Surprise Thanksgiving Dinner at 6 AM?

[dkf]

http://www.counterpunch.org/madsen11282003.html

I may be a bit naive, and it has been a while since I served on active duty, but I can't recall ever sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner at 6:00 AM. Air Force One touched down at Baghdad International Airport, under cover of darkness, at 5:20 AM Baghdad time. Bush was on the ground for two and a half hours, his plane departing Baghdad at around 7:50 AM. Considering that it likely took some 30 minutes for Bush to disembark from Air Force One and travel by a heavily secured motorcade to the hangar where the troops were assembled, that means our military men and women were downing turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and non-alcoholic beer at a time when most people would be eating eggs, bacon, grits, home fries, and toast.

But there on national television, when most Americans were preparing to sit down to their own traditional Thanksgiving dinners, we saw a tape of President Bush serving mashed potatoes and corn to American troops at a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal in the early hours of the morning. What's more, when a clearly exhausted Bush strode around a curtain -- after a "What's My Line" mystery guest routine by Iraq proconsul L. Paul Bremer -- 600 American troops were said to be "shocked and awed" by Bush's surprise appearance. I would have thought most of the troops, many of whom are support personnel who work relatively normal working hours, would have been more surprised when they were ordered to get up before sunrise to eat Thanksgiving dinner between 6:00 and 7:30 A.M.

And the abysmal and sycophantic Washington and New York press corps seems to have completely missed the Thanksgiving "breakfast dinner." Chalk that up to the fact that most people in the media never saw a military chow line or experienced reveille in their lives. So it would certainly go over their heads that troops would be ordered out of bed to eat turkey and stuffing before the crack of dawn.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I think he's got AM and PM mixed up

unless he's saying the news was embargoed for 12 hours after Bush left. Which rather destroys his premise.

[Military Brat]

2. I had wondered about that, too.

Now we know why there was so much cheering when he arrived -- the troops hadn't been up long enough to think clearly. I still think it was very rude of him not to break bread with the troops.

What a sham.

Edit: Now that we know it was p.m., even more rude of him not to break bread with the troops.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. I posted this same article elsewhere

but I think Madsen has got this wrong. This is from the CNN international timeline:

<snip>

• 5:31 p.m. (9:31 a.m. EST): Air Force One touches down at Baghdad International Airport. It is the first time a U.S. president has visited Iraq. The people on the ground at the airport do not know it is Air Force One landing.

In the Bob Hope Dining Facility about 600 members of the 1st Armored Division and the 82nd Airborne Division had gathered for Thanksgiving dinner. The soldiers are anticipating speeches by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, coalition ground commander, and chief civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer. They are surprised when the president appears to deliver an address to the troops and Iraqi people. (Full story)

"I bring a message on behalf of America," the president says. "We thank you for your service, we're proud of you, and America stands solidly behind you." (Complete transcript)

Afterward, following Army tradition, Bush joins senior officers in serving Thanksgiving dinner to the troops. Many soldiers shake the president's hand

Bush later meets with four Iraqi Governing Council members and with Sanchez.

• 7:56 p.m. (11:56 a.m. EST): Reporters reboard Air Force One.

• 8 p.m. (noon EST): Air Force One leaves Baghdad.

<snip>

more...

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/27/sprj.irq.bush.tic.toc/

[FormerOstrich]

4. I'm confused...

On another post someone included this link:

http://users.pandora.be/fishblood/ara/WorldTimeZone.htm

Now as far as I can tell this makes it look like 10 1/2 hours difference (EST to Iraq).

So I'm confused about what time it is. It seems to me before we invaded that about 6:00 - 7:00 pm (MST) would be day break in Iraq.

When I get a chance I'll track down what time it was.

[ShaneGR]

5. oops, he's got AM and PM mixed up

The plane landed about an hour after nightfall, about 5:30 PM.

[grasswire]

6. yeah...

....how embarrassing for those pundits who wrote about it without checking the time zone difference. Post in haste, repent at leisure!

[ShaneGR]

8. Yeah, you'd think he'd double-check to make sure

Seriously, his entire article is based on a time that is wrong.

[Tinoire]

7. Hmmm - Was following the development of this story at FR

where they had advance notification that something big was about to go down.

President Bush is eating in my undisclosed location (UPDATE: Undisclosed location is IRAQ!) ((added later on))

Posted on 11/27/2003 7:37 AM PST by ChiefKujo

President Bush secretly landed an hour ago and is currently eating Thanksgiving dinner at my undisclosed location. Anticipate a press release after he takes off.

with quite a few posts in between until you get this one 2 hours later:

To: Admin Moderator

Way cool...just announced on Fox.

