From The Guardian, 12/5/03:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1100324,00.html
Bush's Baghdad turkey a leg-pull
Julian Borger in Washington
Friday December 5, 2003
The Guardian
President George Bush did go to Baghdad.
That much seems to be true, but some of the well-publicised details of
last week's surprise Thanksgiving Day trip have since been called into
question as the White House spin is deconstructed.
The problems start with the turkey.
It is the focus of the quintessentially American holiday, and
photographs printed around the US showed the president holding a prize
roasted specimen on a platter.
However, the turkey was just for decoration, put there to make the
occasion look more heartwarming, the Washington Post reported
yesterday.
The soldiers were actually served pre-sliced turkey from canteen-style
hot plates.
The president never took a knife to the bird he held for the cameras.
It may not even have been edible.
The revelation has thrown more light on the White House publicity
machine a day after accusations that it made up a chance mid-air
encounter between a British Airways pilot and the presidential plane.
Briefing journalists on board Air Force One, the White House
communications director, Dan Bartlett, told how the president's pilot,
Colonel Mark Tillman, bluffed his way out of an awkward situation to
preserve the secrecy of the mission, when the BA pilot thought he
recognised the distinctive livery.
According to Mr Bartlett's account, Col Tillman radioed back
identifying his jumbo as a Gulfstream V executive jet.
BA denied any knowledge of the incident, but yesterday National Air
Traffic Services, confirmed the conversation took place between a
pilot from a non-British carrier and an air traffic controller at
Swanwick, Hampshire, who was simply reading from a flight plan that
stated the flight would be operated by a Gulfstream.
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The Bushies seem to be addicted to photo-ops and lying.
Harry
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