An officer's description of Bush's Thanksgiving dinner in Iraq

[Spook]

We knew there was a dinner planned with Ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez. There were 600 seats available and all the units in the division were tasked with filling a few tables. Naturally, the 501st MI battalion got our table. Soldiers were grumbling about having to sit through another dog-and-pony show, so we had to pick soldiers to attend. I chose not to go. But, about 1500 the G2, LTC Devan, came up to me and with a smile,asked me to come to dinner with him, to meet him in his office at 1600 and bring a camera. I didn't really care about getting a picture with Sanchez or Bremer, but when the division's senior intelligence officer asks you to go, you go.

We were seated in the chow hall, fully decorated for Thanksgiving when
aaaaallllll kinds of secret service guys showed up. That was my first
clue, because Bremer's been here before and his personal security detachment is not that big. Then BG Dempsey got up to speak, and he
welcomed ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez. ! Bremer thanked us all and
pulled out a piece of paper as if to give a speech. He mentioned that the
President had given him this thanksgiving speech to give to the troops. He then paused and said that the senior man present should be the one to give it. He then looked at Sanchez, who just smiled. Bremer then said that we should probably get someone more senior to read the speech. Then, from behind the camouflage netting, the President of the United States came around.

The mess hall actually erupted with hollering. Troops bounded to their
feet with shocked smiles and just began cheering with all their hearts.
The building actually shook. It was just unreal. I was absolutely stunned. Not only for the obvious, but also because I was only two tables away from the podium. There he stood, less than thirty feet away from me! The cheering went on and on and on. Soldiers were hollering, cheering, and a lot of them were crying. There was not a dry eye at my table. When he stepped up to the podium, I could clearly see tears running down his cheeks. It was the most surreal moment I've had in years. Not since my wedding and Aaron being born.

Here was this man, our President, came all the way around the world,
spending 17 hours on an airplane and landing in the most dangerous airport in the world, where a plane was shot out of the sky not six days before. Just to spend two hours with his troops. Only to get on a plane and spend another 17 hours flying back. It was a great moment, and I will never forget it. He delivered his speech, which we all loved, when he looked right at me and held his eyes on me.

Then he stepped down and was just mobbed by the soldiers. He slowly worked his way all the way around the chow hall and shook every last hand
extended. Every soldier who wanted a photo with the President got one. I
made my way through the line, got dinner, then wolfed it down as he was
still working the room. You could tell he was really enjoying himself. It wasn't just a photo opportunity! This man was actually enjoying himself! He worked his way over the course of about 90 minutes towards my side of the room.

Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to shake a few hands. I got a picture
with Ambassador Bremer, Talabani (acting Iraqi president) and Achmed
Chalabi (another member of the ruling council) and Condaleeza Rice, who
was there with him. I felt like I was drunk. He was getting closer to my
table so I went back over to my seat. As he passed and posed for photos,
he looked me in the eye and said, "How you doin', captain." I smiled and
said "God bless you, sir." To which he responded "I'm proud of what you
do, captain." Then moved on.

[TRANSFAT]

what about fake turkey that he posed in the front?

[Spook]

What turkey is that? The turkey he was carving and putting on the plates of GI's? Yeah, he was serving dinner to servicemen unlike LBJ in Vietnam who went there to promise all servicemen that he would bring them home in a year and the war would be over by then too. Bush didn't make empty promises to them...he thanked them for their hard work. People aren't stupid no matter how you guys may think that grunts are dumb. They are some of the most intelligent men and women on the earth and know what is real and what is not real. Do you guys really wish that our servicemen and women have no encouragement whatsoever? It is one thing to hate war but a sacreligious thing to hate the warrior who lays down his life for you. The people who lay down their lives for us love a strong commander in chief because he makes sure they are protected as best as possible. Yeah, they have to fight sometimes, but they are secure in knowing that they are doing what they feel is right no matter what. How soon we forget 9-11, how soon we forget Oklahoma City (home grown terrorists), how soon do we forget the first world trade tower bombings in the early 90's....and by whom are most of the terroristic activities done by? You guys and girls can have all the happy happy joy joy feel good love in your stubborn hearts that you want, but when you are personally attacked, you will never forget and you will have a regret to learn tough love and vigilence again.

Was Iraq harboring terrorists of Al Quaida? WTF? What was the whole northeastern part of Iraq about? It was all terrorist training grounds that also trained Al Quaida and anyone with cash to prove themselves to kill women and babies. If you don't believe terror exists then you better open your eyes before you are long dead without a legacy of a wife, children, and grandchildren my friends.

Funny thing is that I had thanksgiving dinner with a reservist who was a liberal at heart, but he truly believed that Iraq is better off without Hussein or the Ba'ath party, and he was about to be shipped off to Iraq to relieve those who were there wanting to come home for Christmas.

Weapons of Mass Destruction? I guess the Al Massoud missiles that were found doesn't mean crap even if the UN classified them as WMD. I assume it means nothing that the Oil for Food Program which profited the UN Secretary General, France, Germany, and Russia means nothing at all. It was France who did the book keeping after all. It was france and two liberal democrats that got us into vietnam too. It was Truman and Kennedy....yeah, it is typically liberals that get us into messes and conservatives who fixes the things that liberals break.

Hilliary Clinton also went to Iraq and Aghganistan for Thanksgiving too. Think I didn't recognize that as a conservative? I know she went and wouldn't abate an argument over that. She wasn't welcomed very well since she hates the military, but they had to welcome her nonetheless. Its ironic isn't it that she voted earlier in the year to give Bush a unanimous control of broad war power? Why is that? Riddle me that. Tell me that isn't politics.

[kingofthering]

I am thankful every day for the men and women who are fighting and dying to save lives in the future. America is only great because some people still love the idea of freedom and are willing to fight and die for it. I think the following sentiment about sums it up.
It is the soldier , not the reporter whoc has given us freedon of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom of demonstration.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whos coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
--Charles M. Province

[Spook]

Very nice quote KOTR. I'd probably just shoot the person who burns our flag though.

[kingofthering]

Yeah me too, I see too many people in my classrooms who are so confused about the world and what is important, that is to say they never even consider the price that will and is going to continue to be paid for freedom.

Berkeley is filled with liberal profesors who try and feed there students that bullshit rather than teaching them to think for themselves. I am graduating in a week, my last final exam is on Tuesday so no more Berkeley, I am sooooo happy to be leaving this place. Now I just need to find a job

[TRANSFAT]

yeah in berkeley on every corner u can buy a sticker "FUCK BUSH"

[SAC]

all i can say is that i love this country and will do anything to protect her and her people

as for the men and women in the service all across the globe..God bless:up

[MattD]

That is awesome....thanks for that post....anyone who can see that as an ingenuous ploy has lost touch with reality......