42 posted on 11/27/2003 9:20 AM PST

The times were AM in the states only. I don't understand that Wayne Madsen would make such a mistake, he's an extremely bright and well-travelled man who knows about time diffferences and such. Wonder what else we'll find out about this trip. If Madsen is correct, more information should be forthcoming soon...

Interesting.

[dpibel]

9. On the Deleterious Effects of Trusting the Washington Post

Perhaps Mr. Madsen just took the word of Mike Allen, intrepid embedded reporter. His breathless account, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17481-2003Nov27.html
specifically says this about touchdown:

" A little after 5 a.m. Baghdad time, about 10 hours after takeoff from Andrews, the cabin lights were turned off and all the shades were down. Twenty minutes later, we touched down in Baghdad."

I understand faulting Madsen. Then again, you'd almost expect you could take the word of a rather uppity big newspaper. . .

[Unknown Known]

10. If Allen, the embedded journalist, says 5 a.m. - then, OMG

Why would he say that if it wasn't so? I fear for this guy's life now!

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. he also says the plane left Washington 11pm EST

the flight was 10 hours, so it landed 9am EST. Baghdad is 8 hours ahead of EST, so that's 5pm Iraq time. All the other timings he gives agree with leaving DC late on Wednesday.

The am was just a mistake. If they shoot people for that now, we'll all be dead soon.

[imax2268]

12. Check out what a freeper wrote...

We were having another discussion on another site and check out what this freeper says about that trip...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
So Hillary goes to Afghanistan (why?) and no one speaks of the money she is wasting while she is frolicking around? Then she travels to Iraq and wastes more money...but not one liberal asks why she is wasting this money. Not one liberal is complaining.

But the President makes the same trip into Iraq and its only for a photo op? Does this sound hypocritical or what!

(Name deleted)the president answered your question about attending funerals of our soldiers. He went one step further and stepped on the same soil they are dying on!

The question is this. Why does it infuriate the dems/liberal lips so much?

The answer? Because President Bush stole the fire from Hillary Clinton! When the news reporters were ready to make her front page news, the president took the trip himself and stole the spotlight!

Not to mention those goons running for the Democratic nomination. I didn't here of them once over this Thanksgiving Holiday!

It goes to show...President Bush has the support and the backing to win in 04'...even if the military hater Clinton herself would stand up and run!
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[RummyTheDummy]

27. Actually this fraud was a direct result of Hillary's trip...

After all, it would have been fairly embarassing to Bush Co. to have Hillary go over there while our Chickenhawk emporer is hiding in his fradey hole back in the States. He's still a coward though. Never left the air base.

[diamond14]

13. sunshine streams through window during shrub photo-op (pic)

there is something going on with the truth here...CNN complained about NOT being invited to photo-op, yet publishes a complete running tally of the times...the 'invited' WP reporter states completely different times....checked on CBS and ABC, and none publish any time frames....something funny is going on here...plus the added benefit of shrub's 'dinner' photo-op streaming into America's living rooms during their OWN Thanksgiving dinners is totally inconsistent with the times in Baghdad....

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Except for the woman who is being hugged

those soldiers do not look either happy or excited to have the pResident in their midst. In fact, some of them look downright bored and annoyed.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. Those are the fake soldiers

W is surrounded by secret service dressed up as soldiers. He can't even hang out with his own troops without being surrounded by security.

BTW: The light coming through the window is very blue, most likely morning light.

[diamond14]

23. fake soldiers watching out sunshining windows....(pics)

hard to believe that it is DARK and dinner-time in Baghdad (actual photos showing early morning sunshine)...it also makes no sense based on time zones and actual on-the-scene reporters, as well as no sense for the time to get to Baghdad, and the requirement that NO reports allowed until after AF1 is back in the air....there is certainly something fishy here, and I hope the truth will come out from the actual 'selected' reporters (or were they also sworn to follow the fictional time sequence released by the WH, as well as the other deceptions in this whole fiasco???)....

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. Oops, those aren't windows

They are either vending machines or lights for the cameras.

Searching through the news photos again, there are no pictures of this visit where W is outside. It is not possible to know whether it was night or day from the pics.

[Unknown Known]

15. Yes, thank you. Reason and common sense prevail

There certainly is something fishy about this whole thing. And if it comes from bushco, you can guarantee and take to the bank that it's a fraud!:bounce:

[diamond14]

17. Faux claims shrub returned to DC just after midnight Friday morning

at these speeds and these time frames... it seems that the "meal" would have to been in the morning....the evening 'meal' just doesn't work....Faux also states that reporters were notified on TUESDAY night, which would be consistent with leaving at night early Wednesday to arrive in Baghdad for breakfast, and the beautiful morning light streaming through the windows in the photos....there were reports that shrub left before pappy bush arrived for dinner, which is also consistent with leaving EARLY Wednesday, not at dinner time...



