Bush 'laughs off' Mid-East gaffe

Herald Sun ^ | 18 July 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

US President George W. Bush "rolled his eyes and laughed" after being told that his unguarded comments about Israeli attacks on Lebanese militants had been broadcast to the world, the White House said today.

Mr Bush's private conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair was caught on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Saint Petersburg.

The US President told Mr Blair that Hezbollah must "stop doing this sh*t" - carrying out attacks on Israel - for the violence to end. He also said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would soon tour the Middle East.

Asked what Mr Bush felt when told about the broadcast of the comments, White House spokesman Tony Snow said: "His reaction first was, 'what did it say?' So we showed him the transcript, then he rolled his eyes and laughed."

Mr Snow said on Air Force One, bringing Mr Bush back to Washington, that the US leader did not feel he had to explain his comments, in which Mr Bush and Mr Blair also seemed to express frustration about UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Mr Bush suggested that Mr Annan thinks that a ceasefire by itself will resolve the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

Mr Snow said it had been "a slice of a conversation that was a carry-over from previous conversations." He added: "All the president was saying is that he wants to make sure that the sequencing is clear when it comes to action with regard to the situation in the Middle East."

The US has laid the blame on Hezbollah for the violence which has seen more than 200 people killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

An open microphone at a lunch of G8 leaders captured every word as Mr Bush and Mr Blair candidly hashed out global events.

Mr Bush confided that "Condi's going to go pretty soon". He did not specify where, but she was expected to go to the Middle East when a UN team returns later this week.

Mr Blair offered to go himself if "she needs the ground prepared as it were," explaining that the stakes for him would be lower: "If she goes out she's got to succeed, as it were, whereas I can just go out and talk."

"The irony is, what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit, and it's over," Bush replied without specifying who "they" are.

[Aussie Dasher]

Not a blunder. Not a gaffe. Just plain speaking from someone who knows what's going on!

[angkor]

"Bush replied without specifying who "they" are."

"They" = "the United Nations"

[gridlock]

And not at all accidental, if you want my opinion. Just saying what needs to be said.

[SueRae]

Consistency in action...on or off camera, the man is true to his beliefs.

[deaconjim]

Mr Snow said on Air Force One, bringing Mr Bush back to Washington, that the US leader did not feel he had to explain his comments,...

His comments were plain enough that they don't need to be explained. What part of "...stop doing this sh*t" do they not understand?

[shalom aleichem]

I hate the MS/DB Media (couldn't resist).

[BallyBill]

Only "two faced" people need to apologize for saying what they mean.

[ken5050]

Allow me....obviously, they fail to understand the "*"

[avital2]

i agree and think it's kind of amusing what a big thing the press made of it. i do believe he will have some 'splainin' to do to his mama, Barbara Bush. i'm sure this will become a family joke.

[MinorityRepublican]

Rare we have a leader like this. America is blessed.

[Allegra]

US President George W. Bush "rolled his eyes and laughed" after being told that his unguarded comments about Israeli attacks on Lebanese militants had been broadcast to the world, the White House said today.

Gotta love that guy. Of course, I loved him for saying all of that in the first place. ;-)

[RNO1]

Just a plain spoken Texan...Channel surfing last night the usual suspects had to make their share of negative comments on it...CBS had the nerve to state that just maybe he should be fined like the would be...Had they made the gaffe....other terrorist loving news media here were not very kind to it either....Go figure...

[W04Man]

Yes, BUT he's gonna get it from his Mama (Barbara) for talking and chewing his food with his mouth open. You can count on it!

[motormouth]

I couldnt help but laugh when I read what GWB said. It confirms what I already knew... He is the "what you see is what you get" man I voted for, for President of the United States.

MM

[mathluv]

One of the e-mails that John read at the end of his show was about that.

[Allegra]

CBS had the nerve to state that just maybe he should be fined like the would be...

See-BS would say that. Thing is, they know when their mikes are live. The live mikes at the G8 luncheon were sort of a sneaky thing.

[Allegra]

LOL - I thought of that, too. That Barbara would have something to say to him about that.

[libs_kma]

The man said sh*t. BFD! Doesn't the lame stream media have any Algore manbearpig articles to write?

[RNO1]

Yes, there is quite a difference when your having a private conversation. Instead of being on the record..It matters not to the terrorist loving MSM...If it had been Clinton they would be swooning over his words...

[wolfpat]

Consistency in action...on or off camera, the man is true to his beliefs.

As opposed to the last occupant of the Oval Office, who said one thing on camera and something different off camera.