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03/10/2004 Archived Entry: "Preznit taek away soljerz turkee."
Preznit taek away soljerz turkee.
(Apologies to Atrios for appropriating the 'turkee' meme, but it works in this case.)
The president's ballyhooed surprise trip to Baghdad on Thanksgiving, widely admired as a cunning political move at the time, just gets more disturbing the more you know about it. A U.S. soldier back from Iraq gave an interview to Intervention Magazine about what went on the day before the president came to town:"Stationed in the area of the Baghdad Airport at the time of President Bush's Thanksgiving 2003 visit to the troops there, recounts that on the day before the president's visit, the troops were given a questionnaire that asked them whether they 'supported the president.' Those who did not declare their support with sufficient enthusiasm were not permitted to take part in the Thanksgiving meal, and had to make do with MREs (meals ready to eat, referred to by the soldiers as 'meals refused by Ethiopians') in their quarters."
The "pre-screening" of U.S. soldiers was also reported in Stars and Stripes, although the military paper said the soldiers were screened for security reasons. This is also the same dinner, recall, in which Bush proudly raised a too-good-to-be-true "trophy turkey" for his photo-op.
Cute. Pledge your alliegance to Caesar, or no turkee for you.
Replies: 16 people speak up
This was probably the only time in his life Bush has been a legitimate ANYTHING and it turns out to be a 'turkee'...
Posted by lonestar @ 03/10/2004 02:21 PM NY
"Pledge your alliegance to Caesar."
Well, at least Caesar (Gaius Julius, that is) had actual military experience and was wildly popular among his legionnaires.
Had it been Bush instead of Caesar, I guess we'd all be speaking Barbarian by now.
Posted by Metropolitan99 @ 03/10/2004 02:31 PM NY
As a military veteran once in consideration for a presidential assignment, I can assure you that this type of questionnaire is not atypical. When you consider that an american soldier lobbed a handgrenade at his command tent because he was pissed off, it is not farfetched to believe someone (yes, even an american soldier) might take a similar opportunity with the Commander in Chief. If you and your minions had one ounce of objective thought among you, this would be patently obvious.
I wouldn't give two cents to be you or one of your sycophants. It must be miserable to be eaten up with such hate.
Posted by Murphy @ 03/10/2004 04:17 PM NY
As a military veteran once in consideration for a presidential assignment, I can assure you that this type of questionnaire is not atypical. When you consider that an american soldier lobbed a handgrenade at his command tent because he was pissed off, it is not farfetched to believe someone (yes, even an american soldier) might take a similar opportunity with the Commander in Chief. If you and your minions had one ounce of objective thought among you, this would be patently obvious.
I wouldn't give two cents to be you or one of your sycophants. It must be miserable to be eaten up with such hate.
Posted by Murphy @ 03/10/2004 04:17 PM NY
As a military veteran once in consideration for a presidential assignment, I can assure you that this type of questionnaire is not atypical. When you consider that an american soldier lobbed a handgrenade at his command tent because he was pissed off, it is not farfetched to believe someone (yes, even an american soldier) might take a similar opportunity with the Commander in Chief. If you and your minions had one ounce of objective thought among you, this would be patently obvious.
I wouldn't give two cents to be you or one of your sycophants. It must be miserable to be eaten up with such hate.
Posted by Murphy @ 03/10/2004 04:17 PM NY
Murphy,
Many thanks for the triple-post. And yes, you're right, I am a mindless minion of Blah3, who controls his legions of drones by way of 930 GHz ultra-violet radio waves emitted from a tower in an undisclosed location.
Apparently you haven't taken the time to notice that our beloved President Achilles ALWAYS speaks to pre-approved audiences. You might also want to observe that the Chief Executive Officer of the Most Powerful Nation on Planet Earth has some difficulties in speaking the English language with even a modicum of coherence.
No, I'm not "eaten up" with hatred, rather I feel great sorrow. Sorrow for our poor Republic lead by such an obvious lying, cowardly, incompetent Nincompoop.
Posted by Metropolitan99 @ 03/10/2004 04:35 PM NY
Oh, yeah, Murph, post it 3 times. That's really boost your point.
I'm not 'eaten up by hate' - I'm actually a pretty happy guy. Don't make assumptions about people you don't know. Didn't your mom teach you that?
