What is Bush up to lately?

[PegLeg45]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/08/11/2398802/former-president-and-first-lady.html

By Pete Alfano

palfano@star-telegram.com

This was a different kind of shock and awe.

As 145 soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan walked through the double doors in Terminal D at DFW Airport on Wednesday for two weeks of R&R, they were greeted not only by their families, but by some special guests.

Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush joined 33 kids participating in the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee's SLANT 45 project to give service members perhaps the most memorable moment since the Welcome Home Heroes initiative started in November 2004.

"Today was one of the best, if not the best day we ever had," said Lt. Col. Patrick McAfee, who has overseen the program for the last three years. "It was phenomenal and the bottom line is that these service members had the shock of their lives. Kids being there gives special meaning to us soldiers, and the president and first lady were there just like regular people."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/08/11/2398802/former-president-and-first-lady.html#ixzz0wOQCyqgq

Photos here:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/08/11/2398802/former-president-and-first-lady.html#article_photos

[fightingquaker13]

Honestly? If Id been returning from Afghanistan I'd consider it an honor. If I'd been coming back from Iraq? The S.S. woud have had to shoot me.
FQ13

[PegLeg45]

 

[crusader rabbit]

May not have agreed with all his policies, and his speeches made me laugh, but "W" had something that's been missing in the office of the current WH resident:  honor. 

It would be quite refreshing to have an element of honor return.  Oh well...  Just over two more years--if we last that long.

Offered by Crusader who's been wishing his life away.

[jnevis]

Honestly? If Id been returning from Afghanistan I'd consider it an honor. If I'd been coming back from Iraq? The S.S. woud have had to shoot me.
FQ13

I think that's a little off base.  Yes, the stated reason for Iraq was based on bad intel, but we are still doing a job that should have been done in 92.  The Iraqi people as a whole, want us there and theink we are doing the best we can, given the soup sandwich we were handed.

Most service members believe we are doing the right thing for the right reasons, and feel that we are leaving to early.  That said, if I walked off a plane after being downrange and saw the POTUS, or former POTUS, standing there to say "Thanks", even the current one would get my respect for doing so. 

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

I think that's a little off base.  Yes, the stated reason for Iraq was based on bad intel, but we are still doing a job that should have been done in 92.  The Iraqi people as a whole, want us there and theink we are doing the best we can, given the soup sandwich we were handed.

Most service members believe we are doing the right thing for the right reasons, and feel that we are leaving to early.  That said, if I walked off a plane after being downrange and saw the POTUS, or former POTUS, standing there to say "Thanks", even the current one would get my respect for doing so. 

Well said, and more polite than anything I thought of typing.

[twyacht]

Well said, and more polite than anything I thought of typing.

Ding!....Either way, Bush not only has honor, respect, and reverence for our troops. He also has what the current POTUS doesn't:

CLASS!

I'll bet 99.9% of those returning troops were damn glad to see him.

[Ichiban]

I'll bet 99.9% of those returning troops were damn glad to see him and not Obummer.

FIFY

[fightingquaker13]

Look guys, I don't want to Hijack this thread and I actually think W was doing the right thing. I would like to see him and the ex- presidents do it. Hell, even Carter would be a morale booster if he showed up at the airport and said "Thanks for your service".

That being said? There is nothing in Iraq that is worth the life of a single American if Saddam stayed within his borders (which he did). Daddy's sanctions, enforced by Clinton, worked. Every dead American can be laid at W's feet. He asked "Is the world better off with Saddam out of Power"?
Who gives a f..k? The real question is whether America is better off for having started that war? The answer is no.
FQ13

[twyacht]

Look FQ, no one is going to change your mindset... How many VIOLATIONS of UN Sanctions, that Bush was very patient in getting, did Saddam violate? Uh, that would be EVERY ONE OF THEM.

Do you remember what the Treaty after Gulf War I stated, AND UN sanctions stated? Uh, we could retaliate, with ANY MEANS!!!

The enabling of terrorist groups, and training facilities in Sadr City, the funding of terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Aksa-Martyrs Brigade, etc,.....all while Saddam's sons, raped, kidnapped, and tortured whoever they wanted, including children.

How many American pilots were shot at patrolling the No-Fly Zone, how many months did we put up with this crap? How many months/ years did we wait for the IAEA, UN to do something?

The IAEA was kicked out of Iraq, several times, and the UN did what the UN does,.....NOTHING!!!!!! Just like Iran today....Same as it ever was isn't it? How long before Iran "pushes" the envelope farther FQ?

So get off the "every dead American thing".....it's uncalled for.

Three kinds of people FQ,

1. Folks that let things happen
2. Folks that watch things happen
3. Folks that MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

take your #2 position, and have another cocktail. Saddam deserved to die in the early 90's when we had him in our sights than.
But we played "nice" trying to appease the Middle East (again)....

Join the Peace Corps, and help some Haitians out. Sheesh...