1 I'm ambivalent about the value of the story. We do more rehearsing for the average briefing to a one star....pre-brief after pre-brief, happy to glad changes in Powerpoint slides, and the like. Unfortunately, the cameras were on and the satellite feed established. Have to admit, it doesn't look like the event that was advertised. But does that really matter? For those of us that live in such close proximity to the military, it's no big deal to talk to soldiers every day, but I think that this event was intended to show people locked deep within blue states or so far removed from a military environment a peek inside the kimono as to how soldiers think and speak. As far as the cheerleading value...I'm more than a little dismayed that we have to resort to these kinds of displays. What happened to the concept of when my nation's at war, I support my troops and my commander in chief. I know that we've not found any WMD to date (or enough for it to "count" with the MSM.) I know that things look ugly when you tally up a daily body count in Iraq for those falling victim to the cowardly and sinister use of IEDs and suicide bombers. Another thing I know is that we are making progress albeit slow. Rome wasn't built in a day, Germany and Japan weren't pacified in a period of weeks following their surrenders either. This is an effort that's worthwhile. It's one we should see to the conclusion. See you on the high ground. MajorDad1984

2 Worthwhile like Vietnam was worthwhile?? Give me a break Iraq was a FUBAR mission designed to preserve their oil fields for "western interests". Blood for oil is always going to be an unfair exchange.

3 Thanks, Bubba Birdbrain, for clearly delineating the low ground for all of us. Congratulations to our guys in Iraq - an almost totally peaceful election day, unlike last year. We are making progress AND taking the high road.

4 Well, Bubba...since our economy is so dependent upon fossil fuels, where are we supposed to get our oil? Apparently we've decided that it's okay for the "brown" people in the Middle East to potential drill for and pump the hazardous stuff out of the ground...as long as an spills happen OVER THERE. If the folks on what I'll assume are on your side of the "aisle" would yank their heads out of their fourth points of contact (ask a paratrooper) and allow us to drill, pump, and refine our own supplies, perhaps we wouldn't have to put our soldiers' lives on the line to secure our national interest....and yes, that's OIL pure and simple. I've driven along the Alaskan pipeline...and from what I'd heard, I was expecting a landscape like I saw on the moon for the first time in 1969. Not true at all. Everything was green, lush and the moose I saw didn't seem to mind the millions of gallons flowing along just above their heads. Open up Alaska for more drilling...and we'll have a concurrent "Manhattan project-like" effort to reduce our dependence upon fossil fuels. Unfortunately, it will be a more expensive proposition. Hope you have a Republican in the White House to blame for the increase in prices! See you on the high ground...I see you way down there! MajorDad1984

5 The cheerleading reference may have been to Bush's own past as a male cheerleader in college. You know about that, don't you? So he doesn't need to borrow anyone's suit, he could just go to the closet and dig out his old one and remember the good ol' days.

6 Rehearsed? The Army rehearses everything they do. That is why they win all their wars, this one in exceptionally short time. Do you think anyone goes on TV without someone saying "You guys stand over there, and someone get over here and comb hair."? The more goals Bush attains, the louder the shrieking gets and the more trivial the criticisms.

7 Sarah, I saw that article, and had the same reaction. It was the first one I saw about the teleconference, so I was expecting something difference because of the headline. I wanted to blog it, but couldn't remember the exact headline and what news service it was. Btw, if you still want to find it, just google it and hit "cache."