Hey PR types, what if anything, would you have done differently in the handling and planning of Bush’s Bagdhad Bash?
If I was part of Bush’s PR staff, I’d encourage Bush to go all-out and show the world that as Commander-in-Chief, had had a pair and was willing to put his money where his mouth is.
Specifically, I’d have Bush carry out my following 10-point itinerary for improving his public image, instead of puling the little chickensh*t ‘dine-and-dash’ stunt he did.
My 10-point Itinerary for Bush in Iraq would’ve included the following:
The President and his entourage will…
Do a night parachute jump into Iraq from a C-17 Globemaster;
Link up on the ground with troopers from the 101st Airborne;
Proceed to one of their forward-deployed bases under cover of darkness for a Thanksgiving dinner with real grunts and spend the night with them in their facilities;
Do a patrol the next day down “Ambush Alley” in a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (no secret service – only with the infantry and members of media);
Visit a forward base, checkpoint or Observation Post and spend some time with soldiers manning the line (great photo-op);
Take a profile flight in a Blackhawk or Chinook helicopter to survey the city;
Do some baby kissing in one of the safer neighborhoods (great photo-op);
Meet some Iraqi civic leaders for lunch and a tete-a-tete over tea (great photo-op);
Do a meet-and-greet with the soldiers stationed at the Bagdhad Airport (another great photo-op);
Return to the U.S. after at least a 24 hour stay in Iraq.
How about if he turned over all authority in Iraq to the UN and brought as many troops as possible home.
Also it would be cool if he admitted that he lied about the WMDS and apologized for the lives he has taken. Then he should have resigned. That would be a good start.
5 time champ, Your statement is a blatantly false accusation and has nothing to do with the OP. Your insinuation, which is based on your own twisted thinking, is vile, heinous and highly offensive to me.
The OP is based on the notion that a good leader should set the example and lead from the front. It is also based on the notion that a good leader should also demonstrate to his subordinates a willingness to experience and do the same things that are being asked of them to do. This is basic Leadership 101.
I would have insisted they’d use evaporated milk on the mashed sweet potatos. Just so much better that way. Specially when you’re having a Turkey dinner for breakfast.
I also thought giving him that double shot of Bacardi 151 right before he got off Air Farce One was a bit over the top.
Despite its advantages as a political stunt and PR ploy, it was entirely irresponsible. Mr. Bush and I are of an age when gestures of machismo are unseemly, like a portly, balding middle management workadaddy buying a sporty car and a wig and tear-assing around town honking at pretty girls. Its not all that smart when you’re 22, when you’re in your mid-50’s, you simply look foolish. GeeDubya had his chance to show that he had “a pair” in the 'Nam days, he found it inconvenient. Day late, dollar short.
And, dear God, what if something had gone wrong? President Cheney? Renaming everything in sight after Our Fallen Hero? Howls for vengeance? Does this man ever think?
Luci: Nice of you to compare yourself to Bush, but I suspect that he holds a position with slightly more responsibility than you do. There is that whole Commander-in-Chief thing, you know. It does sort of get in the way of youir desk job once in awhile.
From the interviews I’ve seen, even most of his political opponents recognized the value of this visit to the troops over there. I would have preferred he satyed a bit longer-- maybe half a day instead of just 2 1/2 hours, but the actual timeframe is of secondary importance to the visit itself.
All I can tell you is that if any Canadian politician spent as much taxpayer money as that trip must have cost on what was nothing whatsoever beyond a PR stunt/photo op, he or she’d have been roasted on the floor of parliament by opposition members during Question Period for weeks or even months, and rightly so.
How would I have done it differently? Well, if I were in Bush’s position and planned to visit Iraq, I would have made it a substantive visit. One which might have assisted in the resolution of the various problems there. This would naturally have entailed spending a bit more time, and actually doing some diplomacy. Real diplomacy, not the uttering platitudes in front of cameras kind.
According to the TV news reports here, which were pretty much culled from US network new reports,
a) Air Force One approached Baghdad “dark”… supposedly that means without landing lights, or other forms of electronic identification.
b) Only a “handful” of personnel in Iraq knew of the imminent arrival of Air Force One… actually, the number quoted was “five people”.
Considering the area is still a combat zone, either the above actions were incredibly irresponsible, or the reports are bombastic B.S.
I can see the headlines…
Air Force One shot down by Friendly Fire over Baghdad
Overall, I’d say it was par for the course of this administration… grandstanding, PR exploitation of the grunts, going off half-cocked…
Basically, it was a “cowboy” political stunt.
The D.C. chick oughta be ashamed.
If only he’d used the Concorde, then Laura and the kids wouldn’t have been alone while W was puttering along with Condi in baseball caps.
gluteus, and why would they be shooting? There are no hostiles in the air over Baghdad.
As to flying “dark”, you may turn off the lights that illuminate the fuselage for ID purposes and in a moonless night you can’t tell it from any other 747-200 unless it’s virtually in your face – and you can still use the lights required for actual safe navigation and landing. As for Only 5 people knowing, yes, only 5 people knew that 747 is bringing the Prez but you can bet that every Anglo-American ATC and SAM battery around Baghdad knew that was a “friendly” large jet transport 747. Just file the flight plan, set the transponder and perform all unsecured radio calls as something like “MAC flight 0001 Heavy, bringing turkey for troops”. USAF after all have other 747s, and other types of transports dressed in similar colours .
I got the impression it was because there was still danger on the ground. I had heard(I could be wrong), that the area the mess tent occupied had been subject to morter attacks. They were also likely worried that somebody would be firing RPG’s at Air Force One.
It was also mentioned that the news/tapes weren’t allowed to be aired until Air Force One was safely on it’s way back to the US. Likely they were worried that if the tapes were released while he was there, every insurgent in baghdad would have tried to attack that area with morters/rockets/etc in hopes of killing the president.
What I haven’t seen confirmed is if he actually flew the Big blue bird we know as “Air Force One” or some other plane which is less conspicuous, which would, if it were an USAF plane be called AF1 when the Pres was aboard. News reports seem to imply both.
You’re joking, right? You’re aware that the auditor general in Canada can’t even FIND 3 billion dollars? You’re aware that Jean Chretien bypassed all the government procurement laws and ordered himself two new Challenger jets worth 100 million each by placing a personal call to his good friend who happens to run Bombardier, right?
You’re also aware that the majority of the trips flown in those Challengers turned out to be Jean flying to Florida to play golf, right?
The U.S. government, president included, is FAR more fiscally accountable than the Canadian government. The U.S. government would never, ever get away with the levels of patronage and corruption that are rife in Canada.
Cheney already is the prez. w’s the head, cheney’s the chin. Cheney says “jump”, W says “how high” (not because he’s evil as some suggest, but because he is a lowbrow spoiled rich kid who doesn’t spend alot of his time thinking of the complexities of an issue.