President Bush Visit Ft. Hood
November 7th, 2009 by CJ
Former President George W. Bush secretly visited Ft. Hood last night to meet with the victims of the troops affected by the recent massacre at the hands of a Muslim extremist within our ranks.
This is typical for President Bush who worked hard during his presidency not to use the military for political gain, especially when it came to wounded troops and their families. He made many unannounced and unpublicized visited to military bases in and out of the country. He invited military bloggers, myself included, to meet with him one on one without fanfare or media. That's the way he was and I'm glad to see that he has continued this respect and admiration for our military.
This is from Fox News:
The Bushes entered and departed the sprawling military facility in secret, having told the base commander they did not want press coverage of their visit, a source told Fox News.
The couple was described as "deeply concerned" about military families on Fort Hood after Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly opened fire on soldiers and civilians, killing 13 and wounding 38.
The Bushes, who have a 1,600-acre property known as Prairie Chapel Ranch less than 30 miles from Fort Hood in central Texas, spent between one and two hours visiting the wounded and their families.
As the media continues to blame PTSD and mental health on this massacre (did I call it?!), remember that this is not the issue. Hasan is a Muslim extremist bent on killing as many Americans and American troops as possible in the name of Allah and a religion being taken over by zealots and radicals.
Tags: fort hood, president bush
Posted in Military Perspective
People can say what they want about Pres. Bush but he was always a class act and still is! He always made sure to show HIS appreciation for what the military and their families do!
Way to go GWB!
He showed his appreciation by bogging our military down in two wars without a plan and without the proper equipment, then kicking the can down the road for seven years so he could blame it all on the Democrats. Class act indeed.
Jackie, is that why we've won the war in Iraq and were winning in Afghanistan until our fearless leader came into the spotlight? Are you suggesting that Bush deliberately knew for seven years that a Democrat would be the next president? That's mighty insightful of you.
Yes Jackie…it was a covert plan. He and his advisors hoped that 9/11 would occur so we could go to war against terrorism. PLEASE!!! OMG, everyone is entitled to their opinion but get a freaking grip.
The length of memory of some Americans is amazing. With the current administration, I have no doubt the US will be experiencing another act of terrorism on our soil. They'll just be put in "time out" or have a very "serious talking too". God help us all.
Sharon M
Sharon, we DID experience another act of terrorism on our soil. It happened at Fort Hood! We can't let pretend otherwise. Good points.
Yes, Sharon, Ft. Hood was an act of terrorism. What a shame -
Jackie, you're just another idiot who thinks Obama is a walking, talking god.
I admit to growing tired to people who keep talking about an 'exit strategy' in war. It becomes childish instantly. It requires telling the future, and prescience is impossible.
Re-examine any war. The American Civil war is relatively recent and is a good exemplar. The North outnumbered and grossly out-produced the South. Yet it took four years for the war to end in the North's favor. War is inherently unpredictable. The idea that an 'exit strategy' other than complete victory would have shortened the war is utterly unrealistic. Unfortunately, one side in a conflict does not dictate the intentions or actions of the adversary. Sorry. As soon as one side stupidly announces its intentions to end the conflict (other than unconditional victory), the other side adjusts. They wait it out.
Unless one has at least a rudimentary notion not only of military history but of how humans act, please relent trying to tell the rest of us about 'exit strategies.' Its juvenile and encourages bad people to continue to harm the innocent. One must win to obtain meaningful peace against aggressors. As in Iraq. We won. Without an exit strategy other than victory. There are still terrorist bombings every now and then in Iraq? Yes. We had a terrorist bombing in Oklahoma years back. Does that mean the terrorists are winning in America? Small numbers of dead-end losers may cause disproportionate carnage; that does not mean they control anything.
The question is whether the adversary actually controls people and territory. If they don't, they're just criminals. No country is free of criminals? The Iraq war has been won. The left doesn't want to talk about that inconvenient fact. If the president, who selected his commanding general in Afghanistan, listens to his general, we will be on the road to victory. If not, who is this former left-wing community organizer going to turn to for advice who has more experience than Gen. McCrystal?
