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

[davedave]

"Bush Chooses Three Allies To Receive America's Highest Civilian Award"

a pardon?

d

[bulfinch]

Maybe he's brownnosing for the future trials in the Hague.

[PSM42]

Isn't that a bit like tattooing the number of the beast on their foreheads - something of a giveway to W.ar Cri. mes investigators?

[Retrofuturistic]

He HAS three allies???

[carrieanna]

I'm sure Blair will list this high on his CV

*eyes rolling*

[Acleacius]

Lol, not really sure if this is funny or sad, it's d.e.s.p.e.­r.a.t.e.l.­y. p.a.t.h.e.­t.i.c.

[gakabani]

the n*a*z*i cross for the criminals

[bulfinch]

Music for the ceremony will be "The Horst Wessel song"

[ricchase]

Ha! Ha! This is like J. Edgar Hoover giving Lee Harvey Oswald a Marksmanship medal.

[JZ735]

...when J. Edgar wasn't prancing around in dresses.

[luke150]

I couldn't hold myself: all the poodles get medals.

[JZ735]

The Westminster Dog Show has seen far better than these mangy mutts.

[multifarious]

War criminals all...

[bronceye]

This award now means nothing. One more thing that bush has destroyed. Has anyone else noticed that apple pie has a different taste, lately. Baseball is ravaged by steroids and Chevrolet is going broke. Is Mt. Rushmore beginning to list?

[Indie2008]

So that's why Blair House is not available to the Obamas until the 15th!

[bulfinch]

VERY good point.

[BillZBubb]

One war criminal giving medals to fellow miscreants. That's so 1930's.

[StrangerThanFiction]

AH, YES...I REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN TENENT RECEIVED HIS MEDAL...TH­E LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS PRICELESS! JUST BEFORE THE 2004 ELECTION BUSH DOLED OUT THE BRASS MEDALS...I THOUGHT TENENT LOOKED LIKE THE CAT WITH A BIRD LOCKED IN HIS JAW!

BUSH MUST HAVE SAID...."H­ERE IS A MEDAL...NO­W SHUT-UP AND DON'T TELL A SOUL THAT IRAQ WAS ALL PLANNED FROM THE BEGINNING AND THAT WE CONJURED UP LIES IN ORDER TO CONVINCE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC"!!!

I WROTE TONY BLAIR WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE AND WARNED HIM THAT AN ALLIANCE WITH BUSH WOULD BRING HIM DOWN POLITICALL­Y...WELL, I WAS RIGHT! THERE WERE THE TWO LITTLE NAPOLEONS WITH THEIR NAPOLEON COMPLEXES!!!

REGARDING URIBE...NO­W THAT MAKES THE LAST OF THE THREE STOOGES ACT!
WITH THE PARA-POLITICS SCANDAL AND THE MOUNTING CRITICISM ABOUT THE WAY U.S. AID IS BEING SPEND IN COLOMBIA..­.URIBE IS SPENDING NOTHING ON SOCIAL REFORMS AND COMBATING POVERTY. URIBE AND BUSH HOPE THAT ON THE PROPOSED $3.9 BILLION AID PACKAGE AND THE FREE-TRADE AGREEMENT WILL PASS!

COLLUSION FOR WAR AND CROOKED CORPORATE DEALINGS! WHAT AN ACT...YES, GEORGE H.W....WE CAN GOOGLE A MOUNTAIN OF IDIOTIC, DISASTEROUS, AND UTTERLY LUDACRIS ACTS AND DECISIONS THEY ARE REALLY JUST PARTNER'S IN CRIME AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE!

NO MORE BUSH BLUNDERS..­.I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL JANUARY 20, 2009....HU­MANITY, HONESTY, AND UNITY!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND BARACK OBAMA!!!

[octo]

Anyone remember when Tony Blair was first elected in Britain, all those years ago? The feeling was something similar to what we're now experiencing with Obama. Lots of hope and expectation that finally there would be some intelligent, progressive and liberal leadership. And look how he ended up. Just another British warmonger.

I'm starting to have similar feelings about Obama already, given his response to the (Is) crisis, and he's not even sworn in yet!

[Retrofuturistic]

I'm afraid I'm having weird feelings about him too. Especially since he started sucking up to all the evangelicals. Ugh.

[BuzzingAlong]

Here we go again.

Are you folks really that s.t.u.p.i.­d?

Probable.

The US has a sittting president. His name is George W. Bush. PE Obama is not suppose to respond to the Is crisis or whatever that is.

You undercated people are relly getting me down.

[BuzzingAlong]

I meant to say that "You undereducated people are really getting me down".

You are so tiresome.

[JZ735]

The uneducated are those who continue to mindlessly, foolishly, and stupidly shill for Obama, no matter what, and trot out this assinine canard about that he isn't President yet...what will your excuse be once he is President? We heard from the neocons that all the problems Bush acquired, such as terrorism, came about because of mistakes by Clinton...­of course, they were passing the buck...I am sure many, like you, will attempt the same feebleminded nonsense when Obama effs up.

[walktheshore]

Huh? "their work to improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad"? Up to the last final days Perino is up there speaking doublespeak on behalf of her crime boss. But I doubt the devaluing of that medal to whitewash any of those disgraceful and profoundly anti-democratic self-servers will really save them from history's more telling judgment. And hopefully not that of a court somewhere before that too.

[Episcopagan]

Bush gives Blair a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Queen Elizabeth gave Blair NOTHING.

Unlike previous former Prime Ministers, Blair was not given a gong.

[JZ735]

Ah, I love you Liz.