President Bush's Bravery
Let's not forget the role that President Bush's personal bravery played in this capture.
Flying into Iraq, with lights off on Air Force One to avoid insurgents' missile strikes, the President expressed his confidence in the outcome and our forces in a way that no words lobbed from afar ever could. The message he sent was four-fold:
1) I believe in the ability of U.S. troops to protect the President of the United States even in the midst of an active enemy. An expression of confidence in their abilities in the most meaningful way.
2) I am going to share your burden. Flying 17 hours each way to spend 2 1/2 hours with the troops for a turkey dinner, when he could have just as easily stayed at home in Crawford, showed the men and women of the armed forces that this President is a leader who is there with them, not merely an order-giver hidden safely back home.
3) To the Iraqi people: It is safe enough for me to fly here, and I am confident in our victory. Which member of Saddam's inner circle finally crumbled and gave up the ghastly beast? We may never know, but we may guess that having your enemy's leader come and show his face in your town without fear was a significant factor in the betrayal of the butcher. Winning is as much about demoralizing the other side as about energizing your own.
4) We will win. The troops saw that their President took the personal and political risk of coming to Iraq and were heartened by it.
How many efforts were redoubled? How many extra hours spent on tracking down every bit of "actionable" intelligence? Look at the pictures of where Saddam was hiding. It took real dedication to look under every rock and twig to discover that spiderhole. And how many times did that extra looking lead to nought? And how many times were troops buoyed in this tedious task by their President's confidence?
An inspiring leader. A honest, courageous man.
I voted for the President in 2000 somewhat unenthusiastically, and have only grown more proud, more fond, and more loyal to him since. He has earned it, and he has grown, like Prince Harry, into the right man at the right hour.
Thanks to Glenn for the link!
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