Berlusconi Flees European Controversies With A Visit To Bush's Ranch

Independent (UK) ^ | 7-21-2003 | David Usborne

[blam]

Berlusconi flees European controversies with a visit to Bush's ranch

By David Usborne in New York
21 July 2003

The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has plenty of reasons to escape European shores this summer as the controversy over his recent gibe comparing a German MEP to a Nazi concentration camp collaborator refuses to die.

And so it was yesterday that he was flying far away - to Texas. The visit was to be a brief one, but he was assured a warm welcome. His destination was a ranch in Crawford, Texas and the host was a friend, both personally and politically - the President of the United States, George Bush.

Expect big smiles andcowboy hats when they stand before the microphones today after discussing topics including Iraq, peace in the Middle East and the war on terrorism.

Such is the antipathy toward Mr Berlusconi in many European countries that officials in Rome stressed that he was travelling to Texas in his capacity as the Italian Prime Minister, not as the holder of the rotating European Presidency.

Yet nobody doubts that he aspires to be a peace-maker between the EU and the United States at a time when transatlantic ties are bruised by disagreements on Iraq. It is a role that critics in other European capitals may resent. Franco Frattini, Italy's Foreign Minister, said: "It's a help and a contribution that is exclusively positive and works toward a goal that everyone, without exception, considers a priority."

The visit is a reward for backing the Iraq campaign, in the face of domestic opposition as well as warnings from Pope John Paul II. He is one of few world leaders to have been invited to see Mr Bush both at his Texas home and at the Camp David retreat in Maryland.

And Mr Bush is unlikely to put much store in the furore stirred by Mr Berlusconi's Nazi remark, made just two days into Italy's EU presidency. If there is any other leader with a reputation for slips of the tongue, it is Mr Bush.

VISITORS TO THE RANCH

Welcome: Tony Blair; Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese Prime Minister; Vladimir Putin, President of Russia; Jiang Zemin, former Chinese president; Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; John Howard, Australian Prime Minister; Jose Maria Aznar, Spanish Prime Minister

Not welcome: President Jacques Chirac of France; Gerhard Schröder, German Chancellor; Jean Chrétien, Canadian Prime Minister

[maestro]

? Is the real story,...."Italy to restore 'King V' to the throne?"

[bushfamfan]

About that Nazi comment-seems none of the lefties had a problem in comparing President Bush to Hitler and a Nazi. They are not ones to talk about how Berlusconi causes problems.

[blam]

I like Berlusconi, he's an 'in-your-face' conservative capitalist.

[McGavin999]

Nobody seems to mention the fact that the euroweenie he insulted had just insulted him by comparing him to a mafia boss. Germans always think they can get away with saying whatever they want and nobody has a right to call them on it.

I think Silvio was right and he defended the honor of Italy, as he should.

[dennisw]

 

	US President George W. Bush (R) and first lady Laura Bush (L) wave as they greet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) upon his arrival by helicopter at President Bush's Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas(AFP/Paul J. Richards) AFP - Jul 20 7:21 PM
	President Bush waves as he drives his truck on his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, July 20, 2003. The president hosted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP - Jul 20 6:40 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi walk to the president's truck on his Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, July 20, 2003. The prime minister will spend the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - Jul 20 6:29 PM
	The helicopter carrying Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi comes in for a landing as President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wait in their white truck, rear, at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Berlusconi, having split with France and Germany in his support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq , has earned himself the rare distinction of spending a night at President Bush's Texas ranch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP - Jul 20 6:31 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush gets out of his truck before welcoming Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to his Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, July 20, 2003. The prime minister will spend the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - Jul 20 6:23 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady, Laura, welcome Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) to their Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, July 20, 2003. The prime minister will spend the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - Jul 20 6:21 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady, Laura, welcome Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) to their Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, Texas, July 20, 2003. The prime minister will spend the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - Jul 20 6:12 PM
	President George W. Bush and first lady, Laura, welcome Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi(C) to their Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, July 20, 2003. Berlusconi will spend the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. (Larry Downing/Reuters) Reuters - Jul 20 6:03 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) drive in the president's truck on his Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, Texas, July 20, 2003. The prime minister will spend the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - Jul 20 6:06 PM
	President Bush drives Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in his truck after welcoming him at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Berlusconi, having split with France and Germany in his support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq , has earned himself the rare distinction of spending a night at President Bush's Texas ranch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP - Jul 20 6:06 PM
	Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, center, leans over to kiss first lady Laura Bush as President Bush welcomes him to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Berlusconi, having split with France and Germany in his support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq , has earned himself the rare distinction of spending a night at President Bush's Texas ranch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP - Jul 20 6:09 PM
	President Bush embraces Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as he welcomes him to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Berlusconi, having split with France and Germany in his support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq , has earned himself the rare distinction of spending a night at President Bush's Texas ranch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP - Jul 20 5:58 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady, Laura, welcome Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) to their Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, July 20, 2003. The prime minister will spend the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - Jul 20 6:01 PM
	President Bush and first lady Laura Bush welcome Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Berlusconi, having split with France and Germany in his support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq , has earned himself the rare distinction of spending a night at President Bush's Texas ranch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP - Jul 20 5:58 PM
	President Bush , right, and first lady Laura Bush, left, welcome Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Berlusconi, having split with France and Germany in his support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq , has earned himself the rare distinction of spending a night at President Bush's Texas ranch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP -