3 Responses so far

1. 1. Lenora Rose on Dec 1st, 2003 at 3:15 pm

   The cynics on other forums have pointed out two or three countering factors:

   A) Bush slipped in the day before Hillary Clinton was making a very similar trip - except that hers didn’t involve sneaking around in fear of safety, but actual appearances in public.

   B) That same sneaking around after dark, and sneaking back out. Now, some of that is the old “office of the President” thing for Bush increasing his danger.

   C) The troops he ate with were probably hand-picked to exclude those who actually feel dissension and could use a morale boost.

   Take these as you will, but the nice gesture does invoke mixed feelings for me.

   But it doesn’t matter as much to me anyhow. I’m concerned for troops in hostile territory, and wish them well and safely home, but Bush ain’t *my* leader.

2. 2. Scott Janssens on Dec 1st, 2003 at 3:51 pm

   I think there was certainly a large portion of PR for America in the trip, but I think he had legitimate reasons for going, such as PR for the Iraqis. It did send a message that we’re serious about rebuilding the country. It was a bit of a no win situation that more than the handful of Iraqis didn’t see him.

   I discount the idea that it was for reelection. A year from now, I doubt people will remember this. In discussing this trip, pundits have referred to his carrier landing. I had completely forgotten about that.

   In response to Lenora:

   A) I think the fact that the date was Thanksgiving discounts the timing issue. Also, Hillary is not the POTUS. She also got a lukewarm reception.

   B) And?

   C) Possibly, but I doubt it. The military as a volunteer organization is a self selecting group. I’ve many friends in the military, all of them hawks which shouldn’t be surprising. (Note, this is not to say all military personnel are uniformly hawkish, just a majority.) I don’t find anything suspicious about a hawkish president getting rousing receptions from the military.

3. 3. Tobias Buckell on Dec 1st, 2003 at 3:57 pm

   There are so many things to be cynical about this current administration about that I’m not really worried about this one, and I’m not really, as a non-liberal non-conservative issues-based weirdo, interested in making it seem like I’m going to stand up for the shrub.

   Nonetheless, a prez going to see the troops in a current hot zone is pretty cool. If I were a trooper I’d think it cool. Bummer that the current administration cuts back veteran’s benefits and other odd things, but hey, whatever. Cool gesture.

   A) Bush slipped in the day before Hillary Clinton was making a very similar trip - except that hers didn’t involve sneaking around in fear of safety, but actual appearances in public.

   TB: Difference of target. Hillary isn’t as visible a figurehead as the president.

   B) That same sneaking around after dark, and sneaking back out. Now, some of that is the old “office of the President” thing for Bush increasing his danger.

   TB: Hell, wouldn’t you if you were the president? This is just plain prudence to avoid getting shot or blown by some rpg or suicide bomber.

   C) The troops he ate with were probably hand-picked to exclude those who actually feel dissension and could use a morale boost.

   TB: Maybe. But can the cynics prove that? I’m not willing to jump to conclusions yet.