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Glossing over differences straining their political relationship, President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted each other warmly Friday in talks expected to emphasize cooperation in the war on terror and the campaign to stop North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The two leaders apparently were still at odds over how to address Iran's nuclear program. There also were long-running differences over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and U.S. concern that Russia is retreating from democracy. Exchanging pleasantries, they offered no public remarks on the issues they face. . . . Bush and Putin have generally agreed on a need to avert...

(SNIP) Q Mr. President, Vice President Cheney called it reprehensible for critics to question how you took the country to war, but Senator Hagel says it's patriotic to ask those kinds of questions. Who do you think is right? PRESIDENT BUSH: The Vice President. Q Why? PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, look, ours is a country where people ought to be able to disagree, and I expect there to be criticism. But when Democrats say that I deliberately misled the Congress and the people, that's irresponsible. They looked at the same intelligence I did, and they voted -- many of them voted...

Bush Hails Taiwan As Democratic Model By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 2 minutes ago Piquing China just days before meetings with its leaders, U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday held up the self-governing island of Taiwan that Beijing claims as its own as a model of freedom "at all levels" that the communist giant should emulate. Bush's speech opening a four-country tour of Asia amounted to a road map of the coming discussions he was to have on a potential bird flu outbreak, global trade, North Korea's nuclear ambitions and other issues at a gathering of...

Reuters - BUSH, SOUTH KOREA'S ROH AGREE TALKS ON A KOREAN WAR PEACE TREATY MORE...

Wednesday November 16, 2005 Hilary Clinton Urges President Bush to Discuss Forced Abortion on China Trip By John-Henry WestenWASHINGTON, November 16, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - After years of being urged by pro-lifers and Christians to condemn China's one-child policy, President George W. Bush is now being urged in the same direction by none other than Democratic Senator Hilary Clinton.  In a letter to the President dated November 10, Clinton wrote, "I hope you will raise with the Chinese government the following points," the first of which concerns the coercive one-child program."Since first introduced in 1979, China's one-child policy has evoked strong...

James 3:13-17 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and...

KYOTO: In the latest sign of their chummy ties, US President George W Bush gave Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi a surprise gift of a Segway electric scooter and urged him to take a spin. Bush, who often refers to his warm friendship with Koizumi, gave the Japanese leader the upright two-wheeler ahead of a summit at which they reaffirmed their close diplomatic ties. Bush was riding the vehicle when he met Koizumi outside the Kyoto State Guest House in the ancient Japanese capital, a Japanese pool report said. Urged by Bush to give it a whirl, Koizumi took a...

BUSAN, South Korea - Piquing China just days before meetings with its leaders, U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday held up the self-governing island of Taiwan that Beijing claims as its own as a model of freedom "at all levels" that the communist giant should emulate. Bush's speech opening a four-country tour of Asia amounted to a road map of the coming discussions he was to have on a potential bird flu outbreak, global trade, North Korea's nuclear ambitions and other issues at a gathering of Pacific Rim economies in South Korea. Bush arrived in Busan, South Korea, on...

President and Mrs. Bush are in Asia; he is participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference. Secretary of State Rice is attending the ancillary APEC Ministerial Conference, after negotiating for the opening of Gaza's borders on her 51st birthday. "How Rice Won a Mideast Deal" (worth reading). Something to watch: New Documents Reveal Saddam Hid WMDs, Was Tied to Al Qaida . Welcome to Sanity Island!

KYOTO, Japan (AP) - President Bush prodded China on Wednesday to grant more political freedom to its 1.3 billion people and held up rival Taiwan as an example of a society that has successfully moved from repression to democracy. In remarks sure to rile Beijing, Bush said, ``Modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society.''

11/15/2005 - ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) -- President George Bush stopped here on the first leg of his week-long Asia tour and thanked servicemembers and civilians for volunteering to serve and continuing the fight the global war on terrorism. It was the president’s second visit here. He spoke for nearly 45 minutes with more than 4,500 servicemembers and civilian workersfrom all the services . Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Ferguson was one the nearly 3,500 military members at the event. The Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment troop from Fort Richardson, Alaska, was excited to see the...

