Why is President Bush acting so cowardly that every visit to Iraq must be a surprise?

Question

Why is President Bush acting so cowardly that every visit to Iraq must be a surprise? What is he afraid of?
He claims to have liberated Iraq, so Iraqi people must have chance to welcome him and greet him.
Even the Iraqi Prime Minister didn’t know he was coming. What a shame!
The American President sent soldiers there to die for nothing, now he himself cannot even say I’m going to Iraq this afternoon.

Answer 1

Well come on now... I'm not a Bush fan but it is common sense that if they knew he was coming = he would be blown up or something.

Answer 2

Too true. If it really was "mission accomplished", then why doesn't Shrub announce his visits? (Or better yet, the media leak them about an hour before arrival?)

And remember, Shrub didn't visit Baghdad, despite media claims to the contrary. He only visited the "green zone".

And despite the idiotic and unverifiable claims of some who responded to this question, human rights groups and independent organizations have confirmed that Iraqis were better off under Saddam. One does not have to support Saddam Hussein to say that.

From Salon.com:

Better off under Saddam? Former U.N. rights chief says so

When faced with criticism of the war in Iraq, the Bush administration and its supporters eventually get around to the Saddam Hussein trump card: Are you saying that we'd be better off if Saddam were still in power?

The former United Nations human rights chief for Iraq has an answer to that: Yes.

John Pace, who worked for the United Nations in Iraq until last month, says that the violence there today "extends over a much wider section of the population than it did under Saddam."

"Under Saddam, if you agreed to forgo your basic right to freedom of expression and thought, you were physically more or less OK," he explained. "But now, no. Here, you have a primitive, chaotic situation where anybody can do anything they want to anyone."

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the former government -- it reminds us, somehow, of those Republican members of Congress who keep saying that civil liberties don't mean much when you're dead. But coupled with warnings that a civil war in Iraq could lead to a broader conflict in the Middle East, Pace's words are another sign that we might want to stop taking it as a given that the world is better off without Saddam Hussein.

-- Tim Grieve

Answer 3

President Bush is the most hated person in the Middle East and his visits to the Middle East could result in his death. The Secret Service, who is responsible for the protection of the President, make all the decisions about the arrivals and departure of the President. If some terrorist was leaked the location of the President, it could lead to an entire arm of terrorists trying to attack the President. Therefore, to protect the President, the Secret Service has decided that the Pres. Bush should come and go in as much secrecy.

Answer 4

He protects the American troops assigned to guard him in Iraq during these visits. The other side has no notice of where or when he will be in Iraq. I presume you threw in the cowardly as a symbol of your hatred for the office of president and other United States institutions. What country do you support?

Answer 5

What an absurd question. A typical Bush Hater query. Naturally in a war torn country, a President must take special precautions for safety/security. It was courageous for the President to visit Iraq to begin with. I am here in the PROC, and a Communist Party member that I was dining with, applauded his courage. There are some so blinded with hatred for GWB, that they probably wish he was harmed. DISGUSTNG.

Answer 6

What world do you live in? The President of the United States (who ever it is) is a huge target for terrorists. He is flying in the most recognizable aircraft in the world, and actually flew into the Green Zone via Helicopter, this was a very dangerous trip for him. Advanced notice would put him and everyone around him in danger. Our troops are not there to "die for nothing", they are there fighting a war, and you friend should be supporting them even if you disagree with the war.

Answer 7

Its called OPSEC (operational security) and it is a prudent measure to take if you are a high value target such as the President of the United States and you are traveling to a country that has terrorists that place a high value on killing you. This isn't cowardice. Cowardice is the terrorists that kidnap, torture and kill innocent Iraqis because they didn't go along with their extremist views. That is the real shame!

Answer 8

Whoever thinks he is a coward should go into downtime Camden, NJ wearing a KKK outfit, because it is the same thing. If Bush announced he was going to Iraq, he would let terrorists know where he is in the hot bed of terrorism. It would make him a target for anyone to get to.

Answer 9

Usually for safety reasons, it's no announced until a President has left. He just went to Iraq and we knew about shortly after he touched down. He's not being a coward. Get your facts straight.

Answer 10

Because otherwise anyone with a shoulder-launched SAM would be waiting at the airport?

This is Iraq we're talking about here. They WOULD find a way to get him if his visit were annouced beforehand.

Answer 11

But he went, so it was safe enough to go, Your question and comment is merley silly, of course he keeps secret any trip to a dangerous area.

It is alot better in Iraq but still dangerous, and our soldiers have did a great job, schools open, hospitals open and they have thier own electriced government