Mark Rogers
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
War is NOT a GAME with a scoreboard and a timer. When the seconds run out the battle is still raging. You don't throw in the towel and go home and celebrate. (Like South Vietnam and the hundreds of thousands that died while our hippies celebrated their political victory) How imbecile to think you can determine a time line when you are dealing with uneducated people who have never really had a government and who need to be taught probably in a generation's time how to live under a constitution with a bill of rights.
Look at South Korea. It took 50 years to build it from a war torn country to what it is today and it is still under the cloud of war from then north.
There is no Eutopia. Our American cities prove it – we can't even keep our gangs from killing each other – we can't keep crime out of locked down prisons – much less stopping real radical zealots who will stop at nothing short of shedding blood. It takes a real forceful presence to just hold back the tide.
Before Pres. Bush, we had an ineffective Foreign Policy, and again after GWB we have an ineffective Foreign Policy President Obama as usual turned this tragedy into a Political Photo Op, Blames everyone except who should be blamed. Why don't you wake up, JackieBinAZ, and smell the roses. He/Obama Hates the Military, and those who served.
This was an Act of Terrorism at its highest and most disgusting act, as is the would be "Panty" Bomber. Who is going to keep us Safe – Not this President!
If you can't stand behind our Military, Please feel free to stand in front of them!
You're an idiot. If it weren't for President's like Bush you'd be speaking German, Spanish. With the great leader we have now, I suggest you bone up on Arabic and do it quick. American is being sold so fast it should be making your head spin. But from your comment I get the impression you aren't smart enough to see it.
PTSD from what?! He NEVER went to war! Did he get it from lisrening to soldiers he counciled? Maybe from racial slurs from people against radical extreme Muslims? C'mon! I don't buy the whole PTSD with this man. He is a crazy man with 2 guns that performed a terrorist act upon soldiers whom he did not know!
Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Religion offers no shield for wickedness, for evil, for those kind of things. The God in whom I believe does not foster this kind of action. He is a God of mercy. He is a God of love. He is a God of peace and reassurance, and I took to Him in times such as this as a comfort and a source of strength."
This man may think he has 72 virgins waiting for him, but isn't salvation and being in God's presence for eternity better? He can have his 72 virgins. I hope he is brought before a firing squad so he can meet these 72 virgins quicker!
I am thankful for President Bush. President Obama (still hard to comprehend that) hasn't shown much sympathy to the victims and families! When he commented on it, it took him a while to even mention it as he thought pushing Obamacare was more important! Thank God for President Bush showing concern and love to these people!
In the military you can get penalized or be kick out if you use slur. As a civilian working for military that is a no-NO freaking NO! If he heard that slur, how come he made it all the way as a Major.
If you are being picked-on after 9/11 there is an EEO that see to it that you will be justified. How come he made it in the Army. If he was picked-on they will not pick him as a soldier. Especially in Boot camp. There's a military code that we all have to go to and trained and passed all trainings including Harassment. If you don't have that your CO will be on your tail or you are out! Hasan your hero – terrorist killer is a coward so as your obama who failed to mention hasan as the murderer.
Sorry about the typos above. I am on my phone typing this!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by sldrperspective and Elizabeth Gilkeson, alexandria davis. alexandria davis said: BlogsIRead President Bush Visit Ft. Hood: Former President George W. Bush secretly visit.. http://bit.ly/18aLSB #militarymon [...]
President Bush was a regular visitor to Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval hospitals to personally present Purple Hearts to the wounded. I've seen countless photos of him standing beside the hospital bed of a beaming wounded warrior. There was never any doubt about Bush's sincerity or his genuine admiration for our brave troops.
When Bush visited he was only accompanied by a staffer and a photographer to take a personal pic for the patient. No press, no publicity, nada. I read last week that Walter Reed was in a flurry of activity 'cause the Commie-In-Chief was planning a visit. What a difference between these two.
I don't doubt Bush's sincerity that you are expressing, but can we get over calling him a Communist? Anything the president does is a big deal and it was when Bush was in office as well. The fact that you still call him "Commie-in-Chief" explains your position more then the other words you are attempting to use. Like it or not, he's a lawful citizen of the United States that was lawfully elected president and now lawfully governs.
