Bush go to Iraq, for what?

[bigtree]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush regularly reminds Americans that he is the "commander in chief", but nobody expects to see him with US troops in Iraq any time soon.

Despite his high profile trip to Afghanistan this week, Bush knows he has little to gain by going to Iraq, experts said.

"Go to Iraq, for what?" asked Judith Kipper, an expert on the Middle East at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank in Washington.

"He basically uses the troops as a scenery, as a backdrop to put out his message of continuing his occupation in both Iraq and Afghanistan - many of the troops who are ordered to sit there, probably disagree with what they're doing over there."

article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060302/ts_alt_afp/usafghanistaniraqbush_060302165931

[JuniperLea]

1. Dumb

But hey, it's his life he's putting in danger... this time.

I can imagine the protests...

[Arkansas Granny]

2. Besides, he didn't bring any plastic turkeys on this trip.

[bigtree]

4. funny though

the same guy who orchestrated the turkey trip did this one . . .

March 1, 2006

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan and Joe Hagin En Route Afghanistan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan

MR. McCLELLAN: Now. That's what I came back here for. Joe is with me, but we're going to be stopping in Afghanistan. That is where we are headed right now. We will be landing at Bagram Air Force Base, and then when we get there, we will be going to Kabul, to the presidential palace, where the President and President Karzai will participate in a meeting. Following that, there's going to be an expanded meeting with delegations from both countries. It's a working lunch.

Then following that, the President will be going to the U.S. Embassy for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. The embassy has actually been up and running for a while, but this will be a ceremonial ribbon cutting to officially open the embassy there. And then following that, we will return back to Bagram Air Force Base, and the President will make remarks to U.S. and some coalition forces that are there at the base. And then we will get back in the plane and head to India, and continue with our schedule there.

Q What's the total time on the ground?

MR. McCLELLAN: About four hours, is that correct.

MR. HAGIN: I think it's four, but I will check.

MR. McCLELLAN: Joe will tell us in just a second. This is something that initially, and, Joe, correct me if I'm wrong, but Joe brought this to the President and Andy Card about eight weeks ago or so, the idea of going to Afghanistan while we were headed to India and Pakistan. And for about the last month, Joe and a number of other people have been quietly working to put all the details and logistics together for this trip.

Is there anything to add to that, Joe?

MR. HAGIN: No, that's about it.

Q Can we file this now?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, not until we land.

MR. HAGIN: Embargoed until we land.

Q What's the objective?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, this will be the President's first visit to Afghanistan. He's looking forward to it. And Afghanistan is a good friend and ally. And we have very strong relations with the government in Afghanistan, and the objective is to continue to build upon the strong relationship that we have with Afghanistan, and also to show our strong support for a young and emerging democracy.

Q The security risk, how serious --

MR. McCLELLAN: There are security precautions that are taken, and we're confident in the security precautions that have been taken. One of those was not informing you of the trip until now.

Q Big surprise.

MR. McCLELLAN: Did you figure out how many hours?

MR. HAGIN: It's about five hours.

MR. McCLELLAN: About five hours on the ground.

Q We're going to hear him speak only to the troops?

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. After the working lunch with President Karzai and the delegations they will participate in a press availability. I expect it will be similar to other formats, where they'll each take a couple of questions.

Q How long is the flight? Do you know what time --

MR. McCLELLAN: It's about a seven hour flight there, from whenever we took off, about 8:45 p.m. or so.

MR. HAGIN: Land at 12:35 p.m. arrival, roughly.

MR. McCLELLAN: Afghanistan time.

Q -- know we're going there?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, this is the first announcement to the press corps. You all are the first. And as Steve said, he let you know first, as he promised.

Q Can we do a wire call just to -- on an embargoed basis?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, not until we land. As soon as we land you can call it in.

Q I'm not sure how my phone is going to work.

MR. HAGIN: It should work.

MR. McCLELLAN: It's embargoed until we touch down, but when we touch down, you're free to call it in.

MR. HAGIN: If your phones aren't working, we'll lend you a phone.

Q About four weeks --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Joe brought this to the President and Andy Card about eight weeks ago, roughly --

MR. HAGIN: I don't remember exactly, but it's been a while.

MR. McCLELLAN: Eight to 10 weeks ago, probably.

MR. HAGIN: It's about the time we agreed to do this trip to India and Pakistan. Once we blocked that in --

MR. McCLELLAN: And then for the last month, Joe has been working on it, along with a number of other people. I don't know if you want to add anything to that?

MR. HAGIN: Military office and Secret Service.

Q Have you been there?

MR. HAGIN: I went with Mrs. Bush a year ago.

Q Who else? She's been, and then Cheney's been, right? Who else has been?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Condi --

MR. HAGIN: I'm pretty sure Secretary Rice has been.

MR. McCLELLAN: We'll double check with her. And Secretary Rumsfeld, yes.

Q Has another American President been to Afghanistan?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll have to check that.

MR. HAGIN: We'll have to do a little research on that.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060301-2.html

[Hubert Flottz]

3. When the Council on Foreign Relations starts busting Bush's...

chops he is in BIG Twouble! Even the hard core one world government crew is bad mouthing the Chimperor? I never thought I'd see the day.