Hillary Risking Life, Limb, Chelsea, And Sheryl Crow

More Hillarity - Ms. Clinton tells the world about her harrowing experiences as First Lady, but neither Dean Barnett nor the Captain are buying.

(Clinton argued) she risked her life on White House missions in the 1990s, including a hair-raising flight into Bosnia that ended in a "corkscrew" landing and a sprint off the tarmac to dodge snipers.

"I don't remember anyone offering me tea," she quipped. (Aaah, the gallows humor of the remarkably brave!)

The dictum around the Oval Office in the '90s, she added, was: "If a place was too dangerous, too poor or too small, send the first lady."

It turns out that Clinton wasn't quite flying solo into harm's way that day.

She was, in fact, leading a goodwill entourage that included baggy-pants funnyman Sinbad, singer Sheryl Crow and Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, then 15, according to an account of the March 1995 trip in her autobiography "Living History."

Dean asks the tough questions:

What does it say about Hillary that, by her own (admittedly fanciful) telling, she knowingly put her daughter in harm's way, taking a special Mom-and-daughter (and Sinbad) trip to a place that was “too dangerous?”

Captain Ed digs up some NY Times coverage that somehow overlooked the various dangers to which Ms. Clinton exposed herself and Chelsea.  To that let me add this Reuters account (found in a Free Republic post speculating about then-Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown's possible assassination in April 1996) as well as some on-the-spot photos from a soldier who was there.

My guess - if Bill was willing to whack Ron Brown in Bosnia just a few weeks later, Hillary had to be feeling vulnerable; Chelsea and Sheryl Crow were there as protection.

Somewhat more seriously, there is this from Reuters:

Mrs. Clinton flew to Bosnia from Germany with the two entertainers on a huge C-17 Air Force cargo jet, becoming the first U.S. first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt to visit an area of conflict independently of her commander-in-chief husband. Her visit was much more extensive than the one President Clinton made in January. Because of poor weather and security concerns he never got any further than 500 yards from the Tuzla airstrip.

So Bill Clinton flew in two months earlier and security was poor; Ms. Clinton may well have been briefed that this was a hazardous trip.  So why take Chelsea?  I am out of answers.

From the Times coverage it appears that her greatest threat was from disgruntled American soldiers.

MORE:  Sweetness and Light provides Hillary's account from her book, "Living Clown Show History".   

Also, the Times covered President Clinton's visit to Tuzla on Jan 14, 1996:

It took Mr. Clinton two tries today to make it into Tuzla, the headquarters of the American forces, who will eventually number 20,000 of the 60,000 NATO peacekeepers.

Early this morning, the C-17 military transport plane carrying Mr. Clinton, his aides and a bipartisan Congressional delegation was diverted because of fog to the next stop on his itinerary -- an American staging base in Taszar, Hungary. Despite this delay of several hours, the President's entourage was upbeat.

...

Mr. Clinton's trip was marked by heavy security. His precise itinerary was closely held, and Secret Service sharpshooters followed him in Tuzla, where he stayed inside the grounds of the airfield, seeing nothing of the war's effects on the town. A senior official in his entourage said the President's visit had "more logistical, security and weather variables" than he had ever encountered before.

Mr. Clinton took off from Tuzla about two and a half hours after his arrival as fog rolled in, advised by the Secret Service to leave before dark.

The Times also covered the situation as experienced by the troops:

Encircled By Peril, G.I.'s Stay Nonchalant

...To tell you the truth, I feel pretty safe right here," he said, his head poking from the turret of the Bradley fighting vehicle he commands. "As long as there is this much ammo all around me, I don't think they'd be dropping too many mortar rounds," he said, sounding certain that the Serbs would not risk destroying their ammunition to fire at the 22 American soldiers on this lookout point [which was south of Tuzla].

...

Capt. Hugo Jackson, the commander of Charlie Company, is waiting in quiet fury for the delivery of 400 rolls of concertina wire. Now, empty fence posts ring the camp, a breach in security he hopes the Serbs do not wish to take advantage of.

