Date:   5/2/2003 3:54:45 PM ( 22 y ago)
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URL:   https://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=571734

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TV-Friendly Bush Visit Caused Few Changes
4 minutes ago

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By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer

ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN - President Bush (news - web
sites) didn't have to make a dramatic tailhook landing on this aircraft carrier. He
could have flown here on a helicopter as presidents normally would, the White
House said Friday.

Officials also acknowledged positioning the massive
ship to provide the best TV angle for Bush's speech,
with the vast sea as his background instead of the
very visible San Diego coastline.

Bush's aides were delighted by the saturation
television coverage and front-page pictures of Bush's
visit Thursday to this ship homebound from the
Persian Gulf. Press secretary Ari Fleischer (news -
web sites) dismissed any suggestion that the
overnight trip was custom-ordered to provide
campaign footage for Bush's re-election campaign.

"This is not about the president. This is about
thanking the men and women who won a war," he
said.

Fleischer had said last week that Bush would have to
fly out to the carrier by plane because the Lincoln
would be hundreds of miles offshore, making helicopter travel impractical.

As it turned out, the ship was just 39 miles from the coast when Bush scored a
presidential first by landing on the flight deck in a small S-3B Viking jet that was
snared by a restraining wire. He climbed out of the cockpit wearing a flight suit and
carrying a helmet under his arm, and was swarmed by crew members. The scene
was captured on live television and replayed again and again.

"He could have helicoptered, but the plan was already in place," Fleischer said.
"Plus, he wanted to see a landing the way aviators see a landing."

Navy officials said they made minor changes to the Lincoln's route home to
accommodate the president. The changes did not keep personnel at sea longer
than they otherwise would have been, said John Daniels, a ship spokesman.

In fact, the Abraham Lincoln was scheduled at one time to arrive in San Diego on
Saturday, but that was moved up to accommodate Bush's schedule, said Lt. Cmdr.
Jeff Bender. The carrier arrived Friday.

There was no denying the ship's movements were carefully choreographed to
benefit Bush.

Commanders gauged the wind and glided along at precisely that speed so that sea
breezes would not blow across the ship during Bush's speech. That could create
unwanted noise, Daniels said.

When the wind shifted during the speech, the ship changed course to minimize the
breeze, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Terrance Rice.

The camera angle also was arranged by the White House to ensure it did not show
the nearby coastline. A huge banner reading "Mission Accomplished" was strung
along the bridge and loomed behind Bush.

The Navy sent all but a couple of fighter jets off the plane Wednesday and
Thursday. Those left behind were left on the flight deck as props for Bush's
speech.

The 1,100-foot-long carrier steamed near the San Diego coast all night to come in
at its appointed time Friday morning.
 

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