Bush Says No to Roh's Proposal for Summit at Crawford Ranch

Korean Times ^ | 5-9-03 | Ryu Jin

[medscribe]

Bush Says No to Roh's Proposal for Summit at Crawford Ranch

By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter

With President Roh Moo-hyun's maiden trip to the U.S. just days away, there was a small dispute in the ruling party's morning meeting yesterday over the treatment Roh would receive from the U.S. government.

In the supreme council meeting of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), Cho Soon-sung, head of the party's special committee on the North Korean nuclear problem, took issue with the venue of the summit meeting between Roh and U.S. President George W. Bush.

``What I'm concerned about is that President Roh was invited only to Washington, while Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was invited to the ranch at Crawford and Camp David as well,'' Cho said. Spotlighting what he called a differentiated treatment, Cho pointed out the government's half-fledged diplomatic efforts.

To wipe out any misgivings or misunderstandings, MDP chairman Chyung Dai-chul offered a quick explanation.

Chyung reflected his U.S. visit in February, when he, as Roh's special envoy, proposed to Secretary of State Colin Powell that the two heads of state meet at the Crawford ranch.

``U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Thomas Hubbard explained his country thought it conforms more to diplomatic etiquette for the two leaders to meet in Washington as they are meeting for the first time,'' Chyung was quoted as saying by his spokesman Lee Nak-yon.

Lee added Hubbard said in a reception for The Washington Post CEO Don Graham, who visited Seoul last month, that the U.S. thought it might be impolite to invite Roh to the presidential ranch.

``Hubbard explained that it was unprecedented to invite a head of state whom President Bush had not met before to the ranch, and Koizumi's case was different since he has met Bush several times,'' Lee said.

Bush is scheduled to meet Koizumi at his ranch in Crawford, Texas on May 22 and 23.

In the meantime, the presidential office of Chong Wa Dae said Roh's May 11-17 U.S. trip is equivalent to a ``State Visit,'' though it is officially a ``Working Visit.''

Presidential Advisor for Foreign Policy Ban Ki-moon said on a radio program yesterday that Roh's U.S. visit is in the form of a ``State Visit'' receiving exceptionally honorable treatment.

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[medscribe]

Are ALL Koreans this arrogant and stupid?!? Invite a guy who won his office with campaign slogans equivalent to Death to America and Yankee Go Home to his beloved Prairie Chapel Ranch?!? A trip to the ranch, to the president's HOME, must be earned and deserved, not demanded. How typical of a liberal commie to DEMAND an invitation to somebody's home as if it was his birthright. Roh must be blind, deaf, and dumb to think that he'd EVER take one step onto the ranch in this lifetime!! Roh better read up on Texas and realize that we mean it when we post signs saying "NO TRESPASSING."

Oh, and the reason why the Japanese prime minister is visiting the ranch is because he and Japan stood by America, instead of stabbing us in the back, during our time of need. The same can't be said of the traitorous and cowardly Koreans.

ELP

[princess leah]

Well, he sure isn't going to get invited with THIS attitude!

[princess leah]

And another thing...why is it we haven't heard of anyone getting invited to Chappaqua or the hildabeasts Georgetown residence (except for fundraisers, huh?) Talk about unsocial! FOr a couple of socialists, they sure don't do well in the hosting arena!

[ThinkDifferent]

The same can't be said of the traitorous and cowardly Koreans.

Roh's appeasing government doesn't reflect all Koreans any more than Bill Clinton reflects all Americans.

[bert]

It should be kept in mind that the Koreans fed Bush the father unclean food that induced Presidential barfing upon the Prime Minister of Japan.

Perhaps the son has a legitimate grudge.

[lawgirl]

OMG how Fing stupid.

[headsonpikes]

No dogs on the barbecue!

[Guillermo]

Maybe the dog-eating President will take note of how a true ally behaves. Japan, the UK, and Australia have been true allies post 9-11. They aren't the only ones, of course, but they are the major ones.

You find out who your friends are when you're under fire, not when everything appears to be great.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You are correct. Last year, the SKs were actually going to buy fighter jets from France...

[medscribe]

"Roh's appeasing government doesn't reflect all Koreans any more than Bill Clinton reflects all Americans."

Roh's appeasing government is supported by millions of Koreans who took the streets over the past year DEMANDING that we pull our troops out of Korea and assault our troops and their families on a DAILY basis.

Roh's appeasing government is supported by a majority of Koreans who think that Americans are a larger threat than their North Korean brethren.

Roh's appeasing government is supported by shopkeepers who put up signs like "AMERICANS NOT WELCOME."

Roh and his Koreans can go to hell and wait there to welcome their Dear Leader Kim Jong Il.

ELP

[1rudeboy]

Roh won by approx. 2% on turnout of 70%.

[1rudeboy]

The [South Korean] National Assembly on April 2 approved the dispatch of 700 non-combatant troops in support of the US-led war in Iraq, voting 179 to 68 in favor of the motion with nine abstentions. The Korean contingent will include 600 engineers and 100 medical personnel. With this vote South Korea officially joined the list of 18 countries worldwide sending troops, combat or non-combat, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Korean troop contingent will be the fifth largest among the 18 countries.

Source

[medscribe]

What you left out was that the Roh government had GREAT difficulty passing this measure through their own National Assembly and had to practically beg their anti-American members to support it. Modern-day Koreans have great hatred for the US, and the feeling can be reciprocated. Do not assault our troops, insult our intelligence, tell us to leave (which Roh all but demanded during his election campaign last year), and then turn around and demand respect and friendship when you come calling.

[1rudeboy]

Actually, I'm not leaving anything out . . . I'm just providing information that blows you out-of-the-water.

[gcruse]

Roh's appeasing government doesn't reflect all Koreans any more than Bill Clinton reflects all Americans.

Or the Canadian government....
Or the Iranian government...
Or the Russian government...

You know, sooner or later you have to realize that
people get the government that reflects their views.
Giving countries a bye when their governments do
crappy things is velvet cowardice.

[VaBthang4]

Good. GW set's the agenda.

[blam]

"Last year, the SKs were actually going to buy fighter jets from France..."

Yup. I remember all the large anti-American protests, etc. Screw'em!

[skeeter]

Besides, I don't see too many folks leaping to make the distinction where the French & Germans are concerned.

[green team 1999]

bump

[gcruse]

Well, when 90% of the populace supports the government, it's hard to make that distinction.