Elder Bush takes on son's Arab critics

Yahoo/AP ^ | 11-21-06 | Jim Krane

[STARWISE]

Former President George H.W. Bush took on Arab critics of his son Tuesday during a testy exchange at a leadership conference in the capital of this U.S. ally.

"My son is an honest man," Bush told members of the audience harshly criticized the current U.S. leader's foreign policy.

The oil-rich Persian Gulf used to be safe territory for former President Bush, who brought Arab leaders together in a coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's troops from Kuwait in 1991. But gratitude for the elder Bush, who served as president from 1989-93, was overshadowed at the conference by hostility toward his son, whose invasion of Iraq and support for Israel are deeply unpopular in the region.

"We do not respect your son. We do not respect what he's doing all over the world," a woman in the audience bluntly told Bush after his speech.

Bush, 82, appeared stunned as others in the audience whooped and whistled in approval.

A college student told Bush his belief that U.S. wars were aimed at opening markets for American companies and said globalization was contrived for America's benefit at the expense of the rest of the world. Bush was having none of it.

"I think that's weird and it's nuts," Bush said. "To suggest that everything we do is because we're hungry for money, I think that's crazy. I think you need to go back to school."

(snip)

"This son is not going to back away," Bush said, his voice quivering. "He's not going to change his view because some poll says this or some poll says that, or some heartfelt comments from the lady who feels deeply in her heart about something.

[ohioWfan]

I don't agree that sticking to a decision you think is right is 'stubbornness.' Or if it is, then stubbornness is an entirely good quality.

btw, "we" didn't win with Miers. She didn't get through the Senate conferences, so she dropped out.

I hate revisionist history based on emotion.

I'm sure you're a nice guy too, ZULU, though a bit reactionary at times. Once you calm down, you're always reasonable, and I respect that in you.

Have a great Thanksgiving yourself. God has been good to this nation, and we are blessed.

[ohioWfan]

:)

[Della Street]

The hatred of President G.W. Bush isn't spawned from his actions, but from a concerted effort by the left to diminish him since the day he was elected.

How perfectly articulated. You are exactly right.

[SuziQ]

"How come everybody wants to come to the United States if the United States is so bad?"

Exactly!

[AmericanVictory]

I guess "kndler but gentler" wasn't such a great idea after all.

[Valin]

(Though some of them do post on FR and blend right in with a few of 'our own'.........)


There is one difference, we don't send our nutters to congress. Unlike a certain political party does
Example? John Murtha
http://www.house.gov/murtha/iraq_stance.shtml

[Brian Allen]

<< "We do not respect your son. We do not respect what he's doing all over the world," a woman in the audience bluntly told Bush after his speech.

I take that as confirmation that GWB's foreign policy is right. >>

Hell, sounds to me as if that was recorded in since then only groveling once great britain. Or, come to that, anywhere else (except in FRee Australia and FRee Israel) in the thanks entirely to the willing sacrifice of American Blood and American Treasure, "free world."

[Brimack34]

I hate to say it but maybe we needed these election results to wake up america. It is better then another 9/11. I pray to God we do not have to have another 9/11 to wake these people up.