-snips-

The president returned to U.S. soil early Friday, as his plane landed at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington shortly after midnight, before continuing on to Texas to complete the dramatic journey.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,104246,00.html


"Now, the plane was cruising at an average speed of 665 mph, Baghdad or bust."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17481-2003Nov27_2.html


Card invited two reporters on the trip Tuesday night on the condition that they keep it secret.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,104249,00.html

[wabeewoman]

18. Wonder if all the troops ate dinner

for breakfast? Or if there was another reason why these troops were-like duty? If not, it rather strengthens the argument it was a political photo shoot, eh??

[RevolutionStartsNow]

19. I'm confused

Was Bush there at 6 am or 6 pm? Not that it matters, but I am deadly curious. I've seen timelines that say it must have been pm, based on when the news broke, but then again, it looks like morning in that photo with the light streaming in.

What's the deal? Someone give us a once and for all.

[Occulus]

25. "Not that it matters"

Oooohhh, but it does. If he was there early in the morning and served Thanksgiving dinner for breakfast, it shows exactly how much regard he has for the well-being of his men.

None. Remember, he has yet to attend a fallen soldier's funeral.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

26. He's pathetic

but I meant it doesn't matter because I don't think he has any regard for the troops either way. If he was there at dinnertime instead of 6 am, I won't think any more highly of him or of this ridiculous stunt.

Either way it was stupid and not for the good of the troops in any way.

[Don_G]

20. Here's A Quick Way To Check

The link will provide a quick, visual reference to time anywhere in the world...with a sidebar on "Bush Lies."

Link: http://www.die.net/earth/

[kskiska]

21. When are holiday meals customarily served in the armed forces?

Lunchtime or dinnertime?

[ConsAreLiars]

22. It was AM here and PM there - don't be so gullible

I watched the first "breaking news" at those times.

[havocmom]

24. Eight hours difference between Baghdad and New York

I didn't have news on the tellie. What time was it they broke the news about him being in Iraq?

Edited to add this link:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

[diamond14]

28. shrub turns away sobbing in front of REAL troops...pathetic....(pic)

[Cronus Protagonist]

33. I bet the whole room was disgusted with his reaction

Makes him look so weak when his image is supposed to be "bold and brave".

And his brother, John, the governor of Florida weeps at the click of a shitter, I mean shutter.

FUCK BUSH Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[Tinoire]

29. Do you guys remember that story that if word got out

that they were on that plane on their way to Bagdhad that they would have the plane turned around?

I just realized something... They would have done the same returning. There's no way they would have let anyone know Bush was flying until he was safely back in the states, on the gound and in a secure location.

Madsen is a 20 year NSA intelligence analyst. Something smells big time with Bush's timeline.

I'll do the math in my sleep :)

[muriel_volestrangler]

32. once he was out of range of ground missiles in Iraq

they'd be OK for the story to break. They're not worried about Greece launching an attack against Air Force One, for God's sake.

Here's the maths (because I'm British), one more time:

WP reporter told at Wednedsay 3:45pm Texas time; meets at 5:30pm Texas time. Flies to DC; 2nd plane is ready at 10:45pm EST. Happy so far? AF1 takes off 'about 10 minutes later' - say 11pm EST; about 10 hours later (believable for a 747 - typical New York - London times is slightly under 7 hours) they turn the lights off for landing at Baghdad. This is 9am Thursday EST: ie the sun is to the south-east in New York (overhead somewhere in the mid Atlantic). This is to the west of Iraq - ie the sun is setting in Iraq. Or you can work it out from the various time zone web sites - Iraq is 8 hours ahead of DC (it's to the east, but not across the International Date Line), so you add 8 hours to 9am to get Baghdad time - 5pm. The plane lands 20 minutes later.
Bush pootles around in the Baghdad International Transit Lounge for 2 and a half hours, before catching his return flight home at about 8pm Iraq time. Going east-west normally takes a little longer (against prevailing winds), so say this section takes 12 hours. Leaving at midday DC time, it arrives at midnight DC time.

Clear?

As for the 'windows': look at the pics in amen1234's post no. 23. The top pic has a white rectangle that is not parallel to the sloping wall - it looks like it's in front of the wall. The bottom pic has a curved white surface, above a lit area with some grids visible in it, and a side at right angles to the front of the lit area just visible at the right hand side of the picture. I's suggest these are cooler display cabinets for soft drinks, as found in cafeterias across the world.

There really is no puzzle here. Please don't try to make it into one - DU would just end up looking foolish.

[Tinoire]

35. You know- I'd rather 1 poster at DU look 'foolish' for asking questions

out of total mistrust for this administration, than snitty.

