Posted on 09/07/2007 5:52:19 PM PDT by silent_jonny
The APEC (Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit officially began today in Sydney Australia.
President Bush addressed the Summit this morning, thanking Prime Minister John Howard for his hospitality. (Transcript)
The president then had lunch with ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, which included the presidents of Vietnam, the Philippines and the prime minister of Thailand among other leaders. ASEAN has the fourth largest trading relationship with the United States. (Transcript)
President Bush later met individually with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Transcript) and South Korean President Roh Moon-Hyun (Transcript).
Apparently there was a “miscommunication” during the meeting with the South Korean president. The press described President Bush as being “tense”.
From today’s Press Briefing with Dana Perino:Q Was there any tension between the Presidents, or was it just --
Q Can I just follow? Was President Roh -- was he looking for something additional from President Bush? Do you know why there was some sort of miscommunication?
Q …What was the significant -- what specifically happened here? I mean, lost in translation -- what?
Q … do you have any reason to think that President Roh might have wanted to prod President Bush into making a further statement?
Q To what extent was this really just all about South Korean politics, this guy playing to the cameras for back-home coverage?
Dana: I think that there might be just a little bit of over-interpretation of what happened in there. I can tell you, they had a very warm meeting. The President made a clear statement of his support for ending the Korean War once and for all. And both leaders agreed on that. And there was no tension in the meeting, there was no tension after the meeting amongst staff or amongst the leaders. And I think that everyone is trying to make a little bit too much of it.
Q Well, Dana, when we hear the President saying -- what, three times -- "thank you, sir," "thank you, sir," to those of us who have covered him that sure sounded tense.
Dana: The President was not tense. I think the President made it -- reiterated his statement. You heard it, you can go back, he said the exact same thing three times. And I think that that was enough. And he did, too. (Transcript)
I hate to disagree with Dana, but after reading the transcript, President Bush did seem tense and somewhat annoyed by President Roh. More on this later.
On a lighter note, it’s already tomorrow morning in Australia and President Bush joined Prime Minister Howard and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for breakfast overlooking Sydney Harbor.
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island 
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: The lesson of freedom's advance in the Asia Pacific region is this: The desire for liberty is universal, written by our Creator into the hearts of every man, woman, and child. Whenever they're given a chance, whenever they're given an opportunity, the people of every culture and every religion choose freedom over oppression. In Asia, millions have been given this chance, and they built free societies that are sources of peace and prosperity. And now we must give that same chance to millions across the broader Middle East, who share the same desire for freedom that burns in the hearts of people of this region.
Photos of the Day:
President George W. Bush smiles as he stands for a group photo with Southeast Asian Leaders Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, following a luncheon at the InterContinental in Sydney. Standing with him are Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, left, Noer Hassan Wirajuda, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines
President Bush, right, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , left, and Australian Prime Minister John Howard pose for photographers as the Sydney Harbor Bridge is seen at rear before their breakfast on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007.
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Hi!
Dose Ping!
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Dose Ping!
Hi, txrangerette :)
Thanks for the ping
Sorry for the double ping. It wasn’t me :)
President George W. Bush walks through applauding audience on the 2nd day of the APEC Business Summit at the Sydney Opera House during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 in Sydney, Australia.
I need many more ;>)
Good evening
With APEC Business Council Chairman Mark Johnson, right.
With Prime Minister Howard, left.
President Bush: Good morning -- or should I say g'day. (Laughter.) Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit. I appreciate -- APEC summit. (Laughter.) He invited me to the OPEC summit next year. (Laughter.) The APEC summit. I appreciate your friendship. I appreciate your leadership. They refer to the Prime Minister around here as a battler. I know why. He's courageous, he's wise, he's determined. America could ask for no better friend and more steadfast ally than Prime Minister John Howard. (Applause.)… I urge the business leaders gathered here to help educate your people in your communities and your workplaces about the benefits of global trade. You have an obligation -- if you believe free trade makes sense, you have an obligation to help educate the people in your communities. I hope you understand this: The surest road to stagnation and instability is the path of isolation and protectionism. The only road to enduring prosperity and stability is through open markets and open trade.
Thanks for the ping and sorry I have only just updated ping list so I will ping our newest doser to the thread.
President Bush: Today, our nations are standing side by side in a great ideological struggle. In the struggle, the forces of moderation and reasonableness are contending with extremism and radicalism and fear. We're facing a new kind of war. It's a war in which extremists use the murder of the innocent to spread their ideology of hatred and repression -- and we must stop them. For the sake of security and peace, those who sit at the table tomorrow must do everything we can to stop the radicals and the murderers.… The fight against the terrorists in this region is one of the untold success stories in the war on terror, and the rest of the world could learn from the approach that has been taken in this region to fight the extremists.
…Pressure keeps the terrorists on the run, and when on the run, we're safer. We must be determined, we must be focused, and we must not let up.
what would you like on it.
Nice to “see” you faithful ones here. I lurk much more than post now, but there’s reason for it and I’m still faithful on other threads earlier in the day to good things our President has done and how he has upheld the Presidency.
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