Near dusk on Thursday, a shot rang out from over a hill, and the soldiers fixing a generator looked up but did not duck: They assumed it was simply another shot fired in the air, as common here as men strolling the streets with loaded AK-47's.

"Don't worry, I caught it!" yelled Sgt. Robert Chandler, the First Sergeant.   

Sergeant Chandler, at 37 what the military calls an "old soldier," worries the men have adjusted perhaps too well, given the visible dangers all around. Many soldiers in this rural pocket of grazing sheep and crowing roosters, which was spared the ravages of war, find it difficult to imagine any threat to their lives.

"I'm trying to get them scareder," Sergeant Chandler said.

He succeeded with Hillary.
 

 

Comments

[JM Hanes]

"Hillarity" I like it! I predict it will end up on next year's banned words list.

[Elliott]

Many in the Secret Service received their walking papers, doubtless.

[Ann]

More Hillarity

[JM Hanes]

Ann's ealier link to "Ms. Hillar[ity] does Pakistan" is just begging to be posted here.

I'm picturing Hill, Chelsea, assorted hi-profile guests and a secret security detail all zigging and zagging across the tarmacat speed . "Dodging snipers' probably consisted of telling her not to do her photo ops till she got inside. Having flown into West Virginia, I'm afraid corkscrew landings don't impress much either.

[JM Hanes]

Ann,
Looks like you were sprinting while I was zigging & zagging!

[clarice]

charleston in fog...Yes, indeed, jmhanes. And a wonderful New Year to you. (One set of guests have left and am staying up for the drop-in-for-a-nightcap crowd. ) I do think Hillary's gaffe on Pakistan is considerable though no paper seems smart enough to catch it. She should stick to listening tours--
It is better to remain quiet and thought a fool than to open mouth and remove all doubt. - Mark Twain

[Soylent Red]

"I'm picturing Hill, Chelsea, assorted hi-profile guests and a secret security detail all zigging and zagging across the tarmac at speed"

Heh. All grunting, "Hut, hut, hut" every step of the way, with bullets ricocheting off barrels and whatnot along the way.

Hillarity (as played by Susan Sarandon) upon entering the airport lounge, knocks back a double bourbon in one gulp and growls to Chelsea, "The odds were 10,000 to one. But danger is my business."

Oh wait...

That was from my screenplay of "Lethal Tea Party IV", not from reality. I get those two mixed up sometimes.

[clarice]

Soylent, Have I told you lately that I heart you?

[Soylent Red]

Thanks Clarice. You would be one of a very, very few.

But the feeling is mutual.

Happy New Year.

[clarice]

And to you, Soylent. I'd add "serpentine, serpentine" to the "hut, hut, hut" of your proposed dialogue. (Remember that wacky Arkin, Mattheau movie?)

[JM Hanes]

Saludos & a Happy New Year, Clarice! Having done a double lifetime's worth of entertaining while I was married, I've settled into running out the clock at home, calling the kids and trying to decide whether to go for the ball drop in Times Sq. or the Drag Queen who slides down the giant shoe -- which I suppose is a kind of ball drop in its own right.

Hill's Pakistan gaffe is pretty stunning. The appointment of Bhutto's 17 year old son, under the aegis of a demonstrably corrupt father, ought to give everyone pause when it comes to accepting the kind of simplistic dictator vs. democrat constructions she's been offering up as well. Whether anyone in the campaign press corps knows enough to ask a decent question on the subject is doubtful, alas. I'll give points to any candidate who goes after her on it.

[Soylent Red]

"serpentine, serpentine"

Nyuck, nyuck. That was "The In-Laws". An inspired piece of cinema.

Probably we'd better check and see what Martin Balsam was doing around that period of time. After all he was at both "The Raid on Entebbe" and "The Taking of Pellham 1-2-3". Surely something as important as Hillarity high steppin' it off of a Bosnian apron would warrant his presence. Even if it was at the confluence of Hollywood and Washington that exists only in Hillarity's mind.