Clear?

Your tone was quite unnecessary.

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. Sorry if you took the tone as 'snitty'

it was typed as 'frustrated'. 6 posters, including yourself, had given good reasons for believing it should be 5pm, yet the idea that there was a big coverup going on was continuing.

[Tinoire]

42. Gee, all those "coolers" bringing forth so much light

It starts off like this





then all these "coolers" magically appear bringing forth light



And here is just about where God says "Let there be light!"



You may choose to believe Fox News stories and their semblance of logical sense... I prefer to keep my options open- especially with this administration.

[diamond14]

30. shrub forcing himself on Black Soldier...how pathetic (pic)

shrub forcing himself on a Federal Employee, an American Soldier...what a horrible example for all those soldiers...a boss kissing his employee, pulling her toward himself...this behavior would get most Federal employees FIRED quickly....

[Andy_Stephenson]

31. ACK!

Just say no Girlfriend! He has cooties!

[Code_Name_D]

34. Question: We we actualy know these pics were taken in Iraq?

There seems to be some time discrepincy going on here, but one way to salve this time discrepency is to have Bush some in the contental US at the time. I am not familer with the details, but could this be a posibility?

[Tinoire]

36. That would be quite a stunt - Freepers blew the security on this early

I think he really went especially since 1 DU poster recognized her nephew in the picture. Not that this is much proof but the whole thing unfolded gradually at FR with a 2 hour tease by someone in named ChiefKujo who most people at FR pretty much know is in Iraq due to his previous posts.

He posted this at 7:37 AM

Posted on 11/27/2003 7:37 AM PST by ChiefKujo

President Bush secretly landed an hour ago and is currently eating Thanksgiving dinner at my undisclosed location. Anticipate a press release after he takes off.

ChiefKujo

Then there were teases along the lines of

just wait and watch the news in a few hours... (same poster)

countered with

Your previous posts would imply that the "undisclosed location" is .

Would you please be kind enough to have the moderator remove this Terrorist-informing tidbit?

Never mind, I'll do it.
--

Big "BUMP!!!" at 9:17 AM by the original poster

and the story breaks with a "Way cool, just announced on Fox"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1029949/posts

You have to wonder about such a security breach. Sounds rather strange doesn't it?

Not very bright considering tight security and it surprises me that those posts remained because this was 'supposed' to remain quiet until he at least 2 hours after Bush had taken off which means this guy was blabbing a full 3.5 hours too early.

====

Hmmm, further research indicates they were "teasing" even before.

Yes, it's true.

It will be here, on Baghdad Int'l Airport for Thanksgiving Dinner along with that jerk from RI, (Reede I think it is).

We must attempt to contain the BOOs.

Also just learned that we'll be having a suprise guest. We think it maybe X42, but aren't sure. ((X42 seems to be Hillary judging by following comments))

32 posted on 11/26/2003 8:02 AM PST by ChiefKujo

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1029337/posts

[RamboLiberal]

38. Too funny that a Freeper blew the tight security

Will someone sic Asscroft on them please. :evilgrin:

[Tinoire]

39. Oh the irony

;)

[diamond14]

41. FAA stopped 'web page' air pilot advisorys, Wed. 02:56 AM

FAA stopped air pilot web advisories on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 at 02:56 AM and started their web page advisories again at 11:48 AM. By using only phones, FAA prevented anyone from knowing about the pResident's travels across America.....and if the shrub left USA airspace at about 11 AM, 11/26/03, Wednesday, then he would arrive about 5 AM in Baghdad on 11/27/03 Thankgiving day.

02:56 AM Wednesday 11/26/03
THE TCA/USER WEB PAGE FOR USER REQUESTS IS NOW CLOSED.
PLEASE RESUME USING THE NORMAL PHONE LINES FOR CONCERNS.
http://www.fly.faa.gov/advisories/adv_otherdis_sys.html?number=8&day=11262003


11:48 AM Wednesday 11/26/03
THE TCA/USER WEB PAGE FOR USER REQUESTS IS NOW IN USE FOR THOSE
USERS WITH ACCESS TO IT.
.
USERS MAY SEND THEIR REQUEST MESSAGES AND THEY WILL BE RESPONDED
TO ACCORDINGLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADEQUATE INFORMATION WITH YOUR
REQUESTS (CALL SIGN, CURRENT POSITION OF FLIGHT, DESTINATION,
CATEGORY OF ISSUE, ETC) TO ELIMINATE ANY MISINTERPRETATION.

http://www.fly.faa.gov/advisories/adv_otherdis_sys.html?number=12&day=11262003

[Tinoire]

43. Zulu Times??? n/t