NY-David
David, Obama IS a communist. Like father, like son. He's a radical, Marxist communist. Deny it at your own peril.
So you seriously think that the CiC is a Manchurian candidate and a open communist? Does that apply to Bernanke, Emmanuel and Robert Gates as well?
I absolutely believe that Obama and all of his creepy people working around him are COMMUNIST! Check out their History/backgrounds and look at what they are doing now to our Country! It isn't hard to see unless you have Rose Colored Glasses on and even if you are blind, you should be able to smell the stink!
President Bush Oh how we wish we still had you leading our country. I do remember your visits to Walter Reed and you made a big impact on those wounded warriors. You did NOT do it for the publicity which is something I cannot say for the current Pres. It's all "Me, me, me!" Makes me so sick I want to puke!!!
Is it just me or is it bad that the ex-president gets there before the current one. I know Mr. Bush has the ranch up in Crawford, I've driven by it many times, but when you have Air Force one at your use!!
If I'm wrong tell me I'm wrong but WOW!!!
No – you are not wrong – NoBama was too busy trying working to make sure House rammed their government-mandated/government-run/tax-funded Healthcare down our throats !!!
GWB had his faults, we all do, but he knew and respected his responsibility as Commander in Chief.
And if he'd used Air Force One, the opinion would have been that he was only doing it for show, yada yada. Obama commented immediately. He was in DC doing something called his job. Something to be thankful for if you job doesn't include health insurance, like many do.
Liberally Yours,
NY-David
I pay for my own insurance you dead beat out of my own pocket! Pay for your own out of YOUR own pocket! You have no right you commie-freak to demand hard-working citizens to pay for you to have insurance. You DO NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT!! You have the right to go get a job and earn your way. Pay for it yourself! No job has to provide it. You do not HAVE to have insurance to receive GREAT medical care.
David I think one problem with your argument is that Obama has had NO problem jumping on Air Force One to go lobby for the Olympics instead of doing anything about what his General in Command of the Troops in Afghanistan was asking, and three months later, still hasn't. He had NO problem jumping on Air Force One to take his family to France on a vacation, or flying to NY to treat Michelle to a Broadway show and dinner. But to see the troops?? This President made it a point, with his wife to say how important the troops and Military Families were when he took office. So far, for his lip service, his big whoop has been to declare November Military Families Month. And for that the families get?????? His butt should have been down in Fort Hood. HE is the Commander in Chief and HE belonged there. Bush was in Washington doing his job when Katrina hit, did the liberals cut him any slack?? Why should Obama get any??
Yeah NY-David-your right, Obama did comment immediately-RIGHT AFTER his "shout outs" to his pals & his healthcare rah rah comments.
If I were shot up and confined to a bed, the last thing I would want would be Obama and a bunch of secret service agents and cameras in my room. I don't even like a bunch of family visiting when I'm sick. Come see me when I'm well!
Now, for former Pres Bush and Laura to discreetly , quietly stop in…ya betcha.:)
This man is a class act. That is why I voted for him twice. His admiration for the military is profound. As for the current occupant in the White House. I think his visit for the arrival of the casualties from Afghanistan a couple of weeks ago was nothing more than a photo op. GW is a good Man.
God Bless President Bush for his kindness and compassion for our troops and their families!
Wow, just wow! Good on GWB!
BJ sent this to me on email… I'm hoping it goes viral, as I've sent it out myself.
Bush is so damn cool. I miss him.
A true Gentleman indeed.
Awesome! God Bless Pres. Bush
and, Laura and family
I suspect he did it for feeling a closeness with Ft Hood. Once a governor, always a governor and I'm glad he went. I have my opinions about how he ran his presidency but he's a decent guy.
Have a great Liberal Day!!
NY-David
President Bush has always been a class act and also the whole family has class. God bless him and I sure miss him in office. I felt safe when he was president.
I'm with you Brenda.. I felt much safer!
