Bush makes surprise visit to Iraq

Looks good for morale boosting.

Updated: 25 minutes ago
President’s trip expected to last 5 hours, includes meeting with PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq - President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet newly named Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and discuss the next steps in the troubled, 3-year-old war.

“Good to see you,” exclaimed al-Maliki, who didn’t know Bush was in Baghdad until five minutes before they met at a palace once used by Saddam Hussein.

“Thanks for having me,” Bush responded. They smiled broadly and gave each other a two-handed handshake in the high-domed marble room. The former palace now serves temporarily as the U.S. Embassy.

The first report of Bush’s visit came via Iraqi state television, and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad confirmed the visit with NBC News.

Dramatic move
The prime minister had been invited to the embassy on the pretense of taking part in a video conference with Bush, supposedly at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountins. The videoconference was to go on as scheduled, but with Bush appearing alongside al-Maliki.

It was a dramatic move by Bush, traveling to violence-rattled Baghdad less than a week after the death of terror chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a bombing attack. The administration hoped the elimination of Zarqawi and the completion of al-Maliki’s cabinet would make war-weary Americans look at Iraq in a more positive light.

Aside from al-Maliki and his cabinet, Bush was to see Jalal Talibani, Iraq’s largely ceremonial president. Bush also was to meet with the speaker of the parliament, national political leaders and U.S. troops during his five-hour visit.

Bush flew here secretly from talks at Camp David, Maryland with senior national security advisers who gathered Monday to review how to bolster Iraq’s fledgling government and its capacity to handle the country’s defense.

A risky helicopter ride, more violence
Air Force One landed in hazy daylight at Baghdad Airport, where the temperature was above 100 degrees.

Then, Bush transferred to a helicopter for a six-minute ride into the heavily fortified Green Zone. White House officials said the helicopter ride posed the greatest risk for the president.

Another day of violence marked Bush’s visit — dozens of people were killed or wounded Tuesday in explosions in the northern oil city of Kirkuk, and eight bodies were found in western Baghdad. Al-Maliki pledged “no mercy” in a crackdown against insurgents.

Maliki has won U.S. admiration by promising to crack down on militias and sectarian violence, promote national reconciliation and accelerate reconstruction efforts and restore essential services such as electricity.

Hushed planning
It was Bush’s second trip to Baghdad in less than three years. He visited American troops at Thanksgiving, 2003, in a visit confined to the airport and limited to several hours. That trip also was kept secret.

After a day of meetings at Camp David, Bush had dinner with his aides and Cabinet members and then returned to his cabin. After darkness, he boarded his helicopter and slipped away, flying to Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington for the 11-hour flight to Baghdad.

The trip was known only to a handful of aides and a small number of reporters sworn to secrecy because of obvious security threats for Bush and members of his entourage.

[Frank Kimbrough]

Criminals are known to revisit their crime scenes.........I guess the chimp is no exception.

[Scott Dolan]

It like the ghost of al-Bertson has paid us a visit.

[Coda]

Looks like I'm scratching 'play' off my to buy list.

I figure the Iraqi gov needed assurance that we didn't desert them after killing the terrorist kingpin, stirring up the hornet's nest sorta thing.

[Gentle Giant]

Any chance he bought a one-way ticket?

[Root Doctor]

Originally Posted by Coda

Looks like I'm scratching 'play' off my to buy list.

If you only buy recordings by people whose political views are similar to yours, you'll end up being a Lee Greenwood specialist.

[Scott Dolan]

Or Ted Nugent.

[jesus marion joseph]

Wango Tango, baby!

[tristano's ghost]

Originally Posted by Root Doctor

If you only buy recordings by people whose political views are similar to yours, you'll end up being a Lee Greenwood specialist.

No kidding... there's such a huge contingent of ultra-rightwing jazz musicians out there.

May be a stunt, but I can see the value in Bush's trip.

Come to think of it, he should go to Baghdad every week.

[Coda]

With all the talented piano players to choose from, why should I invest in an artist that comes out with comments like Franks? I think he was looking in the mirror when he made that chimp statement. Now he's the chump. Attention all Jazz musicians, this is a public site. Your comments may affect your sales.

I'll make a donation to the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps in leiu of that CD.

[Scott Dolan]

Gotta love Coda's resolve.

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Gotta love Coda's resolve.

If not that, at least his out-of-focus avatar of another "beauty".

I'm sure that Frank Kimbrough is quaking whilst checking his online bank account.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by tristano's ghost

No kidding... there's such a huge contingent of ultra-rightwing jazz musicians out there.

Judging by this site there are plenty of ultra-right-wing fans--from rednecks to neo-cons and everything in-between.

[Scott Dolan]

Plenty?

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Plenty?

Well, more than there should be, jazz expression being hip and all.

[lynn]

Didn't you people get the memo - artists aren't supposed to voice any political opinion. They are simply required to sit and play pretty. Case in Point - The Dixie Chicks - oh wait a minute - their new album went straight to #1. Could be some left wing code for raise up and crush the right.

I had to laugh when I saw the report on the morning news. He snuck out of his Camp David compound, left his cabinet without notice (they must have thought this was really funny - ole trickster George) and fled the country in the middle of the night. Cheney and Rummy giggling like a couple little girls.

Only in America.

[Coda]

With U.S. ticket sales slow, Chicks head north of border
Concerts may be reset or canceled in some cities

By RYAN UNDERWOOD
Staff Writer

They may not be running for elected office, but the Dixie Chicks appear to be struggling to work out a kind of political map of their own, heading for concert arenas where ticket sales are brisker and the fans may be more forgiving.

