Bush: War in Afghanistan is "Exciting;" "Romantic"

by: Brandon Friedman

Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 10:29:33 AM EDT


In a videoconference with U.S. military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan on Thursday, President Bush said this of the ongoing war there:

"I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed."

"It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks," Bush said.

So there you have it: We've finally obtained empirical evidence proving that President Bush has absolutely no idea what war is all about.  A Commander-in-Chief with such a child-like view of combat is in no way fit to lead America's Armed Forces during a time of conflict.  Most of us in the military have known the President was clueless on military matters, but I don't think many of us could have foreseen his statement that "confronting danger" in Afghanistan is "in some ways romantic."  

Having served in eastern Afghanistan myself, I can assure you that there is nothing romantic about being decisively engaged with Taliban and al Qaeda elements for 15 months at a time.  It's a shame President Bush didn't also feel that Vietnam "would be a fantastic experience," because if he'd chosen not to avoid service during that conflict--or if he'd even read a book about war--he would likely not think to publicly describe the war in Afghanistan as "exciting."  

In the military, we don't need his jokes, his platitudes, or his thanks.  We need tangible support for the war against extremists in that part of the world.  And while President Bush thinks it would be a "fantastic experience" to fight in Afghanistan, it is anything but fantastic for our troops currently there.  They are undermanned and under resourced because of the war in Iraq.  

If President Bush had any sense at all, he'd refocus our military efforts away from Iraq, so that we could once again take the fight to Osama bin Laden and those who attacked us on 9/11.  Unlike the Commander-in-Chief, those of us in the military haven't forgotten our national priorites.  
Brandon Friedman :: Bush: War in Afghanistan is "Exciting;" "Romantic"
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Bush: War in Afghanistan is "Exciting;" "Romantic" | 24 comments
If I were young enough to serve... (4.00 / 1)
... I'd volunteer to go to Iraq. But I wouldn't wear the traditional uniform, nor would I ride in a Humvee. I'd dress like Lawrence of Arabia and ride a camel. That'd be really cool and, heck, downright romantic! I love that movie! Being in a war is a lot like being in a movie, isn't it?
Just like a movie! (0.00 / 0)
  Heck, I didn't wan't to leave Iraq...it was just as funny as MASH portrayed things. What a barrel of laughs!

 Seriously, tho, GWB's recent comments are utterly infuriating.

 What's really 'romantic' is that he embarked - correctly - on a war in Afghanistan, then took all the assets away to go fight a misguided war in Iraq.

IV

 

[ Parent ]
like Romeo and Juliet... (0.00 / 0)
A romantic tragedy.

I'm on twitter.
[ Parent ]
Tragedy: The key word (n/t) (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
If I were slightly younger... (0.00 / 0)
If I remember correctly, when he was slightly younger and unemployed, GWB did have the chance to go to war. Apparently Vietnam wasn't romantic or fantastic enough for him.

I will give him some credit though--this teleconference marks quite a remarkable achievement in revisionist douchebaggery.

C76

[ Parent ]
Too many insects in the jungle. (0.00 / 0)
Insects are not romantic. Desert warfare is clean and...  uh
...sandy. Sort of like the beach.
[ Parent ]
if it wouldn't be overkill (0.00 / 0)
I would rate every single comment with a 4.

So I just did Gages instead.  

When I think about the mental and emotional level of maturity it took to make those comments and consider what office he is speaking from, it makes me want to go store food in the cellar and buy a bigger gun.

[ Parent ]
If I were slightly younger and not employed here… (0.00 / 0)
"If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines..."

Oh, yeah: like that would ever happen! This is the classic 'chicken hawk' point of view, offering personal 'support' for a foreign adventure, while simultaneously expressing the overriding importance of their own contributions 'back home' in support of the engagement. You know: "...I would love to be over their with my brothers in arms, but my job is to... [whatever]." Bastards, all of them!

Though it's no surprise, is it? Someone who couldn't bother to show up for drills on a consistent basis, and who's commitment to causes other than his obligation to the Texas Air National Guard and US Air Force took a back seat to the really important things like going off to college-while having managed to avoid service in the Republic of Vietnam-should be expected to say something just like this.

