Rumsfeld makes surprise visit to Mosul Iraq says Aaron Brown of CNN

[JI7]

breaking news on cnn with aaron brown said rumsfeld made a surprise visit to mosul iraq.

[Sparkly]

1. Sure enough

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20041224/ap_on_re_mi_ea/rumsfeld_iraq

Hoping to raise holiday spirits and demonstrate compassion for soldiers' sacrifices, Rumsfeld landed in darkness and walked immediately from his plane to a combat surgical hospital where many of the bombing victims were treated. The most seriously wounded already have been transferred to a U.S. military hospital in Germany.

Rumsfeld's aides went to unusual lengths to keep his visit a secret prior to his arrival, with only a few reporters and one TV crew accompanying him on an overnight flight from Washington.

In an interview aboard the C-17 cargo plane that brought him to Mosul, Rumsfeld said he'd been planning to visit U.S. troops here long before the deadly attack Tuesday, believed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber.

"The focus of the trip is to thank the troops and wish them a Merry Christmas," he said.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Now there's some holiday cheer.

You're in Iraq and part of your base just got blown up and a bunch of your buddies got killed and it's Christmas and you get a visit from Rumsferatu. Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas. Jeepers.

[Sparkly]

9. Right!

"I'm here to demonstrate my compassion. Well golly, take a picture! My goodness, gotta run now! Good luck!"

Edit: Oops, meant that as a reply to Ocelot, #6. :dunce:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Did he ask any troops for tough questions? n/t

[spanone]

3. Cheap publicity stunt.

[Generator]

4. Wow what a nice Christmas present for the troops

Where are the grinch photos gang?

Rumsfeld as the Grinch-you can do it.

[Ilsa]

5. Oh sure, now that the base is searching everyone down to

their nail clippers and skivvies, Rumsfeld goes to what might be the safest place in Iraq.

(The safest place to eat is usually the restaurant that has been recently fined and is under strict inspections by the dept of Health. Same deal in Iraq.)

[uppityperson]

7. Give him soup for lunch.

[janx]

8. Did he hold a plastic turkey--or a plastic roast beef?

?

[wiggle-room]

10. My first thought - they wouldn't, would they? Staging this would be beyond

even them, right?

He's definitely there for pr, but him visiting the day of/after an attack seems really odd. Its soooo heroic, isn't it? Almost as if it were...well...

Like I asked, they wouldn't have, would they?

[eleny]

11. Kicking his feet and gritting his teeth all the way no doubt

[0007]

12. Hope the troops have more questions for Rumsfeld and his sidekick.

[Aviation Pro]

13. Here's what I would say to him if I was there.

"Hey Grandpa, want to impress me? Get rid of your praetorian guard, don some fatigues, and come out on patrol with us tonight. What's the matter tough guy? Cat got your crotch? You guys talk big in the locker room, but when it comes to lacing it up and getting on the field you turn into so much pussy, asswipe."

[Name removed]

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[Sparkly]

15. Politically?

In terms of covering his ass by "demonstrating" compassion? Sure, a photo-op is great.

In terms of the right thing to do? Resigning would be right thing to do.

[Name removed]

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[InvisibleBallots]

20. Resign? RESIGN??

If Rumsfeld had the slightest shred of decency he would commit suicide to spare his family and country any more shame. Of course, he doesn't have the slightest shred of decency, so I'm sure that won't happen.

[iwantmycountryback]

17. Perfect photo-op time!

Kids tragically blown up while eating lunch. It's Christmastime. Why it's time for a photo op!

[Name removed]

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[tedzbear]

19. Al Franken is already in Iraq entertaining the troops...

...and you don't hear about that from the press.