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in Seoul, Korea today. It was a painful experience. I was able to dodge Rumsfeld's visit back in November, unfortunately today I was not so lucky. I was one of 40-50 soldiers from my unit that had to attend the show....We had to be at the post movie theater by 10:30 this morning. We stood around for thirty minutes before going inside the theater for a security briefing, then we had to go through the airport metal detectors and they searched everything. We even had to take our belts off so the metal in the buckles would not set off the alarms....While they were searching my pocket change, no knives, cell phones, palm pilots etc...allowed they would not allow me to take in a P-38 (a small versatile can opener for the young crowd)that I've had on my key chain since basic training back in 1977. I had to give it up and was not able to recover it later. Boy was I pissed off. THat thing has gone all over the world, including multiple major airports, Afghanistan and I've used it for a screwdriver, can opener, package opener etc...guess the security folks were worried tired, enraged soldiers would attack the VP with a P-38 can opener.....
THe speech Cheney delivered was ho hum....Thank you Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines,....America thanks you for your service, war on terrorism, terrorist fleeing and we're chasing them...attack us and we'll come after you....blah, blah, blah....All I could see was Darryl Hammond and SNL spoofing Cheney and I tried not to laugh to loudly. Most of the troops around me were all hyped up for the visit. It was a day off work for alot of troops. We had about 1500 troops and family members in a gymnasium that is normally white, but today was draped in camouflage netting. We were packed all around him and it was hot in the gym when he finally showed up about 1:40pm He was 40 minutes late, was supposed to be there at 1:00pm Lots of small American flags were thrown to the troops and we were told to wave them like crazy when the official party showed up. The only classy part of the whole show was at the end when a dozen dedicated soldiers reenlisted and Cheney gave them their reenlistment oath. That's one reenlistment ceremony that will not be forgotten by those kids. One male and one female latrine open for 1500 people. Talk about lines...even we guys had to stand in line for the latrine toady.
Armed Forces Network TV did not even show the speech on the news tonight but will broadcast Cheney's trip in a show on Monday night. Such is life in Korea when the VP shows up. It's been a long week with lots of delays in traffic and MPs and Korean cops rehearsing routes, more inspections at the gates coming on post all to keep Cheney safe and sound...Oh well, wish he would spend some time in Fallujah, Tikirt, Gardez or Spin Buldoc, places where troops are getting shot at daily.....Wishful thinking I guess. Maybe he will just go back into hiding....
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