"Welcome in Bushland" - about Bush in Europe

[neweurope]

In "Spiegel online" (English site) a general picture of Bush's visit in Europe. Some passages are the most critical I've read here so far:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,343994,00.html


Welcome to Bushland

...
In Brussels, Mainz and Bratislava last week, US President George W. Bush attempted to appease friends gone astray. The guest was pleased and -- relatively -- modest. But he didn't come with the goal of placating Europeans. He wanted to convince them of his view of the world.

...

Then the topic turned to freedom and democracy. Bush had mentioned deficiencies in this regard -- he was referring to Russia, not to the United States.

...

A Russian reporter took the opportunity to go on the counterattack against America. In a long-winded question he addressed the issue of democracy in America, but managed to say almost nothing. In fact, the Russian reporter could have saved his breath and mentioned no more than three words, "Guantanamo" and "Abu Ghraib." He might also have chosen to mention "Florida 2000."

...

But a man who is on good terms with dictators and faces opposition from a democratic Europe will find it difficult to explain exactly how he plans to bring democracy to the world.

...


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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[ffm172]

1. Spiegel online

is critic on most topics. I get my news from them most of the time. After all, the magazine is very critical also.

[neweurope]

2. The magazine (our best!) is much more critical than the online version.

Spiegel online has angered my a number of times now because they just printed an AP or Reuters article verbatim. It's understandable given the nature of the medium - everything has to be done very quickly - but it angers me nontheless. That's why this article made me glad :)

-----------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[ffm172]

3. Did you read their articles on the election?

I always thought there were written funny and critical. And they do bring most articles they feature in Der Spiegel also.

[neweurope]

4. Yes - they weren't critical enough for my taste, though :)

But it's true that they're more critical than most. Unfortunately Spiegel online is also a platform for that unspeakable Henryk M. Broder (who I'm sure meanwhile is being paid by the Bushistas). But still it's better to have Spiegel online than not to have Spoiegel online :)

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Swamp Rat]

6. Remember the one where (supposedly) Bush asked if Brasil had black people?

... der absolute oberhammer HAHA!!! :D

When I was living in Brasil, I read a similar article in Veja, aber auf portugües. :)

[neweurope]

7. He did??! No, I hadn't read that. Figures, though.

---------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Swamp Rat]

9. I read it in Der Spiegel in 2003, but the magazine I had was old.

It was a 2002 edition.

snopes.com (urban legend debunking website) is unsure whether it was true ot not. See for yourself:

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/brazil.htm

[neweurope]

10. *g*

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[izzie]

5. I thought a man passing over EU in a bubble silly

Bush wanted the trip so the news at home would say nice things about him. I have thought for years that the world is just plain working right around us. Fr. gave him what Bush wanted. One man to help the police in Iraq and if that was not a slap in the face I do not know what was. I think the world will get back to us when we get rid of this man and his group that want to force the world to do as he tells it. Bush's remarks are coming back to him from the inside of that bubble. It has been the same in EU as here and he talks to set up people and their leaders just smile and go their own way. Bush is a joke but I will say he has a lot of military power and yet that has been shown to the world as on the weak side. The CIA or DOD keeps saying their are about 10,000 terrorist in Iraq and the 'best' army in the world can not get them to stop. I am sure every one in the world knows that now. The world looks at him as the guy with no clothing I feel.

[Inland]

8. He could have mentioned Jose Padilla

the citizen held without charges in jail, incommunicado, for the last two years and if Bush gets his way, forever.