WP: Protests Loom in London for Visit by Bush

[kskiska]

Trip Was Intended to Showcase Success of the Alliance in Iraq

Monday, November 17, 2003; Page A01

LONDON -- When an aging cargo ship from Virginia loaded with toxic waste crawled into Newcastle's harbor in northeast England last week, Peter Brookes, editorial cartoonist for the Times of London, quickly saw an analogy. He drew President Bush's face on the bow, with a sign reading "Highly Toxic."

(snip)

The trip, planned months ago, was supposed to be a celebration of the Anglo-American alliance following the anticipated triumph of U.S. and British forces in Iraq. Blair's aides had looked forward to what they called a "Baghdad bounce" in the polls that would restore their leader's popularity at home. Bush's aides had relished the chance for the president to present his vision of the war on terrorism on the world stage in the relatively friendly and secure environment of America's closest ally.

But the escalating violence in Iraq -- combined with a series of lingering disputes between the two governments and perceived slights from Washington -- has tarnished the glow. The trip has become an opportunity for antiwar protesters to stage three days of demonstrations. One protest leader, Lindsey German, called Bush "the most unwelcome guest this country has ever received." Critics across the political spectrum here are raising anew questions about Blair's close partnership with a conservative Republican administration.

(snip)

Bush, labeled "the Toxic Texan" by critics here, has never been a popular figure in Britain. A poll last week for the antiwar Daily Mirror newspaper found that three of four Britons surveyed believed Bush's war on terrorism had made the world a more dangerous place. Things have gotten so bad that commentators noted the high number of compliments Bush paid Blair in a recent interview with British reporters -- Riddell counted 15 during the 40-minute session -- and warned that each one could further damage Blair's political standing.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49922-2003Nov16.html

[Media_Lies_Daily]

1. I like that nickname of the "Toxic Texan"...appropriate in every sense...

...of the phrase. Everything he touches seems to fail or die.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Yup...

That's what he is -- an extremely toxic Texan.

I have called * that since 2000.

Hawkeye-X

[PartyPooper]

2. An unwelcome guest is like fish...after 3 days it begins to stink

to high heaven. That's what my grandfather used to say.

How true. Some things never change.

[kskiska]

4. Loads of good stuff in here…

Already, officials say, the trip has been a planning nightmare. Bush and his wife, Laura, are scheduled to spend the first two nights at Buckingham Palace in the heart of London, and the Secret Service has demanded that a large area be sealed off to protect the president from potential terrorists and from the 100,000 or so demonstrators expected to protest in the streets. About 250 armed Secret Service agents have been assigned to supplement Scotland Yard's extensive forces. But the queen reportedly vetoed, as too noisy, plans for a Black Hawk helicopter to hover over Buckingham Palace.

(snip)

There are other sources of tension, from the ongoing detention without charge or trial at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, of nine British nationals suspected of terrorism, to Washington's alarm over British involvement in the new European Union defense project and the Bush administration's effective abandonment of the "road map" diplomatic initiative in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Washington has also viewed critically a British-French-German effort to negotiate an end to Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program. Apprised of Europe's carrot-and-stick approach to Iran, Undersecretary of State John R. Bolton mockingly told a recent seminar here, "I don't do carrots."

In all of these areas, British officials complain they have gotten little or no support from Washington. "The feeling is that every time something really matters, Blair has to go and beg personally for it," said Bronwen Maddox, foreign affairs columnist for the Times. "There have been a lot of bruises this year."

[madfloridian]

5. I want to see lots and lots of pictures. Good for the Brits.

I am so proud of that country for having the guts to cross him. I just wish our country was brave enough.
Shame on us for loosing him on the rest of the world.

[young_at_heart]

6. I had an argument......."Bush is making the world better"

The man truly believes this craziness....pure propaganda. The jist was...in order for the world to have freedom we are forced to do battle. What was sad was that there was NO debating this subject. Are The Crusades rising up again?

[PartyPooper]

7. The best thing that the Democrats can do is film these protests

and show them at the Convention in Boston next year. And, the Democrat's nominee campaign ads should be peppered with this footage...just to show Amerikans how much Junior is despised abroad!

:kick:

[arikara]

8. Is that the new spin, "quirky charm?"

<snip>U.S. and British officials are hoping his quirky charm, combined with his deeply held belief that he is protecting the world from rogue states and terrorism, will somehow capture hearts and minds here. <snip>

Maybe he can entertain the queen by pursing his lips and doing his Karla Fay impersonation with an Iraqi accent...