The lunch with the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- the military brass -- offered Bush a chance to talk directly to the top commanders about the war effort.
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2.
Shelton, who retired shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, said the brass reviewed "on the shelf" plans to respond to crises with the incoming Bush administration.
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3.
During the presidential campaign, President Bush promised the military "help is on the way, " and then surprised the military brass by killing a proposed supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 2001.
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