"Flying those friendly skies in my Airstream"

On the vice president's visit to the middle east earlier this month, Cheney flew into Afghanistan and Iraq in an Airstream. Airstream trailer that is!

Cheney used Air Force Two to reach the middle east but, once there, he switched to a C-17 cargo plane as testament to his confidence in the security those nations now enjoy under the aegis of United States protection.

I don't know if Cheney flew into Baghdad under cover of darkness, but I know his Iraq visit was an unannounced surprise. This is probably for security reasons, just like the switch to a nondescript C-17 cargo craft, the likes of which make oodles of flights in and out of Iraq each day. The blue and white Air Force 2 boldly sporting "United States of America" emblazened on its sides probably seemed a tad too risky.

So, where's the Airstream trailer come in? Well, apparently a big ol' C-17 is much more austere than Air Force Two, so strapped into its large cargo plane's belly was an Airstream trailer for Cheney's private sleeping and working quarters. It served to protect him from the noise and cold. Unfortunately, his staff, security and press weren't so lucky. They sat outside the trailer in the "elements".

But I have to wonder if the irony of Cheney's situation ever crossed his mind? I mean, here he is, flying into his and Bush's model state for nation building under the cover of surprise (and darkness?), inside an Airstream trailer in the belly of a drafty C-17 disguising himself as just another load of MRE's and Humvee replacement parts.

Dada muses back to another time, twenty years ago or so, when Cheney flew into Iraq on a blue and white plane proudly sporting the words "United States of America" on its sides. And his visit was pre-planned and announced publicly. And he probably landed in broad daylight.

And he met with Saddam Hussein who didn't have any chemical weapons back then either. But that was okay, because that's what Cheney had come to Iraq to give Saddam. And to help Iraq develop its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs. And then they shook hands as Cheney boarded a warm, quiet, and comfortable plane with the words "United States of America" proudly visible on its sides. No need of an Airstream trailer inside a drafty boxcar of a plane.

And I wonder if Cheney must have pondered today's Iraq. A nation that now sports more deaths from U.S. enforced U.N. sanctions and Bush-Cheney's war than Saddam Hussein could ever claim.

Maybe not. Maybe those thoughts never crossed his mind. Maybe Cheney was thinking instead, "Hmmm, pretty nice Airstream. I'm gonna have to get me one of these when I get back home."