11/28/03 4:26:03 PM Pacific Standard Time

Doesn't look like he's fooled too many of the military families,
although yesterday's trip had nothing to do with the soldiers or their
families, Bush's protestations to the contrary.  His purpose for it
was pretty transparent to all...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:     Relatives of U.S. Soldiers in Iraq Decry Bush's "Photo
Opportunity"
Date:     Fri, 28 Nov 2003 11:56:24 -0600
From:     Institute for Public Accuracy <ipamedia@nationalpress.com>
To:     public@lists.accuracy.org



Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
___________________________________________________

    Friday, November 28, 2003

    Interviews Available:

    Relatives of U.S. Soldiers in Iraq
    Decry Bush's "Photo Opportunity"

FERNANDO SUAREZ DEL SOLAR, vsuarez2000@yahoo.com.mx
Fernando Suarez del Solar (whose primary language is Spanish) is the father
of Jesus Alberto Suarez del Solar Navarro, who died in Iraq on March 27. He
will be leaving on a delegation for Iraq this Saturday and is available for
a limited number of interviews. He said today: "Bush goes and looks like he
loves the troops with his posturing. We will be going to Iraq and speak
with people in the streets, with the Iraqis and with the troops to try to
find out what is happening.... Bush says he wants to make a transition of
power to Iraqis, and then says he might send more troops."

JERI REED, http://www.mfso.org
Reed's son has been in Iraq since March. She is a history PhD candidate at
the University of Oklahoma and a member of Military Families Speak Out. She
said today: "It was obviously a big publicity ploy.... These types of
events are all orchestrated. Many of the soldiers are just as angry as we
are. While the ceremony was going on, a U.S. convoy was attacked. Bush is
awfully gallant with our kids' lives. He took a long trip over there and
only spent two and a half hours. It's apparent to him that it's not safe
there. He's saying that we're going to stay no matter what they do to us --
well they're not doing anything to him. We don't need him going there, we
need to bring the troops back here."

JARI SHEESE, bocalocabeads@aol.com
Sheese owns a small business in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her husband is
stationed in Iraq. She said today: "My husband has been away from home for
308 days now. I guess I have 200 more if the latest orders don't get
changed again. I don't really count down since my husband was only supposed
to be gone for 179 days. Today I counted to just see how that compared to
the few hours George Bush spent in Iraq, how that compared with the time he
spent away from his family. In the end, it just seemed like a photo
opportunity that will be used for his election next year. It makes me
wonder what else he has up his sleeve.... So for now, all I have is one
more day that I didn't get a knock at my door by some soldiers in uniform.
That is what I am thankful for this day -- no thanks to George Bush."

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167