As Always, They Shall Return To The Scene Of The Crime…
HUGE UPDATE BELOW…
Reuters is reporting on the president’s visit to his “legacy” this weekend:
Bush makes farewell visit to Iraq
By Matt Spetalnick
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – President George W. Bush made an unannounced farewell visit to Baghdad on Sunday, just weeks before he leaves office and bequeaths the unpopular Iraq war to President-elect Barack Obama.
Slipping out of the White House over the weekend, Bush flew secretly to the Iraqi capital to hold talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and address a rally of U.S. troops. …”
(Snip!)
“… The brief visit was meant to showcase recent security gains in Iraq but was also a stark reminder of how heavily the war will weigh on the Republican president’s foreign policy legacy. …”
(Snip!)
“… Mindful of the threat still posed by militants, the White House kept a tight lid of secrecy on Bush’s trip before he landed at Baghdad International Airport.
His movements were expected to be limited to the heavily fortified sites in and around the Iraqi capital. …”
(Snip!)
“… As he prepares to step down, Bush has insisted toppling Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do.
But he said in a recent ABC interview that the “biggest regret” of his presidency was flawed intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. He used that intelligence as a key justification for going to war. No such weapons were found. …”
I see…
Selling hand-picked, faulty intelligence to the American People and Congress in order to invade a sovereign country, causing tens of thousands of deaths and thousands of dead Americans was Surge’s “biggest regret” of his presidency? Unlike Scott Peterson, Surge continues to grin everytime he is near a camera and unlike Scott Peterson, he at least is showing some remorse. And, LIKE Scott Peterson; well; YOU can fill in the blank.
Meanwhile, the New York Times is publishing a well-written report documenting all of the “keystone coppola” of the Bush Administration’s “Big Oil And Nation Buildin’ Bidness” since that fateful day of Surge’s “biggest regret”:
“… An unpublished 513-page federal history of the American-led reconstruction of Iraq depicts an effort crippled before the invasion by Pentagon planners who were hostile to the idea of rebuilding a foreign country, and then molded into a $100 billion failure by bureaucratic turf wars, spiraling violence and ignorance of the basic elements of Iraqi society and infrastructure.
The history, the first official account of its kind, is circulating in draft form here and in Washington among a tight circle of technical reviewers, policy experts and senior officials. It also concludes that when the reconstruction began to lag — particularly in the critical area of rebuilding the Iraqi police and army — the Pentagon simply put out inflated measures of progress to cover up the failures. …”
I see…
No “regrets” there, eh, Surge?
The president STILL insists toppling Saddam Hussein was “the right thing to do” (won’t argue with that one; I just wish it were the Iraqi people who toppled him instead of US); he STILL voices no regrets of his blunders since our troops won the war, i.e. — the “questionably legal” enforcement of U.N. Article 1441 — the ceasefire agreement between “us” and “them”. Shame on you, Surge.
Oh, I’m sure my fellow troops serving over in “The Desert” at this time in Baghdad are just going “wild” over our hero’s so-called “rally” for them. And yes, I’m being a smart-ass. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again; the military has more than its share of brave liberal troops serving over there but don’t rely on Fox News, Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh to admit it. I can just picture those troops over there today trying to suppress their yawns as Surge flaps his gums; highly-URGED to attend his so-called “rally” out of respect.
Enjoy it, Sir. The countdown is tick-tick-ticking down and with Holiday Cheer, I say, don’t let the door hitchya where the Good Lord splitchya. The time has come for Barry “Steve” Obama to have a whirl at it and to hope for the best…
UPDATE:
FOLKS — As it turns out, I was absolutely W-R-O-N-G about Surge’s likeliness to “bomb” over in Baghdad during his “sneaky” Iraq visit — our [ahem... "sitting duck"] president, as it turns out, while perhaps NOT being so popular with our troops DID happen to “wow” the citizens of Iraq; particularly one Iraqi man who offered him a nice pair of shoes for FREE (H/T again to MemeOrandum for the pull…):
Iraqi Journalist Throws His Shoes At Bush During Press Conference In Baghdad (Updated)
“… CNN Baghdad correspondent Michael Ware reports this afternoon that during a press conference with Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, an Iraqi man threw a shoe at Bush — “a grave insult in the Arab world” — but “it just sailed past his head” …
(Snip!)
“… McClatchy identified the man as Iraqi television journalist Muthathar al Zaidi and reports he threw both of his shoes at Bush just after he finished prepared remarks.
The New York Times notes that the first shoe “narrowly missed” and the second shoe also missed. “This is a farewell kiss, you dog,” Zaidi shouted. …” — Think Progress (video provided)
***
Other bloggers weigh in on the latest (just “snips” — read the entire post — I did or I wouldn’t be sharing):
“… Five years ago, the shoes were directed toward statues and images of Saddam. And so “Iraq” moves forward … “
“… The left are sure to get a kick out of this… “
“… Surely, there will be those who argue that Our Wise Leader should have placed his body in the path of the shoe and taken the hit for the flag. …”
“… You know Bush should celebrate this and tell how he brought freedom of the press to Iraq.”
“… Can’t say that I blame the guy for tossing both shoes at President Bush. I’m sure that there are a couple of people right here in the United States that would love the same opportunity.”
“Christmas comes early for the left. …”
“… During the “exchange”, President Bush was smirking the entire time, which should send the lefties into a mini-tizzy. …”
“… As the journalist is swarmed by the people in attendance, I believe you can hear him scream in Arabic: “Don’t tase me, bro!” …
“An unhinged Iraqi journalist fulfills the dream of every MSNBC anchor and NYTimes editorial columnist by throwing his shoes at President Bush… “
[Editor's Note: I've gotta say, I've thoroughly enjoyed some of these reactions from the Right Blogosphere... Keep it up, y'all...]
