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

[Mark701]

Bush's problem is that he lacks imagination. He believes the only approach to dealing with a percieved threat is to attack and kill it. Fine if armadillos are overunning your ranch but when it comes to world politics, creativity 'and consensus building are the best approach, something he will never understand.

[RageAgainstTheNeoCons]

Sad...He actually believes his own lies. And his mooks keep him in that bubble. Has there ever been a President that was more out of touch with the people than this idiot? The funny thing is that everyone there in Riyadh and in the world knows he's full of shit and they desperately try to hold in their laughter until he leaves. Geez, what an embarassment.

[Jonahson]

War monger you are ,peacemaker you certainly are not.
Generous with the bombs you are,compassionate you certainly are not.
When you declare war on Iraq, we misunderstood your greedy intention beneath those lies.
A lousy president you are, the only one in USA history assured.

[nofltwlt]

SUGGESTED BOOK TITLE.

Bush, the story of how he became the most hated man on earth.

[nofltwlt]

We also hate you.

[ParadiseDiva]

I'm sure they do, Warmonger...I'm sure they do.

[Macready]

how about the stealer of two elections a liar a traitor a war monger and totally incompetent piece of garbage who should be impeached for breaking the oath of office and for high crimes and treason . . .along with your buddy the big dick . . . you are the scum of the earth chimpy

[VivaZapata]

the answer to our problems is getting people and goods around in a more fuel efficient way than the truck and auto system now in place. this will put people to work on rail systems along the interstate highways. reduce unemployment, lower fuel costs, lower gas emissions. it's a win, win proposition. instead, we'd rather go to war to the benefit of the oil companies and the detriment to our own country and the planet in general. Trains made America what it is. Trains could save it from what it's becoming.

[Gary47]

Well of course you are. And here's the scientific explanation - http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080114103723.htm Basically the bush administration has the moral compass of a rodent.

[darker]

GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER
GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER
GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER
GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER
GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER
GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER
GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER
GWBush = cavalier, idiotic WAR MONGER

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
of middle-America's tax dollars into pockets of war profiteering CORPORATE WELFARE QUEENS OF THE BUSH NANNY STATE FOR THE RICH.

[VivaZapata]

On the issue of oil: what a phony, lying bastard! The weak dollar is responsible for the cost of oil. The barrels are going up; the dollar is going down. This is a fact improperly presented every time it's mentioned on TV.

[noamjunior]

a great number of Americans also view Bush as a sociopathic drug/alcohol abuser and likely closet homosexual. They are correct.

[Feetlebom]

Bush goes on a "peace mission" to the middle east, ratcheting up the Iran rhetoric while offering billions in arms to opposing sides. Heckuva job, George...

[Harrier]

I cannot imagine a more evil and ignorant person running this country. All that voted for his re-election need to do some serious soul searching -forget the President. He's been one baked dude for a long time

[mamacat]

A dictator wannabe, puppet for Cheney and Rove, incompetent, disgraceful, anti-American, and yes, war-monger (as opposed to diplomat).
Also, the worst American since Benedict Arnold, along with Cheney and his staff.
If someone wrote a book suggesting Bush and Cheney had made a deal with the devil in order to grab power, the publisher wouldn't know whether to publish it as fact or fiction. How else do you explain the last 7 years?