Refueling as Photo-Op

President Bush, afraid to attend a Labor Day Parade, flew into Iraq today. He will spend his six hours on a large base (17 miles in circumference)in Anbar Province.

Obviously, his security people thought he would be safer in Iraq than in front of Middle Class Americans, and I'm sure that they are right.  Still the deception required to get him safely out of the country is embarrassing:

The president was spirited out of the White House late Sunday....Instead of the usual presidential motorcade, only one other car accompanied Bush's limousine from the executive mansion to Andrews in an effort to maintain the subterfuge.

Sixteen hours before he was scheduled to leave for the Asia summit, Bush boarded Air Force One as it sat in a hanger and the aircraft departed after dark.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said a false schedule released for the news media on Monday was part of the security plan for the trip.

Why does he feel the need to hide under the bushes like this?  Are we supposed to believe that he is risking his life to visit the troops? The trip is after all only a photo op, and a real insult to the soldier and the taxpayer alike. Instead of spending their time providing a Potemkin-like backdrop for the President, the soldiers should be allowed to do the work that will get them home as soon as possible. The taxpayer is aware that this is just cynical manipulation - and would undoubtedly prefer that the President just use photoshop to create these false portraits.

P.S. To see how ridiculous it becomes, please go to the obsequious Captain Ed wrote that

"Bush stayed primarily in Baghdad the last two trips he took to Iraq, but today he will stay in Anbar."

In the real world a  "stay" means an overnight. But when the right wants to praise their leader it can be as long as it takes to refuel.

(thanks to memeorandum for the links)