Also, as far as corkscrew landings go -- Tucson International. One of the few landing I have been through that elicited a hearty "Jesus CHRIST!" out of me.

[JM Hanes]

Yes Soylent! You've caught the moment exactly, natch, including the emblematic mix up between script and reality. Your deus ex machina arrival augurs well for the New Year. It's always so good to hear from you - here's wishing you all the best!

[MayBee]

That was from my screenplay of "Lethal Tea Party IV"

Oh, I do love you too, Soylent.
Happy New Year, Soylent, JMH and Soylent, Ann and TM.
It is early here, but my husband and I are naught but chauffeurs for our teenagers this evening.

[JM Hanes]

Happy New Year MayBee! Am I right in thinking that you're back in the States now?

[Sue]

31 years ago, I was about to go into labor. My oldest daughter was born at 9:57 AM on January 1, 1977.

[JM Hanes]

Soylent:

I'll see your Tucson flight and raise you a flight out of the mountains into Denver with a dead drop of 500 feet that elicited a hearty "Jesus CHRIST" -- from the stewardess.

[JM Hanes]

Sue:
Does that qualify as starting out the year with a bang or a whimper? :)

[clarice]

jmhanes, how right you are about Pakistan.
Hillary's gaffe--something that should hurt a person running as the "most experienced in foreign affairs" If,,I say IF...any of her opponents or the press covering the campaign knew any more than she did.
Ptuhi...

And if we're into airport stories how about my flight on an old WWII bomber refitted for passengers from Moscow to Lvov...actually to retell it I'd have to relive it, and I rather just concede to JMH's Denver drop in.

[clarice]

Yadayada , Sue--less than 10 hours of labor..Now, mine was 22 hours//not that I'd hold it over my son's head or anything.......

[Soylent Red]

JMH:

You win. Oddly, He was flying neither aircraft.

I have just purchased a DVD copy of the 1979 version of "The In-Laws" after IMDBing it and laughing at the quotes until my face hurt.

Which now makes me even with all of the rest of the world who my face also hurts.

[Paul Zrimsek]

In other news, Hillary is reportedly incensed at the Secret Service's refusal to replace her security detail with ninjas.

Latest Hillary Fictional Avatar sighting here.

[Sue]

Both! ::grin::

[Topsecretk9]

Hey --->HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEARS JOMer's!<---- I echo OtherT om on the Guitar Hero thread ----> You all are very, very good friends to me and in my thoughts and prayers!

(lately I've been doing "---->" alot. It's silly and nonsensical and still I can't help it!)

It's not the New Year here yet. When I dropped off my son an hour ago at a friends he said "see you next year Mom" ba dump bump!

Ann - The Cioppino recipe has finally been uncovered. I can't believe it myself. I'll see if I can photobucket a pdf otherwise I'll find a lonely thread an paste it.

[clarice]

ts--smooches to you for all your work (ditto to Sunny Day). Night all and best wishes for a wonderful New Year. (You'll stay healthy, hear me!!!)

[Topsecretk9]

--9:57 AM--

Do you call her to wish her birthday at 9:57 AM every year?

[Topsecretk9]

Last was meant for SUE.

[Topsecretk9]

Clarice

Sweet Dreams Goddess!

[JM Hanes]

Well shoot, Soylent -- I was holding even worse stuff in reserve for when you saw my Denver flight with something in, say, the Caribbean.

Sue: Weren't those the days? My husband went home in the middle of my first labor to get some rest! And here we are, a generation later. When did that happen?

TSK9: I'd wish you sweet dreams too, but you don't actually sleep do you? :)

[Topsecretk9]

JMH-

HECK NO...I've got rubber clogs on, in the garden wondering if a few of the pretties can weather the sudden cold. I'm in pretty temperate climate but it feels chilly to me.

Although, I did learn that those people I sniggered at when they said "this cold ain't nothin!" were right! Jan. 6th in DC on the mall? Knives. I've been humbled. California Valley on a bad day is not, I guess, that bad.

