USA

Counterpunch: Wag the Turkey WAYNE MADSEN

Yes folks, we are now all bit players in a real-life version of the
movie "Wag the Dog." President Bush and his GOP advisers are ecstatic that
the president made a secret trip to Baghdad to be with U.S. troops for a
"traditional" Thanksgiving dinner. His polling numbers -- which I
contend are as fixed as a Florida election -- will undoubtedly receive a huge
boost.

I may be a bit naive, and it has been a while since I served on active
duty, but I can't recall ever sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner at
6:00 AM. Air Force One touched down at Baghdad International Airport, under
cover of darkness, at 5:20 AM Baghdad time. Bush was on the ground for
two and a half hours, his plane departing Baghdad at around 7:50 AM.
Considering that it likely took some 30 minutes for Bush to disembark
from Air Force One and travel by a heavily secured motorcade to the hangar
where the troops were assembled, that means our military men and women were
downing turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and
non-alcoholic beer at a time when most people would be eating eggs, bacon, grits,
home fries, and toast.