Posted by editor @ 03/10/2004 04:38 PM NY
I find it highly ironic that the editor is being accused of hatred, when it's the GOP that wants to write discrimination into the Constitution. Pot, meet kettle.
Equally ironic is the implication that the readers here don't think for themselves, considering the actions of the current administration in squelching any opinions it doesn't like, whether it's scientific, political, military, etc. The man tried to cover up an unfavorable (understatement of the year) Pentagon report on global warming, leaked the name of a CIA agent whose husband was critical of the administration, and refused to fully cooperate with the 9/11 commission. If Bush had his way, we'd all be part of a Borg-type collective, mindlessly repeating the party line. In fact, I'm surprised he hasn't used that in his campaign--Bush/Cheney '04: Resistance is Futile!
Posted by Tina @ 03/10/2004 06:35 PM NY
Tina,
Remember, the United Federation of Planets ultimately prevailed against the Borg. Resistance is NOT futile! God bless you, Capt. Picard, wherever you are.
Posted by Metropolitan99 @ 03/10/2004 07:00 PM NY
Metro,
Actually, I believe it was Capt. Janeway (sp?) who defeated the Borg once and for all. (Somehow I know that, even though I watched Voyager a grand total of once, and it wasn't that episode). Capt. Picard DOES rock, though!;-)
Posted by Tina @ 03/10/2004 07:38 PM NY
Before I got sidetracked by Murphy, I meant to say:
"no turkee for you"
Does that make Bush the Turkee Nazi?
Posted by Tina @ 03/10/2004 07:43 PM NY
" the military paper said the soldiers were screened for security reasons"
Yeah, well....... you can understand that they'd be afraid that a squad might get together and frag him. It would've been irresponsible for them to let them close to the asshole who sent them to that hell and got their best buddy killed for absolutely nuthin'.
Posted by Thurber Hamm @ 03/10/2004 07:45 PM NY
This is for Murphy. That is nice that you were in the process of a presidential assignment, which means that you were an ass-kissing puke of an officer who probably had you nose in more brass ass than anything. Gee, if they have to fill out a questionnaire about their loyalties and it is for "security," what does that have to say about the morale over there? Pretty shitty if Joe wants to frag the C-in-C. Murphy, let's just call this what it really was, a publicity stunt in front of joes who were vetted for their allegiance to the president. You smoking crack if you are thinking any different. As a member of the active duty military, I find that type of crap ridiculous. Gee, if security was that bad, did Joe have to fill out a form for every VIP/Brass hat that waltzed into the airport. Murphy, I'll just say this once: You are a lying, opportunistic hack, who probably never left the halls of the Pentagon. Talk about a fucking sycophant, you probably pulled that word from your OER, you rotten bastard.
Posted by gb @ 03/11/2004 05:44 AM NY
Murphy:
As a former military that was *accepted* for presidential support duty, please allow me the opportunity to state that you're full of shit.
Those under consideration for presidential support duty undergo the most gruelling FBI background investication known to mankind (investigation back to birth, more or less, and every friend and associate they can find, rather than the 15 years or so required for Top Secret clearance). Additionally, successful candidates won't even get that far unless thier record reflects exemplary performance from the moment they step out of boot camp or OCS. If you don't have constent 4.0's for the last five or so years, forget it. These factors combined more or less guarantee someone that is reliable and honorable enough to do the job regardless of political purity. Implying that such a member of the military would turn his or her back on thier sworn duty is shameful.
GB:
Your perceptions are as skewed as Murphy's. As one that served honorably I take great exception to your comments. You need to take off your 60's colored glasses and come to the understanding that not all that serve willingly are carrying any agenda other than to simply serve thier country, and the rights of people like you and Murphy to be jerks in public forums.
You got a beef with Murphy, fine. But quit painting with such a broad brush. Totally sloppy.
Posted by grimmtooth @ 03/11/2004 08:39 AM NY
Grimmtooth,
Your post indicates you think GB has never served; did you miss the part where he stated he IS a member of the military?
"As a member of the active duty military, I find that type of crap ridiculous."
Posted by Tina @ 03/11/2004 08:57 AM NY
Hey Murphy, as "a military veteran once in consideration for a presidential assignment" what was it that made them rejected your ass? Too sycophant? Dumb-ass? Partisan? flat feet?
Grimmtooth, I respect your position.
Posted by Andy @ 03/11/2004 11:58 AM NY
