Bush: "I'm Sure People View Me As A War Monger"

In Riyadh today, the president danced a traditional sword dance with one of the princes of the royal family. It was a public -- and a little awkward -- display of affection, all part of Bush's first visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at repairing strained relations between the world's biggest oil producer and the world' s biggest oil consumer.

The president sat down with "Nightline" co-anchor Terry Moran at one of the vast royal palaces, and it became clear who holds the cards right now in the oil markets, with the price up near $100 a barrel...

..."I have talked to these leaders face to face," he said. "I have asked them point blank, 'Do you understand how difficult these issues are?' Yes. 'Are you prepared to make the painful political compromises?' They say they are."

Despite that optimism, the president also said that he does feel misunderstood in the Middle East.

"My image [is] 'Bush wants to fight Muslims.' And, yes, I'm concerned about it. Not because of me, personally. I'm concerned because I want most people to understand the great generosity and compassion of Americans," he said.

"I'm sure people view me as a war monger and I view myself as peacemaker," the president said. "They view me as so pro-Israeli I can't be open-minded about Palestinian peace, and yet I'm the only president ever to have articulated a two-state solution. And you just have to fight through stereotypes by actions."

Read entire article.

See a slideshow of Bush in Saudi Arabia.

Comments

[demoinKS]

Clearly, Bush has hit a nerve with the Am. blogging public! 22 pages! We all agree that he is the warmonger that he claims others have named him. The rest of the names we could give him are secondary to the need to get him out of there before he does MORE damage. Anyone who says "the electioneering started too early" just doesn't know how desperate we Americans are for a new pres. Clearly Pelosi isn't going to step up and help us (or him) out. We must be patient, steadfast, and listen to Arianna on strategies to overcome, e.g., say no to pollsters for starters.

[IMD]

Wow, he finally gets something correct.

[mi]

duh, brillant deduction George.

[motherissue]

war CRIMINAL

[texastornado]

HANDS OF ESAU

While in Isreal meeting with Olmert....­...,throug­hout the dinner,he (bush)talked and talked,until Condi sent him a discreet note suggesting that he shut up. Bush in high spirits,READ THE NOTE OUT LOUD.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19079.htm

[Xrepug]

No I don't view him as a war monger. I view Bush as an idiot that is being lead around like the dog he is. Simply not intelligent enough to do the destruction he has done to our country. Something/someone much more sinister pulling his strings.

[rextrek]

How do we view Bush..Let me count the ways: War Monger,National Embarrassment, Illiterate­,Asshole,s­tupid,Hate­ful,Elisti­st,Bigoted­,Dumb,Can'­t speak properly, Self-centered...ahh the list goes on and on....Hey Georgie, do the world a favor and DROP D...D..and Take Cheney with you!

[thegulliblecitizen]

There was no real conviction on your part for anything that you have done! Your serpentine path to the status of war monger is denied; you are a dung beetle at best!

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Did you learn a new word today, Mr. Waterboy for the Wealthy? Is Watergate in your dictionary? - just a bit further in after WaterBoarding, but before wire-tapping. With each day at WH, there's Work! Happy New Year & How's Laura? - what does she say about you these days? Saw the OoWie on your cheek at the checkout stand. Take a day off for the SuperBowl, and play with your new toy sword your Saudi buddies gave you. Give Fredo a call, you might need his advice again. Bye!

[Roafer]

Clearly Dumbya is just a delusional lunatic. The world already knew that but Dumbya just drools away with his idiotic blather.

He is a warmonger that needs a little time at the Hague. Dumbya and his WHOLE crew should be on trial at the Hague for crimes against humanity.

[jpshotwheels]

Bush is over there begging them to drop oil prices, offering them weapons of mass destruction to create more havic in the Middle East. Why would Saudi Arabia, help America at this point, they are making billions of dollars off of us, while the U.S. is going broke, killing Muslims across the World. If I was a Saudi, I would say the hell with you. Remember this was one of Osama Bin Laden's Goals, to break the American economy and thanks to Bush's policies of spreading Democracy across the Middle East, sounds to me the enemy won.

[jpshotwheels]

The Democrats need to eventually make this an issue, when they go against the Republican Nominee, headed towards the November election. For the first time in American History we should make them accountable, for the Crimes they have committed, and there are to many to say here, but we all know what they are. This would send a direct message to the World we will make them Accountable for the extreme damage they have done, not just for America but across the World.

[NeverRight]

Does anyone have video/audio of Shrub begging for oil? I heard it on the radio, but can't find a clip online.

[tumblewind]

He forgot 'out of control', 'most dangerous man on the planet' and 'religious fanatic' as part of the war mongering title! For once the Iranian's have it right! It's a toss up which is worst, the Iranian's version or the American version! I don't think the man is bright enough to be offended by the remark either. Because he doesn't see where he has become what he has spent the last 7 years railing against. Accusing other people of being and the whole nine yards. Which is truly sad!

[dora rice]

we don't only view you as a warmonger, we would like to bring you to trial for warmongering and the results of it.