Secret move to upgrade air base for Iran attack plans

President Bush Visits Diego Garcia
Story Number: NNS070904-01
Release Date: 9/4/2007 10:28:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael W. Pulley, Diego Garcia Public Affairs

DIEGO GARCIA, British Indian Ocean Terrority (NNS) -- After spending most of Labor Day with U.S. troops serving in Iraq, President George W. Bush made a very brief morning visit Sept. 4 to one of the U.S. Navy’s most remote duty stations in the world: the U.S. Navy Support Facility (NSF) on the island of Diego Garcia, in British Indian Ocean Territory.

“This is the third time now the president has visited a command I’ve been a part of and I’ve always noticed how he gets energized shaking hands and saying hello to our service men and women,” said Capt. Greg L. Looney, NSF Diego Garcia’s commanding officer.

The visit was scheduled with less than 12 hours of notice and a lot of work needed to be done in that short amount of time to prepare for the president’s arrival.

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In less than 90 minutes, Bush met with more than 100 military members from both the Navy and Air Force and took the time to pose for several group photographs.

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This was Bush’s first visit to Diego Garcia and the first visit from any U.S. president in quite some time.

Along with meeting many of the Sailors and Airmen of the island, the president took time to speak with Capt. Looney and Royal Navy Cmdr. Gary Brooks, the British Representative for the island, about the many missions of Diego Garcia and its strategic importance in the world.

“He was really interested ... and he understands the importance of our mission,” said Looney.

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Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was part of the official party and also spent time meeting with the military members of Diego Garcia.