Sharon M
It would not surprise me if he would sneak away and drive over to Ft Hood in his pick up truck one day this week…..all alone.:)
Apparently the one of the two 1/2 mile wide otherworldly objects do not feel that GWB is a class act. They both appeared in the sky out of nowhere just south of a SAC Base (NASJRB)in Texas. 8 Jan. 08. One darted about in excess of 3000 mph while the other slowly and deliberately took a straight line course to the GWB Crawford Ranch violating the no fly zone perimeter around the ranch. It happened to be followed by (10) F-16 Falcons who had absolutely no effect on it. It then left in the blink of an eye. That's a pretty clear in your face message. You think that may be why they decided to sell the ranch?
Not surprising. President Bush loved the military, and he showed it every chance he got. He didn't use them as a photo op, or as a poltical backdrop, unlike our current WH resident.
Class act, yep!
Sue05~ Amen…Right there with ya GF!
President Bush has always been a class act and so has his family. How wonderful of him and Laura to visit the wounded at Ft.Hood. The jerk in office now couldnt be bothered to go, when and IF he does it will be so the media can show what a good guy he is..BS
Even tho my son went to war under Bush I have never had ill feelings towards him he did what he thought was right for our country after 9/11
tell you what, I sure miss my former Commander-N-Chief, what a guy.
mr obama is trying real hard to fix the mess he was left with there will never be in the history of the usa abetter president than barak obama
Mike it would be nice if the rest of us were living in that fantasy world with you, but alas we are not.
I am not in the military, but just want all of you to know that we, the people, esteem you greatly. I stumbled upon this blog after wanting to know more about President Bush's visit to Ft. Hood and googling it. Thank you so very much for your service and sacrifice. I am appalled and frankly scared of the current Obama administration. They don't know what they are doing and are hell-bent on not listening to anyone who does. My only hope is that at the end of his term in 3 years, the new president will be able to undo all the harm Obama and his czars have done. God help us all!!
Mike, you are proof that there really is an idiot in every crowd!
Mike, you're in the same fantasy land as the faithful followers of the infamous Jim Jones and the Jonestown Massacre. You know, the guy who promised peace, safety, and security and guess what happened. For those of you who haven't been around awhile, that is where the saying "drink the koolaid" comes from. There are a lot of you willing to 'drink the obama-aid' out there hmmm? He is a dangerous man for many reasons. One is his personal arrogance, but more more importantly is the combination of his personal arrogance and his consuming lack of experience. He went from a community organizer (thug in a suit) to a senator for a very brief time. Its like putting a 10 year old behind the wheel of a humvee. Yikes!!!
God Bless George and Laura Bush!
I am disappointed with NY David's "Have a great liberal day". I am a American rural Central NY'er who has a great fear of our present Obamanation. So I will wait in hope that we will all soon have a Great American Day once again.
I agree that these massacres were carried out by a Muslim who committed this act in the name of Allah. But I don't agree with the terminology that calls such a person an "Islamic Extremist or Radical Muslim" as this leads one to believe that the "normal" Muslim does not believe in such actions when in fact, a "Good Muslim" will follow the Koran's call to kill the "infidel". Who is the infidel? Any non-Muslim and of particular interest as a target are Christians (any American in the Muslim view) and Jews! Remember the pilots that flew the planes on 9/11 had been very "normal" Muslims and law-abiding men leading a non-threatening way of life in the U.S. for YEARS and then they suddenly flipped? NO! They were just waiting for the right time to strike. How many Muslims in the U.S. today are just waiting for "their time" to fight their own Jihad on our soil, in the workplace or on the military base!
All I can say is that I suffered the same thing during the Carter administration and read of the same thing during the B.J. Clinton administration. I was warned that military personnel have no "opinions" on U.S. policy without being told what they are. This is no different. soldiers and sailors need to understand that they are pawns, not the volunteer warrior heroes that they are told they are at enlistment, and nothing more.
