This program is 28 minutes long
#742735
(Studio: Charles Gibson) Reports introduced.
(Baghdad: Jeffrey Kofman) President Bush's top-secret visit with the troops in Iraq featured; scenes shown from Baghdad International Airport of Bush with the soldiers. [Before the troops, BUSH - thanks the soldiers for their service; states we will not retreat; tells the Iraqi people to rebuild their country.] [S/Sgt. Mary DAVIS, Sgt. Bernie CAMARILLO - praise the president for coming.]
(Studio: Charles Gibson) Report introduced.
(Crawford, Texas: Kate Snow) The cover story behind the president's secret trip to keep the journey quiet featured; scenes shown from his ranch in Crawford, Texas; details given of the timetable of Bush's moves from Texas to Baghdad. [In Iraq, BUSH - says thanks for inviting me to dinner.] [Coalition forces in Iraq commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo SANCHEZ†- talks about what was done.]
(Studio: Charles Gibson, George Stephanopoulos) The White House reaction to the plan to fly to Iraq for Thanksgiving & the plusses & minuses of the trip discussed.
(Studio: Charles Gibson) Report introduced.
(Washington: Jake Tapper) The historical precedents of secret presidential trips examined; scenes shown of Bush holding the turkey & shaking hands with soldiers in Baghdad; examples cited of other secret trips. [Presidential historian Michael BESCHLOSS†, Middle East analyst Toby DODGE†- offer perspective on the president's trip.] [September 2001, Secretary of Defense Donald RUMSFELD - quotes Winston Churchill about government truth needing to be accompanied by "a bodyguard of lies."]
(Studio: Charles Gibson) Anecdote told about Air Force One being passed in flight by a British plane.
#742736
(Studio: Charles Gibson) An insurgent attack in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, against a US military convoy reported; scenes shown of a burning truck. "New York Times" story on a strategy change in Iraq noted.
#742739
(Studio: Charles Gibson) Report introduced.
(New York: Ron Claiborne) Heavy police security during the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City featured; scenes shown from the city streets of people watching the Macy's parade. [Three WOMEN - comment on the police presence & the parade.]
#742742
(Studio: Charles Gibson) A closer look at Americans' buying & spending habits introduced.
(New York: Robert Krulwich) How Americans spend from paycheck to paycheck examined; graph shown of the new "V-pattern" spending cycle for Wal-Mart customers who apparently go broke between pay days. [Securities analyst Bill DREHER- talks about Wal-Mart's tracking of consumers' spending.]
#742745
(Studio: Charles Gibson) President Bush's surprise visit to Baghdad, Iraq, shown.
(Ft. Hood, Texas: Mike von Fremd) The story of Apache helicopter pilot CW4 Mike Reese, who is based in Tikrit, Iraq, featured; scenes shown of a desert Thanksgiving. [At Ft. Hood, wife Melinda REESE - talks about Thanksgiving dinner without her husband; outlines family events missed by Mike.] [In Tikrit & on leave in Texas, REESE - comments on his job.]
#742746