Did Bush's Australian lap dog almost get shot down over Iraq? Sounds like it

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21404843-601,00.html

Howard stays calm as plane fills with smoke

Dennis Shanahan, Kuwait
March 19, 2007

JOHN Howard overheard every development in the drama as smoke and fumes filled his C-130 Hercules transport while flying over Iraq on Saturday.

Sitting in the cockpit with the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Ben Poxon, the Prime Minister was wearing earphones plugged into the plane's intercom system.

Mr Howard, who was rushed off the plane after an emergency landing at Tallil, southern Iraq, said yesterday he never thought it was an attack and felt more confident because he could hear what was happening.

"I felt completely confident the RAAF would handle the thing well," Mr Howard said.

"They said they could see some smoke, I didn't for a moment think it was an attack, I just assumed it was something to do with the functioning of the aircraft."

Although the smell infiltrated the cockpit, it did not fill with smoke. There was no advice yesterday on what had caused the smoke and forced the emergency landing.

[BayCityProgressive]

1. wow craziness

talk about a close call. I guess now he knows what it feels like to actually be stationed there.