Bush Feels Obama Underminging His Staff's Role in OBL Stike

Dusty · 05-05-2011, 06:03

High Class v. No Class

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...aden_stri.html

WASHINGTON - George W. Bush won't be at Ground Zero with President Obama Thursday in part because he feels his team is getting short shrift in the decade-long manhunt for Osama Bin Laden.

"[Bush] viewed this as an Obama victory lap," a highly-placed source told the Daily News Wednesday.

Bush's visit to the rubble after the 9/11 attacks was the emotional high point of his presidency, but associates say the invitation to return with his successor was a non-starter.

"He doesn't feel personally snubbed and appreciates the invitation, but Obama's claiming all the credit and a lot of other people deserve some of it," the source added.

"Obama gave no credit whatsoever to the intelligence infrastructure the Bush administration set up that is being hailed from the left and right as setting in motion the operation that got Bin Laden. It rubbed Bush the wrong way."

Bush spokesman David Sherzer said Bush "appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight."

Associates familiar with his thinking say Bush does not believe Obama or his handlers wanted to exploit his presence. But the tag-team idea "was for the benefit of Obama, and Obama withheld credit from people Bush believes deserved it," a source said.

Asked about the matter at Thursday's White House briefing, spokesman Jay Carney said "this is a moment of unity for Americans and a moment to recall the unity that existed in this country in the wake of the attacks on 9/11.

"We completely understand that he's not able to come, but…the invitation was made in that spirit," Carney added.

Since leaving office in 2009 the 43rd president has stuck to a rigorous code of silence about criticizing Obama.

After Obama telephoned him on Sunday evening with the word Bin Laden was dead, Bush issued a statement calling it "a momentous achievement."

"I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission," Bush added.

In his remarks to the nation Sunday night Obama mentioned Bush in passing, noting that "I've made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam."

The closest Obama came to praising his predecessor's efforts was indirect: "Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we've made great strides" in the war against Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terror network.

tonyz · 05-05-2011, 06:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

High Class v. No Class

True that.

blacksmoke · 05-05-2011, 06:44

MSM puts it as Obama made OBL capture/kill a priority when he came into office and Bush gave up a long time ago. Can anybody here give any insight on the matter, or would it be a big time violation of OPSEC?

ReefBlue · 05-05-2011, 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacksmoke

MSM puts it as Obama made OBL capture/kill a priority when he came into office and Bush gave up a long time ago. Can anybody here give any insight on the matter, or would it be a big time violation of OPSEC?

What insight? During his election run up, debates and after getting into office, Obama said getting him was a priority. During more than one press conference, Bush said he wasn't concerned with Usama, that he had been marginalized and doesn't think about him any more.

greenberetTFS · 05-05-2011, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

High Class v. No Class

Absolutely...........

Big Teddy

Richard · 05-05-2011, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefBlue

What insight? During his election run up, debates and after getting into office, Obama said getting him was a priority. During more than one press conference, Bush said he wasn't concerned with Usama, that he had been marginalized and doesn't think about him any more.

Presidents and other political critters of all sorts often have to say all kinds of things for any number of reasons, either real or imagined. Context is important to understanding what is being said, why, and what it may mean or what it was meant to convey at the time.

Kudos to those dedicated worker bees who actually git 'er done day in and day out for the good of the nation in spite of what a politician may be saying.

Richard

kgoerz · 05-05-2011, 07:26

Bush actually said in an interview that OBL was no longer a priority. That his where abouts weren't a great concern to the U.S.

tonyz · 05-05-2011, 07:39

I've got to believe that Bush was of this mindset when making such a statement.

All war is deception.
Sun Tzu

IMO, Richard's last post is spot on.

Hats off to all those who work selflessly for the good of the nation while politicians talk.

Red Flag 1 · 05-05-2011, 07:59

Bush leads; obama follows.

This is true on nearly all issues IMHO.

RF 1

Dusty · 05-05-2011, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefBlue

What insight? During his election run up, debates and after getting into office, Obama said getting him was a priority. During more than one press conference, Bush said he wasn't concerned with Usama, that he had been marginalized and doesn't think about him any more.

When do you see more bucks-during hunting season or at any other time of the year BUT hunting season?

Gypsy · 05-05-2011, 17:47

I don't blame GWB at all for refusing to go. You'd think zero had made the headshot himself the way he's taking credit for all of this.

Getting ready for work this morning I was listening to the radio and heard this sound bite played back by the host, he was disgusted. I almost puked.

Quote:

Barbara Walters slobbered over the "courage, and the guts, and the coolness" of President Obama in ordering the assassination of terrorist Osama bin Laden. "It was enormously, enormously courageous," she said of the president's decision to commence the mission to kill or capture the al Qaeda leader.

"President Bush tried, President Clinton tried, but Barack Obama was the one who had the courage and the guts and the coolness," Walters said of the mission before being drowned out in applause from the audience.

Read more: http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/mat...#ixzz1LWaT4Ztw

kawaishi · 05-06-2011, 10:22

Unfortunately, people have a very easy story written for them. President Obama was elected and two years later the US kills UBL...it's a nice little package with a cute Navy SEAL bow on it. It's enough to give the MSM a leg quiver.

I doubt that the people who did the heaviest lifting since 9/11 will get the credit that they deserve.

Dusty · 05-06-2011, 10:25

Should one successful terrorist attack take place in this Country before the election, this bin Laden shit will fade like a fart in a typhoon.

Security needs to remain priority one.

**The Reaper** · 05-06-2011, 10:30

The POTUS' poll numbers are up more than 10 points since before the take-down.

This op may have handed the POTUS another term.

TR

Sdiver · 05-06-2011, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

The POTUS' poll numbers are up more than 10 points since before the take-down.

This op may have handed the POTUS another term.

TR

I hope not, and in away Sir, I'm going to have to disagree ..... not while gas prices are were they are, the economy is still struggling, and unemployment has largely remained unchanged since Barry has taken office.

Bush the Sr had Panama AND the victory in the Gulf, but was only a 1 term President.

Just like the echo from the shot that Killed Bin Laden has faded away, so too will this in the minds of this country as they struggle with their daily lives.