If you make the Most High your dwelling-Even the LORD, who is my refuge-Then no harm will befall you,No disaster will come near your tent.For He will command His angels concerning youTo guard you in all your ways;They will lift you up in their hands,So that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91: 9-12

BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- George W. Bush visits China this week for the third time as U.S. president, but Beijing awaits him with some of the uncertainty of a first-time visit, wondering whether he will bring goodwill or grievances. Chinese President Hu Jintao, whose first visit to Washington in September was cancelled because of Hurricane Katrina, will be anxious to gauge U.S. policy toward China for the rest of Bush's second term, Chinese observers said on Tuesday. "China is a rising power, so we can hardly curb all tensions with the United States," said Zhu Feng, an expert on Sino-U.S....

President and Mrs. Bush began their eight-day, four nation trip to Asia today, arriving at Osaka International Airport in Japan after having stopped in Alaska last evening for a speech to the troops at Elmendorf AFB from the Commander in Chief. They were welcomed at the airport by Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Ryozo Kato and his wife, Hanayo, and at the Kyoto State Guest House by Kyoto Governor Keiji Yamada and Mayor Yorikane Masumoto. He also met famed Japanese baseball star, Sadaharu Oh, and former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine.

A Vital Alliance, Built by Bush By Peter Brookes CNSNews.com Commentary November 15, 2005 President Bush, now in Japan, deserves a victory lap for a singular foreign policy accomplishment -- growing and deepening the U.S.-Japan alliance. Bush critics bemoan the state of relations with supposed European allies like France and Germany, but overlook the improvements in the Japanese alliance. Yet Japan is becoming a partner to America comparable only to Britain -- a staunch ally in the region, and a global partner in other issues around the globe; two powers that share similar values and vision, willing to pool resources...

President Bush escalated the bitter debate over the Iraq war on Monday, hurling back at Democratic critics the worries they once expressed that Saddam Hussein was a grave threat to the world. "They spoke the truth then and they're speaking politics now," Bush charged. Bush went on the attack after Democrats accused the president of manipulating and withholding some pre-war intelligence and misleading Americans about the rationale for war. "Some Democrats who voted to authorize the use of force are now rewriting the past," Bush said. "They're playing politics with this issue and they are sending mixed signals to our...

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush departed today for an eight-day trip to Asia to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea they will also be visiting Japan and China. The President spoke about the war on terror during a stop at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, enroute to Japan where he will begin his four country Asia tour. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice continued her visit in the middle east Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi. Pentagon officials did not allow TV or photo coverage of...

The United States has issued an alert for citizens living in southern China after receiving "credible information" that a terrorist threat may exist against US government facilities in the city of Guangzhou. A notice on the website of the US consulate in Hong Kong, says the threat "also may exist for places where Americans are known to congregate or visit, including clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools or outdoor recreation events". Last Wednesday, Chinese police warned that Islamic extremists could be planning attacks on luxury hotels in China this week, ahead of US President George W. Bush's three-day visit starting...

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is in New Delhi today to attend an India-Pakistan cricket match. Weightier matters, however, have been on his agenda since arriving in the Indian capital -- moving the peace process forward over Kashmir's future chief among them. Making Kashmir's embattled residents central to the search for peace is the best route toward a durable solution to an issue that three times has embroiled these nuclear powers in war. There has been a series of transformational events in South Asia in the last month in the run-up to Mr. Musharraf's cricket tour that makes peace genuinely attainable....

A South Korean journalist in Seoul last weekend asked the visiting US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice a pointed question about how she coped with a bureaucracy staffed largely with white men. Rice neither sidestepped the query nor brushed it away but took it head-on. She reminded the questioner that neither of her predecessors, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright, had been white men, then asserted: "I'm a package, I'm black and female and me." "I think I act as Condi Rice, and that's a person who is female and black and grew up in Alabama and lived in California and...