EFL
As police braced for massive demonstrations against the war in Iraq, President Bush opened a state visit with America’s staunchest ally Tuesday, arguing that the use of force sometimes is the only way to defend important values. The president and his wife, Laura, were greeted Tuesday evening at Heathrow Airport by Prince Charles. The Bushes then flew on a U.S. Marine helicopter to Buckingham Palace, where they were spending three nights as the guests of Queen Elizabeth II. The relative quiet of the airport greeting provided a contrast to hoped and prayed for expected noisy anti-American anti-war and anti-democracy anti-Bush protests in other parts of the city. Not nearly as many as advertised Hundreds turned out for the first of a number of planned barf-ins protests on Tuesday, and London police prepared for somewhat larger silliness demonstrations over the next few days, including a shamble march on Thursday past Parliament that International A.N.S.W.E.R. thugs organizers said could draw in their wet dreams 100,000 rustics fools simpletons die-hard communists tenured academics demonstrators.
Wonder if they’ll have any large puppets? As Fred says, nothing shows you’re serious in a demonstration better than large puppets.
In a speech on Wednesday, Bush will argue that war is sometimes necessary as a last choice, said a senior administration official traveling with him on Air Force One. ``History has shown that there are times when countries must use force to defend the peace and to defend values,’’ Bush was to say. He also is expected to renew his call for countries across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, to embrace democracy.
Something the dingbat demonstrators will scorn, I’m sure.
The president will acknowledge that the Iraq war and occupation are unpopular, the official said. ``It has been a difficult time, when the alliance has been asked to do difficult things,’’ the president will suggest, said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Bush also will praise the British for overcoming adversity in the past in defending freedom and democratic values.
The Brits, as usual for them, rose to the occasion. Bless ’em.
Both British and U.S. officials sought to put the best face on a visit that seemed not likely to be remembered more for anti-freedom anti-war street demonstrations than for the celebration of the Anglo-American alliance that had been intended by both governments. A larger arrival ceremony was planned for Wednesday at Buckingham Palace. After his speech on the trans-Atlantic alliance, Bush was to meet with British families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and attend a banquet at the palace.
I’m betting that Bush breaks the schedule when he meets with the families by staying with them much longer than scheduled. He did the same thing right after 9/11 in New York. That more than anything showed me what kind of man he was.
On Thursday, Bush was to tour London and meet with British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are 9,000 British troops in Iraq. On Friday he will travel to northern England to join Blair and his wife, Cherie, in the town where the Blairs have a home. In the meetings with Blair, Bush will discuss developments in Iraq, the Middle East peace process and nuclear tensions with Iran and North Korea, aides said. Aides said there would likely be no announcement from Bush on the continued holding of nine British citizens by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
| What's to announce? "We've changed our minds"? |
Queen Elizabeth, who invited Bush nearly 18 months ago, has met with each of the 11 American presidents who have served during her reign, beginning with Harry Truman in 1952. Bush’s visit, however, was the first one to be dubbed a full-fledged ``state visit’’ by the British, although then-President Reagan’s 1982 visit had most of the trappings of one, including a visit to the queen in Windsor Castle and an address to Parliament.
| And street demonstrations... |
The protest rallies scheduled during Bush’s visit will include an anti-American anti-Bush march through London on Thursday, culminating in the planned toppling of a mock statue of Bush in Trafalgar Square. At a demonstration outside Buckingham Palace shortly ahead of Bush’s arrival, Ann "Old Bat" Butler, 63, shouted that Bush thinks he’s Marshall Dillon Wyatt Earp. ``This country’s lost enough men in war,’’ said Butler, one of about 100 loonies protesters. But Mike Rigas of Boston, 31, wearing a U.S. flag and a British poppy, said he came out to ``support my president. He’s coming to a tough crowd here, but I believe the U.S. and Britain are engaged in a a noble cause in Iraq.
Funny how the old bat can’t find anything good to say whilst the young guy sees what we’re doing as noble. |