From Reuters, 12/1/03:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20031201/us_nm/bush_iraq_pilot_dc
White House Version of Mid-Air Exchange Disputed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
British Airways said on Monday that none of its pilots made contact
with President Bush's plane during its secret flight to Baghdad,
contradicting White House reports of a mid-air exchange that nearly
prompted Bush to call off his trip.
Honor Verrier, a spokeswoman for British Airways in North America,
said two BA aircraft were in the area at the time and neither radioed
the president's plane to ask if it was Air Force One.
"We have spoken to the British Airways captains who were in the area
at the time and neither made comments to Air Force One nor did they
hear any other aircraft make the statement over the radio," Verrier
said in response to a question from Reuters.
The White House had no immediate comment on the discrepancy.
Bush aides recounted with excitement last week the moment during the
flight to Baghdad when they said a BA pilot thought he spotted the
president's blue and white Boeing 747 from his cockpit.
"Did I just see Air Force One?" the pilot radioed, according to the
White House.
There was a pause.
Then came the response from Air Force One: "Gulfstream 5" -- a much
smaller aircraft.
As one of Bush's aides recounted, the BA pilot seemed to sense that he
was in on a secret, and replied:
"Oh."
The exchange was one of the most suspenseful moments during Bush's
secret flight to Baghdad, according to the White House.
With three hours to go, Bush had the Secret Service check if his
mission was still secret.
"They assured me that there was still a tight hold on the information,
that conditions on the ground were as positive as positive could be,"
he said afterward.
____________________________________________________
It must be ole Karl Rove puttin' the James Bond spin on this.
Harry
Have y'all seen the ole Georgie's-a-hero action figure yet?
http://www.geocities.com/buythistoy/Toys/index.html?_ts=y
.
|