Can't help you with slightly younger thing, Mr. President, but thank God you will soon no longer be employed here!

Exciting & Romantic....NOT (0.00 / 0)
Personally I have never thought of any kind of war as romantic or exciting....especially this mess this "commander-in-chief" has put the military through in the past 8 years.  IrritatedVet was right  the los of one soldier was one too many.

My Father (0.00 / 0)
My father was on the first landing on Omaha beach.  He told me he and the other people went though hell.  And my uncle fought in the battle of the bulge.  They both told me that if anyone tells you that war is fun or great. They are crazy and are mentally unstable.  They also told me to hate war and fight to stop it.  Which I have.
January 20, 2009 (0.00 / 0)
It's too long a wait.
Wow. (4.00 / 3)
Just so happens I am in Afghanistan.

It was exciting when I missed my daughters first words, first steps and first birthday.

It was romantic when I missed my aniversary, my wifes birthday, and Christmas.

It was real exciting diving under the closest truck and eating sand the first time I saw a mortar flying at me. Maybe you can say it was romantic when I realized it was a fuel truck.

Real exciting each time someone from my battalion died, six so far.

Man, the President really has his thumb on what its like over here.

I'm on twitter.

Nothing romantic about not bathing for weeks. (0.00 / 0)

And watching people shoot at you, and watching people get blown up.  
People shoot at you? (0.00 / 0)
I thought you get to shoot at them. I didn't know they shoot at you! Well, hell, no wonder GWB didn't want to serve in Vietnam. That shit sounds dangerous!
[ Parent ]
Dangerous? (0.00 / 0)

Naw, its romantic

/snark

[ Parent ]
yup... (0.00 / 0)
no wonder this crazy fckr started an unnecessary war. What an asshole.
Well said. (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
All I have to say is "Best... War... Ever!" (4.00 / 2)

bush's war service: (0.00 / 0)
It sure is hot today. Damn hot. Tires you out. Sort of tired to fly. Say, you wouldn't happen to have any ice around here?
...
I'll be back in a bit.
[ Parent ]
Apparently deserts are more romantic... (0.00 / 0)
...than jungles. That was the conclusion that my wife and I came to this evening while discussing GWB's recent comments.

 Why else would he have stayed so comfortably in Texas during Vietnam?

 If he thinks war is so flippin' fantastic, perhaps he can apply for a special waiver to regain his commission as a 1LT and head on over to do his part after he leaves office.

 No, wait, that puts him in charge of troops, and I know very few who would want him as a PLT leader or Company-level officer.

 Yeah, my recommendation is for him to stay quiet, go back to Crawford, and clear brush for the duration of his retirement.

 

'Cept he only clears brush... (0.00 / 0)
...when the cameras are rolling.
[ Parent ]
AWOL (0.00 / 0)
I've haven't discussed this with my father yet and I doubt he's seen it. He spent 2 years in a North Korean Prison Camp. President Bush had his pilot's liscense revoked for disobeying a direct order and then sorta disappeared I guess and still managed to recieve a honorable Discharge. This man should not even have been allowed to run for much less win the Office of President of the United States. That statement of Bush's is highly offensive.
"Wish I was there?" (0.00 / 0)
This, of course, is from a man who, instead of going to Viet Nam, hid in the Air National Guard. He is a prime example of the type of person General William Tecumseh Sherman used to talk about: "those who beat the drums of war the loudest can always be found in the rear of the ranks."
See, I enjoy the same comfort. (0.00 / 0)
I'm too old to serve. If they ever let me serve, you know we're losing. So, see, I can go around all day saying, "Damn, I wish I could go fight in Afghanistan! I'd be there in a minute!" Knowing full-well that I never will. It's one of the few luxuries of getting old.

What's different is, I didn't start the damn war in Afghanistan and then go off half-cocked to invade another country that didn't have jack shit to do with the reason I sent troops to the middle east in the first place. That's not a luxury. It's just an enormous fck-up.

[ Parent ]
Bush: War in Afghanistan is "Exciting;" "Romantic" | 24 comments
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