column - richmond dispatch: Bush visit to Iraq just for show

[salin]

Bush visit to Iraq just for show

MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Dec 1, 2003

We were watching a dog show early Thanksgiving afternoon when NBC cut in with "breaking news" - President Bush had sneaked into Iraq to visit the troops.

Our first reaction was, "Bring back the canines before we miss the 'Best in Show' award!" Then it occurred to me that we were witnessing it.

This was a public-relations extravaganza - a masterstroke on a slow news day for a nation with senses dulled from eating too much turkey.

-------snip

I don't understand how a commander-in-chief who was so impatient to put our troops at risk in Iraq could be so skittish about putting himself "in harm's way."

I can't grasp why the president had to wait until Thanksgiving - and one day before Clinton's visit - to boost the morale of our beleaguered soldiers.

more: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031772380850&path=%21news&s=1045855934842

[dreissig]

1. A Tactical Error

We've known for a long time that Bush is sneaky, but the people who voted for him think he's upfront and straightforward. It wasn't a good idea for Bush to let them catch him in a deception, even a harmless one like heading off for Crawford and ending up in Baghdad. It's a tactical mistake to put so much effort into doing something just to say you did it.

Today's attack on a U.S. convoy was an attempt to exploit Bush's mistake. The effort failed, but it shows that Iraqi resistance pays attention to public relations. Eventually a PR gesture such as the 2-hour presidential visit will precede something horrible, and Bush will have to explain his motives and methods.

[Nay]

2. I love this Williams guy.

He's the only bright spot in an otherwise right-wing mullet-wrapper of a newspaper we have here in Richmond, VA. He has no use for fools like Bush. I've e-mailed my appreciation to him for his insight many times, and he is a nice guy who will respond to your e-mail.

[Myra]

3. This is a kick ass commentary, so I'll give it a...

Kick (ass)