Bush got sucker-punched in Hungary

[Rose Siding]

...So with negotiations over the prison continuing, the Hungarian prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany, used all his diplomatic skills to corner Mr. Bush during their brief appearance before the Hungarian and American news media.

"Within a couple of months," the prime minister announced, the Tancsics prison will finally return to Hungarian ownership. "Let me tell you quite frankly," he added, "that the president showed much more understanding for the importance and the meaning of this issue. And just within this circle I can say that he promised, and if he did that, it will happen."

Mr. Bush's face reddened, and he shook his head, looked down and laughed, a laugh that made some wonder just what promise had been made.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/world/europe/25notebook.html

Oh, yeah. We're safer.

[patrice]

1. Are those some of those "off the books" prisons we've had?

Oh, I thought it was something in addition to Guantanamo.

[Rose Siding]

2. No, but the guy tricked Jr by making a public announcement

That's how it appears, anyway.

[patrice]

3. He was probably not even supposed to bring it up during this "visit".

[Robbien]

7. One of the biggest secret prisons is supposed to be in Hungary

Ever since the NYT notice got out about the secret prisons, Hungarians have been up in arms to close the one there.

Ha, Bushy put his foot in it this time.

[Rose Siding]

12. You know, I didn't even consider the CIA prison situation here,

-and it really seems a little obvious for something that's supposed to be such a big secret- but what if this old prison building *was* used for that? What a coup for the PM to have approached the issue this way.

[Grateful for Hope]

4. I can't view the entire article

but, it does sound like Ferenc Gyurcsany cornered Bush. Good on him!

[Rose Siding]

6. The US Marines have been using a building there since the end of WWII

It's of historical importance to Hungary and they wanted it back for whatever reason. They took it without firing a shot. Allegedly! :)

[Grateful for Hope]

8. Thank you for the background!

:hi:

[dipsydoodle]

15. They wouldn't have need to fire a shot

assuming you mean in the way the USA took it. War reparation penalties against Hungary were punitive and they were stripped on almost anything of value by way of payment. That caused one of the highest rates on inflation on record.

[Rose Siding]

17. No -I didn't mean how the US came to use it

I was cracking wise on how the PM might have manipulated bush by making a public announcement the way he did.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. "Ferenc! Ixnay on the ison-pray!" (shrub, gesturing wildly)

[dipsydoodle]

9. If by any chance it has been re-used as a prison

then the issue will become how do you remove the detainees out of a land locked country ?

[me b zola]

10. Ha! bush* got sucker-punched

This was shared by another DUer, Mikimouse.

Talpra Magyar!, Hiv a haza,
It az ido, Most vagy soha,
Rabok legyukn, vagy szabadok
It az ido, valaszatok!
Arany Janos, 1849

Rough translation:
Attention Hungarians! Your homeland calls,
The time has come, now or never,
Shall we be slaves or freemen,
The time is now, you must decide!
Jonathan Gold, 1849



One more thing, chimp, it's Hungary not hungry :eyes:

[bleever]

13. Thanks. nt

[BadgerKid]

11. History of Táncsics

This rambling compound, on Táncsics Mihály Street, in the Budapest Castle District, just down the street from historic Matthias Church, has been owned by the U.S. government since 1948.

The history of these buildings is closely connected with that of Hungary itself, as well as with important developments in the architectural history of the Buda Castle District.

More at http://budapest.usembassy.gov/tancsics_complex.html

[bleever]

14. More thanks. nt

[Kire]

16. I have seen that laugh before.

The looking down, shaking head laugh - at the Correspondent's dinner when Stephen Colbert was speaking.

But Gyurcsany is not a comedian. I think he shot himself in the foot.