok:

From CNN:

"On his way home, Bush tells reporters that he would not have
made the trip if the press had not been able to accompany him"

Yeah, 411A, just needed to have my rant. Feel better now. Cheers ...

Doc,

Called it as you saw it and I couldn't agree more.. :ok: One heck of a move to pull up the approval rating, I just hope that GB's stunt contained a bit of sincerity...

Would AF1 get some special exemption for not using the lights etc in FAA airspace? If a flight plan had to be filed can they legally switch registrations.

Hello DocM: With all due respect for others' opinions, this is a question about whether people under dictatorships (do Syria's, Libya's and even Singapore's regime fit this definition?) are able to choose their own future. I am certainly not a very smart guy. But as for Iraq, despite my own mixed feelings about the invasion, how were the Iraqi people planning (if able to vote for other candidates...) to choose their own future under Saddam Hussein, i.e. "Bush.....while taking away other countries' right to choose their own path"? Did those 100,000 plus Iraqi/Kurdish men, women and children who died under Saddam's regime mistakenly walk in front of the soldiers' guns during routine target practice? Did his planes many years ago not drop poisonous gas on Kurdish villages?

It is not clear to me whether former President Clinton actually wanted a coup d' etat in Iraq. A former CIA field agent claimed on a US news show that during Clinton's time in office, he had helped trained many Kurdish forces for a major rebellion, and was waiting for the White House to give the ok, then airdrop etc many weapons. For some reason, Clinton got cold feet about the option.

As for what sort of multiple defensive measures were used by whichever Air Force One plane was flown in and out of that airspace, this is also interesting. :uhoh:

Air Force One Surprise Visit
 

Hi

ITN newsdesk here - anyone know the polit who radioed Air Force One? 0207 430 4411 Nick Walshe.

Question - if he wasn't up for re-election, would he have gone?

IMHO, I think not. Great morale boost for the troops no doubt about that, but sincerity? The guy doesn't know the meaning of the word (or how to spell it probably).

Nice one ITN!

What's a polit?

I think you speeling chucker needs a service!

From Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary

Main Entry: polit
political, politician

Nice photo Grant T! Which one's the turkey? :confused: :p :p

Heard Hillary Clinton was scheduled to visit Bagdad the next day. So GB couldn't really stay behind in light of the election, public opinion etc. But good to see GB giving the troops a bit of moral support and acting like a real commander and chief.

Won't get fooled again
 

I think the picture posted by Grant T is just Bush getting his revenge for the event pictured here:-
http://cellar.org/pictures/bushturkey2.jpg

Gotta love the expression on his face...

Bob,

it seems to me that, in a way, Techman answered your question. If all sources are reliable, GWB admitted he would have never made this very short trip (just a couple of hours) if in the end there had been no political/personnal benefits for him (and therefore his administration). I'm not sure he really meant to say that (or anything else), but it spoils his entire "Desert Turkey" operation with a tenacious after-taste of manipulation... But were used to it now, aren't we ?
:}

DocManhatten,

I totally agree with your post. An exellent move by GWB but it makes not the slightest bit of difference to me, and nor should it to anybody else who seriously values democracy.

The only gatherings you see GWB in are with the troops or Republican fundraisers.

With the single exception of Tony's local, GWB does not do walkabouts among hoi polloi.

As for bravery, landing in Baghdad without lights in an a/c with the world's top ECM and anti-missile suite ain't all that daunting -- there may have more troops on approach/departure path patrol than at din-din:E

Err...no! Those SAS blokes who were abandoned in the first Gulf War, made their way across the country, were captured, tortured, escaped and made their way to the Syrian border had balls!

The world's most powerful military spending millions flying one man into Baghdad and out again four hours later in the face of a disorganised rag-tag of fighters is hardly very impressive.

You Americans seem very easily impressed.

And those of you who believe this was done out of the goodness of Bush's heart with no thoughts of next years election.....

your naivety is very touching!

SoS

Brave Bush does Bagdhad
 

Maybe y'all shoud go to your local Blockbuster and rent a good Hollywood product, even Dustin Hoffman is great in it:

Wag the Dog

Hopefully something will dawn on you about this guy!

pg

Some historic words on HF to mark the occasion...


AF1 - Mode control, both manual. Descent engine command override, off. Engine arm, off. Lights, off.

AF1 - AF1 is in

DUKE - We copy you down, AF1

AF1 - Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Turkey has landed.

DUKE - Roger, Tranquility. We copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of spin doctors, Big Business rep's and republicans about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot.

:E

"Wag the Dog" is definitely a much better choice than the usual football match on TV for Thanksgiving. Happy holiday to all concerned.

I suggest you ring British Airways!

The BBC reported an exchange between Airforce One and a BA flight in the area on Radio Four this morning!

SoS