Connie Rice and Laura Bush Visit Basra Iraq
Within hours after the Brits declared Basra to be pacified and ready for the Iraqis to take full control Connie Rice and Laura Bush in a surprise visit strolled arm and arm along the main street of Basra and were overheard to state how charmingly peaceful and just plain nice the city had become.
This is the first time in four years that high level Americans have entered the city without full body armor and the protection of at least a dozen or so of highly trained Backwater mercenary security types. You know, the guys with big black sunglasses and huge mean looking automatic weapons.
It is notable that Ms. Rice and Mrs Bush happily walked alone only accompanied by a few media types who out of force of habit were still wearing helmets and full body armour. More than a few photos were taken at this gala photo opp.
Ahhhhhhh! If only the above comments were true. It would then be a wonderful world, elephants would fly, and the American President would say “I told you so” and “mission once again accomplished.”
I watched a slightly nervous looking Connie Rice on BBC today. She was putting a happy face on the British troop withdrawal as you might expect and was basically congratulating Tony Blair and the Brit soldiers for reaching the common objective of getting Basra under control.
At a time when the British are tip toeing away from Iraq and the American President is saying “we need more troops who can surge” I have to give Connie an A for effort. It can’t be easy putting a happy face on a total disaster. But then she serves at the pleasure of the President and as a loyal trooper if he wants a happy face that is what she will try to deliver.
But, man, did she look uncomfortable at that press conference.
