President Bush visits with German officials, U.S. military members

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Jenny Lovett
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RHEIN-MAIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  Amidst frigid temperatures and blowing snow, President George W. Bush, met by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, arrived here Feb. 23 as part of his European tour.

Accompanied by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and White House chief of staff Andrew Card, President Bush stepped out of Air Force One and waved to a crowd of approximately 100 civilians and military members, including Brig. Gen. Rosanne Bailey, 435th Air Base Wing commander, who was the official greeter for Chancellor Schroeder upon his arrival earlier in the morning.

After greeting other high-level officials, President Bush stepped into his motorcade and drove to Mainz , Germany , where Chancellor Schroeder hosted talks about the future of NATO and rebuilding efforts in Iraq.

After the visit, President Bush met with nearly 3,000 U.S. military members and spouses from the Air Force and the Army’s 1st Armored Division at Wiesbaden, Germany, many of whom were in Iraq when he made a surprise visit there during Thanksgiving.

“We are honored that the President and Mrs. Bush have chosen Wiesbaden to visit with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and family members of the United States European Command,” said Maj. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division.

The president’s whirlwind tour began with back-to-back meetings with NATO and European Union leaders in Brussels, Belgium, where he affirmed that “in this new century, the United States and Europe reaffirm that commitment (of democracy, freedom and rule of law) and renew our great alliance of freedom.”