Bush thanks soldiers in rehearsed talk (AP) Updated: 2005-10-14 20:21
On preparations for the vote, 1st Lt. Gregg Murphy of Tennessee said: "Sir,
we are prepared to do whatever it takes to make this thing a success. ... Back
in January, when we were preparing for that election, we had to lead the way. We
set up the coordination, we made the plan. We're really happy to see, during the
preparation for this one, sir, they're doing everything."
On the training of Iraqi security forces, Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo from
Scotia, N.Y., said to Bush: "I can tell you over the past 10 months, we've seen
a tremendous increase in the capabilities and the confidences of our Iraqi
security force partners. ... Over the next month, we anticipate seeing at least
one-third of those Iraqi forces conducting independent operations."
Lombardo told the president that she was in New York City on Nov. 11, 2001,
when Bush attended an event recognizing soldiers for their recovery and rescue
efforts at Ground Zero. She said the troops began the fight against terrorism in
the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and were proud to continue it in
Iraq.
"I thought you looked familiar," Bush said, and then joked: "I probably look
familiar to you, too."
Paul Rieckhoff, director of the New York-based Operation Truth, an advocacy
group for U.S. veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, denounced the event as a
"carefully scripted publicity stunt." Five of the 10 U.S. troops involved were
officers, he said.
"If he wants the real opinions of the troops, he can't do it in a nationally
televised teleconference," Rieckhoff said. "He needs to be talking to the boots
on the ground and that's not a bunch of captains."
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