The pop-country trio — whose lead singer Natalie Maines set off a firestorm when she criticized President Bush during a 2003 concert in London — announced eight new concert dates in Canada and the Northeast for the first leg of their summer concert tour on Tuesday.


At the same time, at least 12 U.S. sites, concentrated mostly in the South and Midwest, have put ticket sales for shows on hold after they initially went on sale June 3.

Concert dates in cities such as Houston, Jacksonville, Memphis and St. Louis will likely have to be rescheduled or canceled. No cities have been dropped from the tour outright yet, organizers insist.

Ray Waddell, senior editor of touring for Billboard magazine, said while some places were selling only about 5,000 to 6,000 tickets in the first week of sales, tickets in other cities such as Chicago, New York and Philadelphia were selling briskly.

And the group added a second date at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto for late October after its first show there sold out in about eight minutes, Waddell said.

In Nashville, the group has sold more than half of the roughly 14,000 available tickets to its planned Oct. 3 concert at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, said GEC general manager Hugh Lombardi. When the Dixie Chicks played Nashville in 2003, Lombardi said, all the tickets were gobbled up the first weekend of sales.

Full story here: http://www.thetennessean.com/apps/pb...SS01/606140408

Spring Lake must of put them on hold.

[lynn]

Originally Posted by Coda

With U.S. ticket sales slow, Chicks head north of border
Concerts may be reset or canceled in some cities

By RYAN UNDERWOOD
Staff Writer

They may not be running for elected office, but the Dixie Chicks appear to be struggling to work out a kind of political map of their own, heading for concert arenas where ticket sales are brisker and the fans may be more forgiving.

The pop-country trio — whose lead singer Natalie Maines set off a firestorm when she criticized President Bush during a 2003 concert in London — announced eight new concert dates in Canada and the Northeast for the first leg of their summer concert tour on Tuesday.


At the same time, at least 12 U.S. sites, concentrated mostly in the South and Midwest, have put ticket sales for shows on hold after they initially went on sale June 3.

Concert dates in cities such as Houston, Jacksonville, Memphis and St. Louis will likely have to be rescheduled or canceled. No cities have been dropped from the tour outright yet, organizers insist.

Ray Waddell, senior editor of touring for Billboard magazine, said while some places were selling only about 5,000 to 6,000 tickets in the first week of sales, tickets in other cities such as Chicago, New York and Philadelphia were selling briskly.

And the group added a second date at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto for late October after its first show there sold out in about eight minutes, Waddell said.

In Nashville, the group has sold more than half of the roughly 14,000 available tickets to its planned Oct. 3 concert at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, said GEC general manager Hugh Lombardi. When the Dixie Chicks played Nashville in 2003, Lombardi said, all the tickets were gobbled up the first weekend of sales.

Full story here: http://www.thetennessean.com/apps/pb...SS01/606140408

Well that certainly proves that the South has risen. Bush country right?

[Coda]

You are as dumb as Dolan says.

That article was intended to show that the Dixie Chicks are reaping the consequences of their actions. You make a political statement and some folks will react this way.

Also, being close to the record industry you should know that most musicians make their profit through touring, not recording. I bet these Dixie Chicks are feeling it in their wallet. And I bet they had to give up something additional to the record company to just get this latest recording released. These record companies are smart enought to realize that there is additional risk. Additional risk = additional reward.

[Rob C]

I just saw a headline on the screen in my building's elevator: "Bush inspired by Iraq visit".

Wonderful! I'm so happy for him.

[Noj]

Only a person with the shallowest of music tastes would decide whether or not to be a fan of a music act based on that act's political viewpoints rather than the merits of the music itself. Of course, it would take fairly sad taste in music to find the Dixie Chicks' sonic crapola anything but awful in the first place. The Dixie Chicks should have known that their fanbase was a bunch of brainless sheep, but they probably take themselves more seriously than that.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Noj

Only a person with the shallowest of music tastes would decide whether or not to be a fan of a music act based on that act's political viewpoints rather than the merits of the music itself.

Hear hear!!

[rollhead]

I am surprised the coward had the guts to go.

[lynn]

Originally Posted by Coda

You are as dumb as Dolan says.

That article was intended to show that the Dixie Chicks are reaping the consequences of their actions. You make a political statement and some folks will react this way.

Also, being close to the record industry you should know that most musicians make their profit through touring, not recording. I bet these Dixie Chicks are feeling it in their wallet. And I bet they had to give up something additional to the record company to just get this latest recording released. These record companies are smart enought to realize that there is additional risk. Additional risk = additional reward.

oh what's the point

[Noj]

As far as Bush's Baghdad appearance...who cares? He can riverdance across the graves of the thousands of dead people and Bush supporters will call it ballet.

[Scott Dolan]

I guess I'm just not seeing the big deal here, Noj. Originally, it had been scheduled as a video conference from Camp David. Or at least that's what the press was told.

So he ended up going there in person. So what?

[rollhead]

Originally Posted by Noj

He can riverdance across the graves of the thousands of dead people and Bush supporters will call it ballet.

Hey, Noj... I like that!


P.S. What's with the Claude Raines outfit on your avatar?

[rollhead]

Originally Posted by lynn

oh what's the point

Lynn, you are a delightful presence on this site -- unlike those Rush Limbaugh goosesteppers Coda and Scott Dolan.

They are rightwing Wahabbist, rocking back and forth and chanting their mindless nonsense.

Droning on about "values," "liberals," "communists," "free market," etc., words blistered on the inside of their eyelids.

They probably both have calluses on their foreheads from kowtowing on their Ann Coulter monogrammed prayer mats.