JMH, I hope you have a blast of a new year as the last. You are amazing and I conjured up appropriate wonderment about you left by glimpses of you. Hip boots an all.

[Ralph L]

not that I'd hold it over my son's head
After I was born, they told my mother not to have any more children (they'd planned to have 4). Thankfully, I didn't hear about that 'til a few years ago, but I have fewer baby photos than my 2 older siblings. My father, of course, was at sea when I was born, also when a big tree fell on the house, and when my mother sprained her ankle showing my brother how to do the can-can.

JMH, I believe Sue started April 1976 with a bang (I hope no whimpers). I hope her husband did, too.

[GFC]

Forced to go to major square. Mayors building, fireworks. Something was happy about the nuke rumors, but someone else thinks America Blog planned for it.

Anyway, kid people: It is wrong to breed. Humans are insane and its wrong to make more of them. Psychiatrist. It's okay to tell them their in hell so they don't breed, but they tend to have problems, so tell them their not.............

[Topsecretk9]

GFC

Happy New Year cryptic person!

[PeterUK]

"The dictum around the Oval Office in the '90s, she added, was: "If a place was too dangerous, too poor or too small, send the first lady."

The Arkansas Divorce seems to be rather heavy duty.

"That's what I said General,it's a clandestine attack on Tuzla Airport,they are using a plane disguised as a C17"...."Use what means you deem necessary".
"OK Monica,hand me another cigar"

[clarice]

Well, PUK, you started off the year making me laugh out lud (again).

[clarice]

**lOud** (DAMN TYPEPAD or whatever this is.)

[maryrose]

Happy New year to all! I had a wonderful evening at my brother's house while my daughter and her cousins had their own party nearby in her cousin's apartment. Talked to my sister who lives in southern Ohio and again rejoiced in my good fprtune to be part of such a great family.
Best news this morning: Obama ahead of Hil in Iowa
32% to 26%. Hillarity is going down...

[maryrose]

TM:
Almost forgot-my nephew got Guitar Hero for Christmas and it was a blast watching him play with 84% accuracy...

[SunnyDay]

Happy New Year, everyone!!

[PeterUK]

Anybody with a smaller ego would have taken the hint,couldn't have been more obvious if he'd sent her to open a cathedral in Tehran.

[Jane]

After weeks and weeks of not being able to fall asleep before 1:00 AM without Ambien, I snoozed thru the ball drop until a young budding rock star friend of mine sent me a text message at 12:07.

And then for the first time in a 100 years I slept until 9:00 AM.

So far I'm liking 2008. I've been to the gym and back and now we are having a blizzard. Seems just about perfect so far.

Happy New Year everyone. It is really gonna be one hell of a ride. My hope is that we are all here a year from now, same time, same place and that it doesn't show on any of us!

[MayBee]

JMH- yes, I'm now in Caleeforn-ia. I was at the tail end of the New Year this time, rather than the leading edge.

[clarice]

HEH HEH HEH

[clarice]

Thanks Jane and Sunny--Good wishes back to you.

[PeterUK]

"Mr. Clinton took off from Tuzla about two and a half hours after his arrival as fog rolled in, advised by the Secret Service to leave before dark."

Before the woman's husband got back from work?

[MayBee]

Ah, I missed a few names in my Happy New Year from last night. I was trying to get everyone that seemed to be around. Man, I was completely sober and still messed up. That can't be a good omen for the coming year.

Happy New Year everyone! May your year be filled with Sinbad and Sheryl Crow.

[glasater]

Going back to Hillary and experience--how can it be that she saw classified material when she was first lady when she didn't have security clearance at the time.
She told George Stephanopolis in the Sunday interview she read/saw classified docs but the NYT said she did not have a clearance.

[Sara]

glasater: I heard Dick Morris say that too, about Hillary not having the right clearances to see some of the classified material she says she's seen. He also said that more than half the time, she and Bill weren't speaking to each other and she wasn't at any meetings during those times.

[clarice]

Maybe Sandy Berger got them for her.

[sbw]

Berger! Ouch!