White House Denies Cheney Visited Iraq

(CBS/AP)  The White House denied Iraqi television reports that Vice President Dick Cheney made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Thursday.

David Almacy, a White House spokesman in Washington, said Cheney was not in Iraq and that his only currently planned travel to the region is the previously announced trip he will make to Saudi Arabia on Friday to meet the next day with King Abdullah to discuss developments in the Middle East, including Iraq.

State-run Iraqiya TV and the private Al-Arabiya TV station reported that Cheney had arrived in the Iraqi capital on Thursday morning, apparently to visit American troops for the Thanksgiving holiday.

But U.S. Embassy and U.S. military officials in Baghdad couldn't confirm that, and it became clear later that the reports were erroneous.

Iraqi radio stations speculated that something big might happen in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town, however those reports also remained unconfirmed, said CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer from Baghdad.

For security reasons, previous visits to Iraq by President Bush, Cheney and other high administration officials have not been made public in advance, but have been disclosed immediately upon their arrival — regardless of whether they were accompanied by reporters or traveling without a press contingent.

For example, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales traveled unannounced and without reporters to Iraq in August, but his visit was disclosed to the media in Baghdad and Washington immediately upon his arrival.

[sandy5274]

OMG *** Cheney Goes To Iraq? How Funny As That
Yellow Coward Draft Dodger *** Cheney Won't Go
Any Place Where They Can Shoot Back At Him!...
So Who Does Tony Snowjob Think He Is Kidding
Here,With This One?...It Sure Proves How Really
Desperate George W Bush & Company Are To Keep
From Being Labeled Lame Ducks! But With Dead Eye
*** Cheney Running Amok Again The Whole Bush
Bunch May End Up Known As Dead Ducks,Since Cheney
Can Only Hit His Hunting Partner! No Wonder That
George W Bush Never Goes Hunting With Cheney!

[getcentered]

Iraq is a disaster and we as a country need to work together to fix the mess we've caused there, but just as important is the need for the people who vote in this country to remember how foolish and arrogant our Republican leaders were to RUBBER STAMP the policies of the most cursory President in United States history.


The conservative movement in this country has died and been replaced by the most exploitive and out of touch people the world has seen abuse their power in the most powerful country in the world.

We are being judged worldwide and in the end Americans are losing clout, and rightfully so. It's time to put away the self-righteousness.

[plsthink]

To: tjbanshee and other men & women of the armed services....thank you! The negative attitude on posts such as this sounds like wannabe-politicians who has no asperation, inspiration, imagination, & energy to persue what their mouths are dicatating.

[firststate]

If Cheney would go to any other country and just stay, we'd be better off!

[tjbanshee]

hey "adasher1", have you ever been to iraq? i am going to guess no, might be wrong but o well. i have, i am going for m 3rd time this coming summer. the situation over there is crazy yes, but there is WAY more good stuff going on than bad. and i am proud to serve again, o ya i am a DEM. i did not vote for bush but he is here and i will serve proudly under ANY pres. the only way we are going to fix this is if we ALL shut up and work together, then we will fix this. and about cheney going in with out telling anyone, well the pres and his people have been using that tactic for centurys and they have ALL used it in this country, so i guess we need to get a grip on our own country. why dont you find out ALL the facts before you make some dumb comments and one more thing if you have not been to iraq, then dont try to debate me about how it is over there!!!!

[grumpas]

This "war on terror" never has been a war on anything but the American taxpayer! As always, our leaders do not seem to comprehend what terrorism really is! Most of these terrorist cells are independant from most world governments! You might at best find one who funnel's money to them! Most terrorist's are fundamentalist moslems and Saddam was a secular dictator! So, how does anyone honestly believe invading countries like Iraq is going to have a thing to do with the spread of terrorism????? Terrorist's are a whole lot like the Mafia and Oranganized Crime outfits (Russian, Chinese and etc)! They do their dirty work in the clandestine manner! Which means the only way to damage them is through surveylance, informants and following the money! Building a case so they can be proscuted and receive jail time! I am really tired of this mess in Iraq being called a "war on terror" when it isn't! He has done literally nothing about the spread of terrorism! It was a war against Saddam Hussein that was perpetrated by George W Bush! George would have been wise to leave the whole country alone! It looks like it's going to be Neopolian's "Waterloo"!

[abbe7]

Red, red whine, don't stay close to me.
Just let us alone;
It won't tear apart
Our blue, blue hearts.

Red, red whine, just like rummy.
we'd rather see you gone;
It won't tear apart
Our blue, blue hearts.

[the74blaster]

It is obvious that bushrocks has nothing to add to this conversation. So I am not going to bother reading his posts since it doesn't contain anything new.

All I have to say to bushrocks is the Democrats rocked in the midterms and regained control of congress. Deal with it!

[adasher1]

Why is it that when we are "winning" the war, according to the right and that its a safer place, according to the right, and that substuiantial fighting is done, according to the right, yet the sissies in the WH constantly make visits as a suprise? If we are in "control" of the situaton, why not go in brave, with your head uop,boys, and not under all those hush-hush conditions.......wimps - once again the the reps are weak on war........

[bob_burd]

Who gives a SHlT if Cheney goes to Iraq? What's the big deal. Cry about something that matters.

Selah