Amy's Robot

Hell Breaks Loose in Iraq; Bush Goes Fishing

Yesterday, while things were continuing to spiral out of control in Iraq, President Bush went fishing with a TV fishing show.

In Iraq:

Gunmen running rampant on Baghdad's western edge attacked a fuel convoy, killing a U.S. soldier and an Iraqi driver and causing a fiery explosion. Two American soliders and an unknown number of civilians were missing after the attack, and 12 people were injured.

In Texas:

At about 5:30 p.m., Bush looked at his watch and said he had time to "make a couple casts, so we jumped into the boat real quick."

In Iraq:

Another U.S. soldier was killed in an attack on a base elsewhere in the capital, and large groups of insurgents battled U.S. troops in two cities to the north, Baqouba and Muqdadiyah.

In Texas:

They floated on the pond for about 1 1/2 hours. White House aides told Martin that "things were kind of calmed down" in Iraq and that prospects were good for another session Saturday.

In Iraq:

The death -- along with those of three Marines a day earlier announced Friday -- brought the toll of U.S. troops killed across Iraq this week to 46.

In Texas:

Iraq didn't come up. "He didn't really talk about politics at all," Martin said. "He was just relieved to have a minute to fish."

Wondering what Bush is doing at the ranch in the middle of this crisis? The Washington Post reports that he's spent nearly 40 percent of his presidency at a retreat:

This is Bush's 33rd visit to his ranch since becoming president. He has spent all or part of 233 days on his Texas ranch since taking office, according to a tally by CBS News. Adding his 78 visits to Camp David and his five visits to Kennebunkport, Maine, Bush has spent all or part of 500 days in office at one of his three retreats, or more than 40 percent of his presidency.

categories: Politics, War and Security
posted by adm at 2:44 PM | #