Posted on 05/20/2007 6:36:00 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush welcomed NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and his wife to Prairie Chapel Ranch today. Talks between the two leaders were expected to focus on Afghanistan, where NATO troops are fighting a newly emboldened Taliban enemy.
NATO chief in Texas for talks with Bush on Afghanistan
by Laurent Lozano
1 hour, 18 minutes agoCRAWFORD, United States (AFP) - US President George W. Bush welcomed Sunday NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at his Texas ranch for talks focused largely on fighting a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.
Bush himself drove a pickup truck to meet De Hoop Scheffer's helicopter as it landed at the president's sprawling ranch here, where discussions are expected to cover the recent strong showing by Taliban insurgents and civilian deaths in Afghanistan, which threaten to erode support for US troops and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force backing the Kabul government.
Bush is expected to seek reinforced allied commitments to participating in the US "war on terror" campaigns in Afghanistan if not Iraq.
Also likely on the agenda are Kosovo, expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the US effort to position a strategic anti-missile defense system in Europe, according to the White House.
De Hoop Scheffer arrived amid heightened tensions driven by Russia's objection to the anti-missile shield's expansion to Central Europe.
Bush and the NATO leader will have a working dinner with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates late Sunday, and further meetings early Monday.
In the meantime, the venomous Jimmy Carter, criticized the Bush administration quite bitterly today. This from the former president whose disastrous policies toward Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the Middle East, as well as then-rising Islamic terrorism, are directly responsible for the crisis of radical Islamism abroad in the world today. Fortunately, the White House did not let Carter's caustic remarks go unanswered.
'Carter is irrelevant,' Bush administration shoots back
POSTED: 3:53 p.m. EDT, May 20, 2007CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- The nasty words between President Bush and former President Jimmy Carter continued Sunday.
In a biting rebuke to Carter calling the Bush administration the "worst in history," the White House on Sunday dismissed Carter as "increasingly irrelevant."
Carter was quoted Saturday in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette as saying "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history." (Read full story)
The Georgia Democrat said Bush had overseen an "overt reversal of America's basic values" as expressed by previous administrations, including that of his own father, former President George H.W. Bush.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto shot back Sunday from Crawford, Texas, where Bush spent the weekend.
"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," said Fratto. "I think it's unfortunate. And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."
Carter was in Arkansas promoting "Sunday Mornings in Plains," a collection of weekly Bible lessons from his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
"Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man," said Amber Wilkerson, Republican National Committee spokeswoman.
She said it was hard to take Carter seriously because he also "challenged Ronald Reagan's strategy for the Cold War."
Carter's comments, which were published Saturday, were confirmed by his spokeswoman Deanna Congileo to The Associated Press on Saturday. She declined to elaborate.
Carter also said Saturday that Britain's support for the war in Iraq was a "major tragedy" for the world, as he criticized Tony Blair's unwavering support for President Bush.
Asked how he would judge Blair's support of Bush, Carter said: "Abominable. Loyal. Blind. Apparently subservient."
"And I think the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world," Carter told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Blair was in Baghdad Saturday morning for what will be his last trip to Iraq as British prime minister. Last week, Blair announced that he would step down June 27, making way for treasury chief Gordon Brown.
THE WEEK AHEAD:
— Monday, the President participates in a joint media availability with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Crawford, Texas, before returning with the First Lady (and the dogs) to Washington.— Tuesday, no public events are scheduled.
— Wednesday, the Commander in Chief delivers the commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
— Thursday, the schedule has not been announced.
— Friday, no public events are scheduled. The first couple are scheduled to spend the Memorial Day weekend at Camp David, Although it has not been announced, they are likely to return to Washington for the annual Memorial Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery.
When Hitler saw this movie he banned all MGM films from Nazi occupied Europe. That is how powerful this movie is. Top-notch acting, high production values, and a thought provoking-script highlight this story about life in Nazi Germany for an average family, whose father is "non-Aryan." The message of this film of standing up against adversity and what you believe in, is as fresh today as in 1940 when this film was released. Interesting note: the German Ambassador to U.S. asked Louis B. Mayer to "think twice" about releasing this movie. Mayer, of course, ignored the warning.
I'm including this little tribute to James Stewart, a war hero, and to this film, because it's message, written when the Soviets and Nazis were still allies, and when their brand of totalitarianism was still ascendant, because I marvel at how easily people today allow their free speech to be curtailed. What Jimmy and all our Armed Forces have fought for since the Revolution is too precious to take lightly. Free speech. I have a right to it. You have a right to it. People with whom we disagree have a right to it. But it will be a cold day in that very hot place before I let a bunch of rag-tag, intolerant individuals on an internet forum shut down my speech by chasing me off FR or any other public forum on which I choose to participate!
Although I understand fully why other long-time FReepers have left this forum for what they think may be greener -- meaning safer, less quarrelsome -- pastures, I don't agree with allowing oneself to be chased off. The great thing about the internet is that we can freely join as many forums (of all kinds) as we wish, and to participate on the all simultaneously. They are all virtual town squares and serve the same purpose as physical town squares used to serve before the advent of modern communications. Because they are virtual one is not limited by the constraints of the physical world. We also enjoy a degree of anonymity on the internet that shields us from all but the rough-and-tumble of competing, sometimes diametrically opposed ideas all being tossed together in a virtual town square like FR. No one can physically beat us up, as happened in Nazi Germany. No one can shoot us as happened in Boston in 1770 (Boston Massacre). No one can throw us into the Gulag. So if we don't have the mild courage it takes to hold our ground here, where will we hold it if we are attacked by a real enemy?
Seems to me we know the answer to that question when it is posed to Leftist Democrats. But what about us?
Pinging you to the Sunday Dose, with pics of the President in Crawford.
first?
Walking back to his pickup truck to bring his guests to the ranch house.
White House pets Kitty, Miss Beazley and Barney sit for a portrait in the Blue Room at the White House.
Thanks for opening Sanity Island for us. I am grateful for it tonight. A fellow FReeper and FRiend from the Canteen, Grandeagle, passed away suddenly yesterday and it’s been a very sad 24 hours for me and those who knew him.
I am glad that the president got to be “home” for a little while. He needs to be recharged. This has been a bad couple of months for him...and for us.
Your words are much appreciated and I so agree. There is always a place to set your feet and take your stand.
And yes, he is ever so hot, by the way!
This soldier is attached to Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.
Hi geopyg. Yep, you’re first tonight. :)
Too many long-time FReepers have passed in recent months. :(
Thank you Wolfstar.
I really appreciate this post. I strongly agree with everything you have posted here.
Keep it up.
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