Picture of the Day - A bad day at APEC
Take a look at that picture. Do you ever remember anyone talking to Bush like that? (Jason Reed/Reuters)
The very public incident came because Bush refused to offer a peace deal to officially end the Korean War (presumably an element in the latest N. Korea deal.)
"I think I did not hear President Bush mention the — a declaration to end the Korean War just now," Roh said as cameras clicked and television cameras rolled.
Bush said he thought he was being clear, but obliged Roh and restated the U.S. position.
That wasn't good enough either. "If you could be a little bit clearer in your message," Roh said.
Then, in a later meeting,
In another appearance with Australian PM Howard (Reuters), Bush thanked Howard for hosting "the OPEC Summit," and then talked about visiting Austrian (not Australian troops) in Iraq.
Then,"Upon finishing his speech, Bush took the wrong way off-stage and, looking slightly perplexed, had to be re-directed by Howard to a centre-stage exit."
You gotta wonder what's going on......
posted by mikevotes at
7:48 AM
5 Comments:
These seem to be two examples of a weakened Bush and by turn, a weakened America. George Bush, his personality and policies, has resulted in the change of leadership in Spain, Italy and England. Germany and France continue to distance themselves from American foreign policy. Even Poland, a very pro-American country, is feeling uneasy with their relationship with Bush's America.
Australia's Howard also has a questionable political life expectancy, in no small part because of his allegiance to Bush.
Canada's Harper, whom I see as of a similar mold to the Bushian neocon, is nonetheless not wholly in the Bush camp. But that may have more to do with Harper's own conservative, nationalistic, economic interests.
In addition to alienating our would-be (and should-be) allies, Bush's hard-ass, no compromise, take no prisoners, attitude toward Middle Eastern states has caused reformists in these countries -- those non-anti-western political activists -- to become pariahs... fanning the flames of radicalism and anti-Westernism.
In short, everything Bush has attempted to do, has backfired -- had the opposite effect. We know he has no aversion to simply lying. I wonder if, on top of everything else, foreign leaders simply don't trust him.
By
-epm, at 9:19 AM
The leaders who went into Iraq have all paid. Their association with Bush did matter, but not nearly as much as their decision to go along with him.
And I don't know if it's so much that foreign leaders don' think they can trust the Bush administration (it's really pretty predictable,) I think it's that they can't work with them.
That hardline "my way or the highway" works pretty well when the impression is one of strength and world support, but not so much when uttered by a weak lame duck.
(Plus, the Chinese and Russians are playing their hands marvelously, offering protection as other nations chop away.)
By
mikevotes, at 1:32 PM
Well, I think we're largely seeing things the same way, though as usual you're more... nuanced than am I.
While other nations know they "can't work with [the Bush admin]" I wonder if, at a personal level, Bush's integrity -- his character -- is in such low esteem that he's becoming irrelevant (to the extent a superpower can be irrelevant). This is why, I think, we see Rho publicly challenging Bush's words. Also, the recent loosed lips of British military leaders in their criticisms... It's because Bush is seen as "intellectually bankrupt" that they feel empowered to call bullshit. Lame duck aside, I wonder if there's a further dimension in Bush's sliding stature among his peers.
The problem with using strong-arm tactics (my way or the highway) with reluctant allies is that you now have alliances of duress... and this is where we we get the expression "payback's a bitch."
By
-epm, at 3:53 PM
Don't forget he has tried to sell his war as a global war on terror. Not many outside the US see it that way.
By
Anonymous, at 4:21 PM
EPM, At one point I was a salesman, and there was this one guy who required that I take him out and get him drunk at strip clubs to keep the business. He was loud, boorish, and annoying.
One day, I found out that he was getting promoted out of my region. I just pretty much ignored him for his lame duck three months.
I think this is what you're describing.
And, I would guess that Rho was upset because the deal was struck not just between the US and N. Korea, but also the S. Koreans, and Rho thought an end to the war was an agreed upon part of the deal, so he saw his credibilty being trashed by Bush and I would guess that's why he was so insistent.
....
Anon, good point. I don't think Europe, for example would mind a global war on terrorism, it's the product named the global war on terror they object to.
By
mikevotes, at 6:04 PM
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