During a recent interview with the Pentagon Channel, President George W. Bush said two of his greatest days as Commander-in-Chief were when Iraqis voted for the first time and when American military troops captured former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Those were indeed great days, but as a military officer who has served this President during a time of war, I would offer a couple more.
First on my list would be Thanksgiving, 2003. I was serving as a Battalion Operations Officer just outside Fallujah then. Operations in Iraq had started to get really nasty toward the end of the summer, and by Thanksgiving we were coming to the realization that we were up against a full-blown insurgency that was going to be a nasty fight. Our battalion had lost our executive officer to an IED in August and morale was hurting. When President Bush unexpectedly showed up in Baghdad, when the situation was getting worse and not better, it was nothing short of uplifting. He showed poise and leadership and promised "We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost in casualties, defeat a brutal dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins." It was what was needed at the time, and it came from the person we needed it from the most.
Second on my personal list would be the announcement of the "surge" on January 10, 2007. Recall for a moment that 2006 was a terrible year for the United States' mission in Iraq. American and Iraqi casualties were skyrocketing, sectarian violence was out of control, and virtually everyone expected the United States to cut its losses and withdraw from Iraq in defeat. I remember thinking prior to the President's announcement that we were failing, and I couldn't believe that I was part of an American Army that was about to lose a war. Even after the "surge" was announced, I harbored considerable doubts. Sure, if you put enough American forces anywhere in the world, they can pacify the place. But I expected any gains we made to be temporary at best, and I lamented the fact that many good people were about to die. I had lost my way, but the President had not. His leadership was bold and decisive, and those who doubted him, myself included, were thankfully proven wrong.
The President told the interviewer that when he leaves office, being Commander-in-Chief will be what he misses most. Well, Mr. President, this officer and combat veteran will miss you too.
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Comments: 30
Thank you for your service to our country!
And thank you for this post.
While this may not be popular with some, I think this season in particular is a good time to remind ourselves that the troops risk all for their country. We can fault the civilian leadership, but by and large we can't fault those who agree to put themselves on the front lines. We, the civilians, the President, the Congress, give them their mission, and they carry out that mission. We cannot fault them when they are upholding their duty. We can only fault ourselves for giving them the wrong duty to uphold.
Peace and best wishes to bring our remaining troops home safely.
On the foreign affairs I understood and supported conditionally what he was doing in Iraq and Afghanistan simply because he at least found the courage to stick with something for once he started. Though I do wish he had gotten a declaration of war for both campaigns, he at least stuck out the oft times confused situations to end up with both nations in better shape than they were in, though by no means as squared away as we (most of us anyway) hoped for. He at least also seemed to remember who fights the wars and supported them for that. God knows the last president seldom ever visited a base and Bush at least has done plenty of that. Some may not understand why he gets such warm greetings by Joe but few of those would listen to anyone trying to explain anyway.
For the majority of Americans, there were not many great days "brought to you by Bush." Sure there were weddings, promotions, the birth of a baby and so. But landmark events such as "today we can announced we reduced poverty by x%," sorry, not much to celebrate.
For that I say good riddance. If you wake me up at 3 AM and ask me to list the most memorable events of Bush's presidency, Katrina would be the first thing to come. Fair or not, he was the president.
Glad others will remember other things. Selective memory is an art.
"For the majority of Americans"
I really get tired of people "speaking" for the "majority of Americans." This person does not speak for me, nor for many that I know. However, he is correct in that selective memory is an art. That statement covers any bad AND any good our President has done. I wish President Bush well, he has had a very difficult journey.
I have to agree with Jared. For the majority of Americans things were not well. These elections were the proof anyone who lives in the state of denial needs. The name BUSH was a disease. McCain was running from it. "I am not Bush, I will not govern like Bush, I am a maverick." Why?
America will not miss the guy. That's for sure. Closer examination of his presidency might reveal he did ok. For now, until we learn more, he is a disaster.
Farewell. Good riddance.
My second comment is to those that like to bash Bush & those in the military. Remember one thing, this is still the only country where you can do that without fear of losing something. In most nations that would be your life!
I just pray that Obama do not have to face the same things Bush did. I for one will be watching him and holding on to my money!
People who are dumb enough to think that life under Saddam was the better alternative need to get a conscious -- but they'd need to get a brain first.
"People who voted for him have blood in their hands."
People who are dumb enough to think that life under Saddam was the better alternative need to get a conscious -- but they'd need to get a brain first.
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Such a pathetic excuse while you sit and do nothing about ppl like Robert Mugabe, The Sudanese Government, etc.
You only spew that horse crap because its all you have left to excuse your murderous FAILED war.
I hope you all burn in hell for what you've done and participated in. Well, greg participated in.
Don proved to be too big of a coward to see his recruiter alll these years despite daily efforts to get him to do so.
Such is the way of the coward. Tell Satan you love him when you finally get to meet him. We're aware he lives in your lives, but nothin' like an up close and personal in due time to make you see the error of murdering innocent ppl in the name of murdered Americans.
You will pay for this at some point in your lives. What comes around, ALWAYS goes around. Yours is comin.
Do you have any idea how much of an idiot you sound like when you rant like that?
Well, if he doesn't, the rest of us would gladly tell him!
That's because we have people like you fighting the President every step of the way. Had you supported him and his efforts we would have had more resources to do other things.
It certainly explains a lot.
Greg, thanks so much for all you have done.... this was a good post... I too, will miss Bush at least he had the guts to stand up unlike Clinton......
Moron.
The left has been sticking it's knife in the back of America for far too long. It's getting tired. There will be a world of difference as to how Obama is treated as President -- he won't have an ex-President criticising his every move (as Clinton and Carter both did), he won't have the press beating up on him, and those who are conservative tend to have more respect the office of the President and as such treat the person in that position with some semblance of respect. I didn't vote for Obama, and he will do things that I don't like, but at the end of the day he is my President and he will have my respect. I wish him well for the sake of the country.
I agree Greg that Bush's surprise visit to the troops on Thanksgiving Day 2003 was a very memorable moment for the whole country. The media hated it because they weren't informed beforehand and weren't invited along and the leftists hated it because he is Bush but to me, not even being there in Iraq, I saw how much it meant for the troops. It was inspirational.
Thank you for your service.
And that is a fair comment. It was his worst moment in my opinion. I understand that there was blame to go aroud, but at the end of the day that was a mess and he was the President.
Appreciate the perspective you have provided!