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1:34 pm on December 14th, 2008 1
I am not sure why we needed to “find” wmds in Iraq, Hussien 1 (as opposed to hussien 2 better known as Barry or by some as steve) had them and used them, ask the kurdish folks, they know all about it. If it is nuclear weapons that you are concerned about, well they are still around too, they were simply moved, Syria, Pakistan, Afganistan even Saudi Arabia, take your pick. Isn’t it far more plausible that a few warheads that can be easily trucked were moved out of Iraq? It wasn’t like they didnt have warning. No Intelligence stated they had an arsenal, but the likelyhood of Hussien 1 having access to a nuclear device was strong. Isn’t that considerably more plausible than this far reaching conspiracy that has been promoted by the left?
Even with these latest revelations of the Retired General Colin Powell showing love of race above love of country, I dont believe he would have blatently lied to congress on the matter, The most frightening aspect of this possibility is that they still have them, but we certainly wouldn’t want to try and find them, that would be admitting that President Bush was correct. Cant have that now can we? So when they show up in a city near you, dont be shocked. Well I guess shock waved would be more apt. Liberals prefer to bitch about removing their shoes at the airport more than actually working to keep the world and the country a safe place to exist.
1:47 pm on December 14th, 2008 2
Howdy GTL,
I figured I’d shorten my screen name, with lower case, now that the elections and THAT tv show is over
Do you know by chance how much profit Halliburton has generated along with Bechtel and Brown & Root since setting up shop, post Sadaam over in Iraq? Maybe since we, as taxpayers are paying for the war and the above companies have made GAZILLIONS in profit in Iraq, they should help pay for all these bailouts! That would be an excellent petition wouldn’t it?
I really enjoyed this article and the previous one on Ronald McDonald/Gitmo by the way…keep exposing/reminding GTL!
NFL time..lata bro
~jerry
2:03 pm on December 14th, 2008 3
GAZILLIONS? Now that is word representative of a well thought out, intelligent statement. your spam filter isn’t working again GTL
2:13 pm on December 14th, 2008 4
vegofish, lol I see you understand satire as much as GTL when you see it
2:15 pm on December 14th, 2008 5
Oh by the way GTL, I’ve got a few articles I’ll send directly to you in a bit that support your articles but I gotta run now…keep it up!
7:32 pm on December 14th, 2008 6
7:36 pm on December 14th, 2008 7
heeeey look at me
smiley facin’ like a pro, just needed a little learnin’, anyway back at ya jerry 
10:00 pm on December 14th, 2008 8
Springer — I like it, bro! Hey, and just post the article links here so everybody can be educated
Vego — love that smiley — and LOL along with Springer on the “spam filter” comment
10:39 pm on December 14th, 2008 9
Virginfish probably ought to get out of mommy and daddy’s basement once in awhile and avoid listening to Neal boortz on the radio in his Pinto. He’d learn a few things.
Chimpletons have sure been tough as long as it has been someone else doing the paying and/or fighting. But just TRY and get one of THEM to sacrifice, or even pay their fair share. Noooo……that’s COMMANISM, man!
12:12 am on December 15th, 2008 10
Yes you can see the fear in the cowards eyes just as during his entire reign of terror. His 1st 4 years were ok, once he got the 2nd his true colors came out. He has put this country and several others in a mess just so he could murder Saddam Hussein. Americans need to wake up and see exactly what these politicians we have trusted to direct us and run our country really are. They lie and cheat and only concern themselves with what the lobbyist want. And what they can take to the bank. We have allowed these crooks to put our country in a mess and they are sitting pretty with their big bank accounts and fancy homes. They “Bail-out” the banks? The banks aren’t hurting! They got money. They want to “Bail-out” the automakers? Who is going to buy the cars they build? Just another lie to excuse giving them money. How about the small people that are losing their businesses and laying off their workers? Bail them out! Wake up America The politicians from Bush all the way down to the small town mayor are crooks, liars and thieves. We will never be in good shape as long as they continue to do as they do. You cannot keep taking when the bucket is empty. You cannot keep taking when it is all gone. But they do! Hold them accountable and fire their asses now. If their paychecks start with “City of, County of, State of or USA” they need to be replaced. They have proven how corruption and greed will destroy all.
2:47 am on December 15th, 2008 11
Jolly, your actually a decidedly unjolly fellow there now arnchya? Always with the mean spirited approach aye?
Well in the words of your liberally liberating liberal messiah, “look”. Isnt it way past time you folks stopped
underestimating the threat to this country’s physical safety and economic well being that is posed by our enemies? Underestiming their intelligence and determination in their efforts to wage war against us on multiple fronts? To assume that we can remain unaffected by their efforts without taking an aggressively pre-emptive position is ridiculously naive and dangerous, These people will not negotiate, they dont know the meaning of “good faith” and they will not relent in their efforts. Not one day in the history of man, since the beginning of human evolution or the time of Cain and Abel, has passed without warfare of one kind or another. History has long since taught us that their is always someone willing to use force to take what you have, both material and abstract. Always will be. To think otherwise is the utmost in naive virginity.
The “we can all get along and hold hands” utopia is myth and fantasy. Boorst is standard fibertarian, some appealing sounding views that are generally impractical if not impossible.
3:04 am on December 15th, 2008 12
and yes indeed jolly the chimpletons have, they have repeatedly tried to thwart the efforts of the folks putting their lives on the line to keep our country and our children safe, after 9/11 some of them worked up enough nutsack to do the right thing, but for most it was short lived courage and they were soon back to their anti-American behavior, voting repeatedly to cut funding for the troops and wishing to tuck their heads in the sand and their thumbs in their butts and wish and hope the bad guys would just go away, kind of Clintonesque really, considering 8 years of that foriegn policy culminated in the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor.