A rock and roll concert along with some blues spread out through the desert at a U.S. airfield in Iraq, about 36 miles from the Syrian border, as American actor/singer Bruce Willis and his band held what was most likely the first rock concert ever at that location. Hundreds of soldiers cheered and whistled as the actor and his band, The Accelerators, added steam to the already hot night air. Most soldiers stressed that they didn't know Willis was a singer, but have approved of what they heard.
CBS reported that Willis sent out a message to all soldiers saying: "We're here to support you, if you catch him (referring to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein), just give me four seconds with Saddam Hussein." The crowd cheered as it was reminded of the million US dollar reward that is to go to the captures of the former Iraqi president.
Willis also talked about the war stressing that: "Peculiar thing back home is that the liberal media was trying to portray it as a bad war," said Willis, noting that with elections coming up, "obviously they (politicians) are trying to grind their axes, get elected and trying to portray the war as unpopular."
"But being over here just a couple of days, seeing how well our troops and the allied troops are being received here, (I) think the Iraqi people are happy we're here. Children are being taken care of, starting being inoculated, starting being looked after," added Willis. "Wherever these guys go they get thumbs up, they no longer have to contend with the terrorist leader."
"I have seen a lot of photographs; I talked to a lot of these guys (soldiers). They (Iraqis) all come out wherever they are and support American troops, wave, thumbs up," said Willis, who also flew south to Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit visiting the 4th Infantry Division soldiers. The actor has also set off to neighboring Kuwait for two concerts for American soldiers based there.
Willis is just one of many American entertainers who have come to Iraq and Kuwait in order to entertain the troops involved in the war in in addition to the continuing military presence in Afghanistan. Other celebrities who have made an effort to visit the soldiers include: the rock band New Found Glory; Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens; Drew Carey; John Ratzenberger, with a show based on the sitcom "Cheers"; Arnold Schwarzenegger; Gary Sinese; Wayne Newton; Paul Rodriguez; Alyssa Milano; Kid Rock; Brittany Murphy; Nappy Roots; and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos. –Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
