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There were a couple of standing ovations- again, very emotional and deeply felt by all. After he finished his remarks, the President stepped into the crowd, and greeted people for over an hour. Actually more like two hours. He shook everyone’s hand- and made a point of it. He would see someone getting pushed aside and say ‘Hey Sanchez, I’m headed your way.’ And the guys loved him. Adored him. Because they could see he was their guy.
He shook my hand, too! That was pretty exciting. I was with another woman who was a lot more cool about the whole thing than I was and she introduced me to him. Eyes met, hands shook and he moved on. Wow! I’ll tell you- meeting the President of the United States is THRILLING. Especially when you are in Baghdad and totally not expecting it.
One of the other CPA people there was retired General Hugh Tant III. He is a legend to a lot of the guys in the 82nd Airborne, and served in Gulf War I. Now he is over here, running the currency exchange operation. Needless to say, great guy When we found out we were both selected, he asked me to be his ‘date.’ Anyway by the time the President reached our table, General Tant was misty-eyed. If you can call Niagara Falls misty. He reached into his pocket and took out a coin. He told the President: ‘I ate Thanksgiving dinner with your father in Kuwait 10 years ago right before we jumped, and I gave him one of these. Now I want you to have this one.’ The President grabbed him and gave him a huge bear hug- flashbulbs popped. So if you see a picture of the President hugging some random old guy, that’s General Tant. Have to find out more about the coin…there has to be more of a story there….
Condi Rice and Andy Card were there, too. I met them both- Condi Rice asked if we were really surprised- she was getting a kick out of it. We all said ‘Absolutely!’ Andy Card repeated my name and said it was nice to meet me. Forgive me, foreign friends who may not know these names- just know that it really means a lot for these guys to have their comander in chief come out and physically support them. His coming here was a hugely important thing for our troops- all of them- whether or not they were in the chow hall at the airport.
Anyway after the hundreds of handshakes and photographs (my battery died!!!! Can you BELIEVE IT??!!!), he was off. He said a quick goodbye and Happy Thanksgiving and then no-one could leave the airport for an hour until Air Force One was well on its way. I am still glowing
In other news, winter has officially arrived here. The rain has started and all the sand and dust has turned to mud. My pants are perpetually dirty- splattered with mud- and my boots are looking very rough indeed! War is hell.
In the dining hall in the CPA palace, one of the kitchen staff painted a huge mural of the Twin Towers.
I am pretty much used to the attacks at this point- and not really scared of them anymore- at least the way I used to be. I definitely get away from windows, etc. but it seems like the attacks on the green zone at least are launched just for the sake of media attention rather than to actually damage anything or anyone. I will of course continue to be vigilant and safe, and I don’t want to tempt fate by scoffing too much.
Hillary Clinton is coming here tomorrow. For her sake I hope I don’t see her. I might do something crazy like spit in her direction. Actually, General Tant, right before the President came onto the podium, had a funny line. When Bremer said ‘someone more senior,’ Tant turned to me and commented: ‘If Hillary Clinton shows up I am leaving.’ I heard that tonight in Afghanistan, where she is making a stop, the troops were more interested in the food than her. Go figure.
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