Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20081215-01
Dec. 15, 2008

Bush makes final presidential visit to deployed service members

By Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante
Multi-National Corps - Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD - Camp Victory service members had the opportunity to spend time
with their commander in chief during the holiday season when President
George W. Bush visited Al Faw Palace Dec. 14. This will be Bush's last visit
to deployed troops as the president of the United States.
 
 Bush, who arrived to thunderous applause and chants of "USA", spoke
to more than 1,500 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines about the
incredible job they've done in Iraq.
 
 "Congratulations on your inspiring accomplishments here in Iraq and
above all thank you very much for volunteering to defend our country in a
time of danger," Bush said. "Thanks to you the Iraq we stand in tonight is
dramatically freer, dramatically safer, dramatically better than the Iraq we
found eight years ago. As a result of the sacrifices of our troops, America
is safer and more secure."
 
 He also brought holiday wishes from the states, letting the troops
know they are not forgotten even though they're serving far from home.
 
 "Laura and I have been having a lot of Christmas parties at the
White House, so I thought it'd be kinda neat to change the scenery," Bush
said. "I'd rather be with the men and women of the United States military
than anyone else," Bush said. 
 
 "I bring greetings from a proud and grateful nation. Merry Christmas
to you and happy holidays," Bush continued. "This is the time of year to
give thanks for our many blessings. The greatest blessing we have is freedom
and the fact that we've got a United States military to defend that
freedom."
 
 After his speech, Bush shook hands with as many service members as
possible, posed for pictures, signed autographs and then made his exit to
catch his flight out of Iraq. Bush has spent time with troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan four times throughout his presidency.
First Lt. James C. Benson, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, Special
Troops Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, said he's been in the military for
12 years and this is the first time he's been able to see the president in
person.
 
 "It's nice to see the commander in chief. It gave me purpose in what
I'm doing here; It drove my purpose home," he said.
 
 Although the 43rd president is on his way out of office after
serving for eight years, his trip to Iraq let service members know he's
still thinking of them.
 
 "I think it really meant a lot to everyone that was here," said 1st
Lt. Damien Butel, Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2. "It was
really good for them to see him in his final days in office and know that
we're still on his mind as we're fighting out here."
 
 Even though the changing of the guard with President-elect Barak
Obama will begin in just under a month, service members are continuing to
accomplish their day-to-day missions in Iraq to help this country move
towards a brighter future.
 
 "We're continuing to do the job that we're scheduled for," Butel
said. "We're not dropping our packs for anything. We're just going to
continue to press on."

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