Bush Chooses Uribe, Blair, Howard For Medal Of Freedom

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush is giving the nation's highest civilian award to three foreign leaders who have been among his most loyal partners on the world stage, particularly in the Iraq war.

Bush is awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and to two former leaders: former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Bush is conferring the prestigious award on his friends in an East Room ceremony on Jan. 13 _ exactly one week before he leaves office, White House press secretary Dana Perino said Monday.

"The president is honoring these leaders for their work to improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad," she said. "All three leaders have been staunch allies of the United States, particularly in combating terrorism."

The Medal of Freedom was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to recognize civilians for their efforts during World War II. The award was reinstated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to honor distinguished service. It is given to those deemed to have made remarkable contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, culture, or other private or public endeavors.

Prior to these three leaders, Bush has awarded 78 medals during his tenure in office.

Among the most controversial came in December 2004, when Bush gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former CIA Director George Tenet, former Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer and retired Gen. Tommy Franks, three people central to his early policy in Iraq. Bush was especially criticized for including Tenet, who came under fire for intelligence failures leading to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the Iraq war.

Comments

[javagirl322]

UNBELIEVABLE...

[BushBites]

What a bunch of losers.

[RobertHenryEller]

This is good: Bush gets to use US awards meant for people who do our country great and noble service to Tony the Poodle Blair for kissing Bush's rear end.

Heckofa job, Tony!

Another nice theft of our honor to serve your self-aggrandizement, George!

[richardabbot2012]

Ahh, Tony Blair, a pretty straight kinda guy i think he once said of himself. His policies were good, but he just didn't implement them, he ran the government by spin and distortion and had a craven media hanging onto his every word and because the opposition were so hated and discredited he got away with it for ten years. After being elected as the saviour of Britain the man is now thoroughly discredited and despised. And it wasn't just about Iraq either. I am a Brit who love America, you generally do things so much better over there, but boy, I thought electing Bush in 2004 was dumb but writing Obama a blank cheque is something i hope you don't live to regret. We did with Blair and i tell you, it hurts.

[vigilantwarrior]

Is that a spot of blood on your tie, Mr. Blair?

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/forgive-and-forgetforget/

[vigilantwarrior]

Mind the gap, Mr. Blair.

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/memory-holes-in-the-floor/

[Luvial]

Shouldn't Blair receive the Best of Show Award from the AKA? Has a Poodle ever won Best of Show?

[smegma]

COALITION OF THE GUILTY,OUR ONLY TWO FRIENDS. WHAT ABOUT POLANDS LEADER/?

[irisda]

*rolls eyes*

[StraightouttaLondon]

The euphoria that greeted Blair's election in 97 after 17 years of Conservative rule was not too dissimilar to the current excitement around the impending Obama administration and this in a country where we have pretty low expectations of our politicians. I think that when he first entered office he was genuinely a man of conviction and integrity and somehow/somewhere this got lost along the way. It's amazing how the burden and the attraction of power and the necessity for Realpolitik saw him become just another untrustworthy politician. Although I believe Obama to be a man of the upmost honour, intelligence and integrity I do worry about the level of (unrealistic?) expectation surrounding him and his ability to live up to even half of it. I hope in 8 years time (assuming 2 terms) Americans aren't looking back with the grave disappointment I currently feel about Blair.

[twisted-european]

The pardoning of turkeys should be over by now, don't you think, Dubya?

[Ivann]

Bliar is a money-grubbing sycophant. Shouldn't he be in Gaza?

[whatawebb]

But they are NOT civilians - they are ex-heads of state - this is NOT right!

[morgan1]

Bush has trivialized everything he has touched when it comes to "awards" and recognition. Remember Brownie and a job well done? As I recall the medal is supposedly for Americans and not Heads of State. This is another example of him rewarding his buddies and cronies perpetuating the fiction of freedom and democracy advocates. Counting down the days left of this Howdy Doody puppet.

[Eynem]

Wow..Awesome..The pets get a treat

[JZ735]

Time to honor the sycophants, brown nosers and poodles.

[bulfinch]

As a poodle owner I'm offended. Poodles are loyal, but they are also intelligent and independent.
These clowns lack two out of three.

[liberal54]

Amen!