Bush trip a tough diplomatic test (we all know how good he does on tests)

[uppityperson]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4514741.stm

As President George W Bush heads for Europe to take part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II, the BBC's James Coomarasamy examines what the president hopes to achieve. In Washington there is general agreement that this will be the toughest test yet of Mr Bush's second term in office.

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Less welcome for the Russian leader, though, is the fact that on the eve of the Moscow events Mr Bush will be meeting the leaders of Lithuania and Estonia; two countries which are boycotting the parade.

With the backing of Washington, the three Baltic States have been pushing the Kremlin to apologise for their annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940
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It is a tricky, nuanced diplomatic task for a president, who is perceived as often having - in public, at least - a black and white view of the world.

(Mods, sorry if dupe or wrong forum, I did a search and couldn't find this yet)

[ewagner]

1. If Bush* succeeds

it will be because he either bribed or threatened his way through it....

those are the only "diplomatic techniques" he knows....

[rwork]

2. Wonderful Daily Show material

Rich in bushism's, and -uckups.Truly an embarrassment to America.

[confludemocrat]

3. They called the Nazi/commie pact the "deadly embrace"

and deadly it was, including the annexation of the Baltics in 1940 by Stalin, followed by the the Nazi invasion of the USSR on June 22, 1941. So Bush is there to do what? Only by explicitly recalling that pact, especially its expediency as a power grab for imperialistic ends and the consequences of what is now being revived authoritarian verging on totalitarian rule, armed to the teeth, would Bush do right. Bush must pay homage to the sacrifice of the Russian people explicitly in defeating Nazism and admit that that sacrifice is the only reason that WWII resulted in an unconditional surrender instead of another armistice.

Now we may have the new "deadly embrace": Bush/Putin, two authoritarian rulers one with designs on worldwide domination, the other seeking to consolidate his power in his own country, both armed to the teeth and willing to look the other way regarding each others behavior.

[Demit]

4. Didn't Bush himself say he doesn't do nuance?

This should be fun, in a sickly-embarrassing-again way.

[demo dutch]

5. For Bush, a Europe tour with tricky terrain - (Great protest poster photo)

For Bush, a Europe tour with tricky terrain
Democracy a central theme in trip marking end of WWII in Europe

The Associated Press
Updated: 10:48 a.m. ET May 6, 2005WASHINGTON -

President Bush undertakes delicate diplomacy on a European tour that celebrates the Allied victory in World War II against a backdrop of post-Cold War tensions over the march of democracy in the former Soviet Union.

Bush took off Friday on a voyage that will range from a solemn remembrance of wartime sacrifice at an American cemetery in the Netherlands to a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square celebrating European victory in World War II.

It is a trip that will also include a simple wreath-laying at a Latvian monument symbolizing independence from communism and a speech before tens of thousands in the freshly democratic ex-Soviet republic of Georgia.

Bush: Each generation's responsibility “It’s a moment to understand that with each generation comes responsibilities to work to achieve peace,” Bush said Thursday in a pre-trip interview with several foreign media outlets.

Bush faces many issues as he hits four countries in five long days.

Meeting in Riga, Latvia, on Saturday with the leaders of the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, he’ll get questions about an American visa policy that makes it difficult for Central and Eastern Europeans to travel to the United States.

On Sunday, he visits the Netherlands, where he is deeply unpopular because of his decision to go to war in Iraq — and later because of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal and the indeterminate detention of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

More at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7745789/

[cliss]

6. I just read in a Swedish online newspaper that Bush

is going on a "Goodwill tour" through eastern Europe. The article said he will continue to push "democracy" and continue to hammer away at Putin. It didn't say "hammer" but they meant that Putin should watch himself, because he's under Bush's scrutiny.

Yeah, right. There was a photo of Bush, with his perennial Beauty Queen wave. His face looks terrible. His nose has gotten more red lately. (it's all the broken capillaries from the drinking). It's fairly obvious nowadays.

Clown.

[6000eliot]

7. We all know he cheats on tests! n/t

[mia]

8. modern-day recent 'democratic' advances?

I can't think of any.

"But democracy — whether it’s the WWII victory over the Nazis and fascists, the end of communism in Eastern Europe or modern-day recent democratic advances — is Bush’s overriding priority."

[jazzjunkysue]

9. I think he's hoping they won't notice he can't speak english too good.

It takes the pressure off, walking among these smelly, unshaven europeans. None of them have their very own ranch. Geesh.