Bush Sets Out To Salvage Legacy On World Stage

[Purveyor]

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush sought to salvage his legacy on the world stage on Wednesday by defending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and appealing to Russia to drop opposition to a missile defense shield.

Laying out his agenda for his farewell NATO summit, Bush also pressed the defense alliance to put Ukraine and Georgia on the path to membership despite French and German qualms that it could further strain Moscow's relations with the West.

Bush's keynote speech at a pre-summit conference in Bucharest read like a laundry list of his foreign policy woes as he struggles to stay relevant abroad in the twilight of his second and final term.

But with Bush even more unpopular overseas than at home, he could have a hard time swaying world leaders as they look to whomever will succeed him as president in January 2009.

Bush is aware that NATO allies have grown weary of the war in Afghanistan against a resurgent Taliban and its al Qaeda allies but called on partners to send more troops there, saying they could not afford to lose the battle.

---EOE---

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0267354820080402?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

[annabanana]

1. They showed his speech in Romania Live at 2am Eastern on MSNBC

It was very bizarre. The room was full of what looked like stone-faced dignitaries, the speech wasn't being translated. (Which is probably a good thing, since the part I heard was mostly his boilerplate Iraq "the surge is working" crap, and not about NATO or Afghanistan hardly at all)

The room echoed with the occasional cough.. but no other sound.

[magellan]

2. I'm so glad the blivet has finally found a lifelong career

Salvaging his image worldwide will take multiple lifetimes and he'll be as successful at it as he's been at any of his other careers. But at least it will keep him distracted and the world will be much safer for it.

[Donnachaidh]

3. yesh BUT -- where is CHENEY and WTF is HE up to?

Bush can travel around Europe on his knees begging forgiveness -- but isn't Darth HERE and pushing for an Iran attack? That scares the bejeebus out of me.

[magellan]

5. Darth is up to no good no matter where he is

We could bell him and that wouldn't solve the problem of Darth.

Congress could solve the problem of Darth by impeaching him and in so doing bury him under such an avalanche of subpoenas and hearings that he wouldn't have time to kick his dog.

Or we could shove him into an Atlas missile and launch him into deepest darkest space...but that would be littering.

[librechik]

4. Do the right thing and turn yourself in to the Hague, Jr

that's the only thing that would help at this point.

[lutefisk]

6. It's the story of his life: screw something up then move on pretending he did a good job

His handlers let him think he's patching things up, but it has always been Poppy's associates that have smoothed the transitions. Junior is incapable of fixing anything - he can only ruin things.

I doubt he is concerned about his legacy. He's convinced himself that he had the toughest job of anybody ever... and anyone who doesn't appreciate him is a fool. Besides, he can move on from this colossal mess he created into a comfy estate in North Dallas in a few months.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Why can't he just go away now? He hasn't done anything that has benefited Humanity on any level

since he was installed as pResident. I hope no one pays him one devalued cent to speak after his "term in office" is finished. It would only serve to bolster his already overly inflated ego.

[democrank]

8. Junior to salvage his legacy?

Right. Did he hire a miracle worker?