Melanie, thank you for possibly clearing up the muslim ideology. There will never be a day when islam will allow any other religion to exist along side them. It's either accept islam or die. alex
President Bush does not deserve all the criticisms directed at him from both sides of the aisle. Everyone is guilty of the failed policies, etc. I believe President Bush was more comfortable around the military than the folks in Washington. The President was not articulate and seemed to freeze up when a camera was there to record his views. Perhaps this is why people were awed by Obama – very articulate and charismatic. However, each time Obama speaks (which is often) I come away with a sense of foreboding – I question his truthfulness and his ability to govern this Country and all its peoples. It is all rhetoric from someone who believes he is not answerable to anyone. President Bush made many mistakes as have presidents before him and those who will be president long after he is gone. He supported our military and he kept our Country safe after 9/11. I applaud him and his wife Laura for taking the initiative by visiting the families of the fallen and those wounded by an Islamic terrorist.
This is obviously a pro Republican anti Democrat, pro-Bush web site. I like to consider myself unbiased but I anticipate many who read my comments will not agree. I agree with part of what Jackie said (not the part about Bush waiting to blame it on the Dems.) Pres. Bush has kept a very low profile since his exit from office.
First I was in the Military during Viet Nam. I voluteered. In fact, I had a medical disability that prevented me from being drafted. My Uncle (Special Forces) went to VN 5 times all volunteered. My Father and Brother retired Navy Chiefs. My other brother 12 year Marine. My son is currently applying to the Navy as an Officer.
I said those things to let you know, I and my family love this country but I have unsettled questions.
Why did we go into a war in Iraq? The entire world, including the UN inspectors attested there were no WMDs. I hung my head in shame on that day because I love our young people and anticipated much heartache and loss in American families. There were not training camps in Iraq for al qaeda. saddam hussein was not going to allow any other leadership in iraq except him. Unfortunately now al qaeda has unfettered movement in parts of iraq.
If our then President GW was such a frequent visitor to the toops in Military hospitals, why were they a shambles and full of roaches and mistreated military veterans. Look up Walter Reed and the conditions that were uncovered during 2007/8.
Do not take my post as some liberal pro-Obama anti Bush rhetoric. That seems to be the asumption that some make as soon as you ask questions. I just want to be unbiased and look at issues with an open mind. God Bless our Country, and God help us all from what I have seen from politicians in general.
Your comment have several glaring errors. But, I don't blame you since you get your information from the state-controlled media. We didn't go into Iraq for merely WMDs. It's people like you that try to continue furthering this assertion that people are so ignorant about it. Maybe you should do a little independent research and read why we REALLY went into Iraq. WMDs were only ONE of many very noteworthy reasons. And the fact that we didn't find (although we really did) any WMDs doesn't mean they weren't there. Saddam had multiple opportunities to remove them and/or hide them prior to the invasion since he had kicked out the inspectors.
There absolutely WERE training camps in Iraq and Saddam directly funded them. Look up Ansar al-Islam if you care to really educate yourself instead of further spewing stupidity and ignorance about this subject. AQ does NOT have unfettered movement in parts of Iraq any more than before. As a matter of fact, they now have less. Our troops and their brave leadership in training up the Iraqi Army and its police are a testament to that. When was the last time you were in the military hospitals? I was stationed in the DC area during the time that the news came out about their supposed condition. The truth is that only one building of dozens had problems. The rest were first rate and worthy of our troops stay. Those that were affected were completely blown out of proportion by the media, though they were still untolerable. They were few and far between.
Nice try, but you have no proof other than biased/bogus news accounts while I visited Walter Reed and met with troops weekly! You should no longer have "unsettled questions." Consider yourself educated.
The former President follows the fine tradition of the first Commander in Chief.
We will see what happens in 2010. Then those of you that are so happy with BO can make plans to send him back to Illinois. We are so messed up here it won't make any difference. I guess if some of you knew your history better you would know we are becoming more and socialistic and soon we will be more like Europe. Living in Europe is not great right now and has not been. You do not have the freedoms that we now have but are losing them to BO and the govt.
Pray that we make it through 2010.
How sad is it that our former leader got to the wounded before the present one? John 3:16
if you do some fact checking, you might get another spin on this story: snopes.com/ph...forthood.asp