But no, you can’t have any of it!
There isn’t any debate here, so I’m not posting in GD.
There isn’t even a rant, because I can’t possibly figure out what to say.
I’m just kinda sitting here, laughing my ass off in stupefied amazement.
“If the illusion is real, let it be on your side…”
– The Cars
IMO, the accompanying photo should have been captioned, “Roast turkey being held by jive turkey.”
And it should be viewed side by side with this one.
I can’t believe they wrote a news story about this. In the Post, no less.
When his turkey is done, and his goose is cooked, we will have good reason to give thanks.
I don’t get it. Maybe I’m just being overly cynical in this case, but I don’t quite understand why morale went up (if indeed it did)*. Does the average soldier blindly think that the simple act of his president showing up is a Good Thing? Don’t they at least wonder if they’re being used for political purposes?
I wonder what the average soldier actually thinks.
*Although I have no doubt that whatever they’re thinking, they’re still “talking about” it.
When your superior officer advises you that the Commander in Chief has informed him that your morale has improved, it has. If you disagree, you are entirely at liberty to discuss the matter with the chaplain.
I’m with you, this makes no sense to me either.
From your article: “Officials said they did not know the turkey would be there or that Bush would pick it up. A contractor had roasted and primped the turkey to adorn the buffet line, while the 600 soldiers were served from cafeteria-style steam trays, the officials said. They said the bird was not placed there in anticipation of Bush’s stealthy visit, and military sources said a trophy turkey is a standard feature of holiday chow lines.”
Somebody enlighten me about just what’s so terrible here. These are politicians acting like politicians acting just like the other side would give the same opportunity.
This is a story?
Attryant… hilarious!
Yeah, I don’t see what the big deal is either, and I’m no Bush lover. The soldiers ate from steam trays, instead of being hand-served by Bush? Is that the outrage here?
After Bush causing them to die over lies, this is like saying you don’t like the color of his socks.
It’s time for an official investigation into P.U.M.A. (Props Unexpectedly, Magically Appearing)
Dantheman, I’m sure that some of the troops suspect that they’re being used for political purposes, but when their top boss takes the risk to come see them it makes them feel that he actually does care about them and they’re not forgotten back home. Even if they still feel that they’re being used after that at least a visit from the Prez could make them feel that they’re not complete tools. Not saying it’s logical, just human.
As for the whole turkey shenanigans:
The turkey was real and the article gives no evidence that Bush was unaware that it wasn’t going to be served. Furthermore, even if Bush was unaware that the turkey was going to be served his grabbing it to make a photo op is completely in line with media savvy politicians the world over. Bush was in Iraq to have Thanksgiving with US troops, and that picture sums it up far better than the words do, and give more of spin that’s positive to the White House than just about any article would ever do. It was a prop, and it’s not as if the troops suddenly thought they were going to get a cut of it (all some-odd thousand of them? Yeah, right). You don’t see people getting upset about the President using binoculars to look over the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea, do you? What the hell is gonna see that the military doesn’t? It’s a fucking prop for a photo op.
RT, we’ve met and you know I like you personally, think you’re a salt-of-the-Earth guy, but in the thread about the supposed sighting of AF1 you said:
So what was the point of this thread?
Oops. Change that unaware to aware and that was to wasn’t.
I agree it’s no big deal – it’s just kind of funny, in a “doesn’t this symbolize something?” way.
Daniel
So what happened to the turkey?
For national security reasons the turkey was moved to a non-disclosed location.
It was pardoned. 
Can’t remember where I heard it, but someone once pointed out that Bush has pardoned more turkeys from executions than humans…
See, that’s what happens when you grow up to be good little turkeys and don’t murder anyone.
I’m not sure I completely buy that. A visit from the president is going to make them feel that they’re not complete tools? I think it could have the opposite effect, that they are indeed tools.
Are there any current or former soldiers here now who have seen combat action and can regale us with firsthand anecdotes about this? That is, have any of you served overseas during a time of conflict and been visited by your CINC?