Free Republic

US President George W Bush and France's Nicolas Sarkozy have emphasised the strength of relations between the two countries after talks in Paris. The pair discussed a range of issues including Iran's nuclear ambitions and co-operation over Afghanistan. But correspondents say the mood of the meeting was dominated by the extent to which France and the US see eye-to-eye. Mr Bush is in Paris on the latest leg of his European tour, expected to be his last before leaving office. The visit is seen as a sign of further reconciliation between the US and France, after tensions over Iraq. On...

On his second day in Paris, President Bush met again with French President Nicolas Sarkozy as the two leaders held a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace. (Transcript) Afterwards, President Sarkozy lead President Bush to the US Ambassador’s residence in Paris where the Flamme de la Liberte (Flame of Liberty) sculpture was unveiled. The sculpture is a full size replica of the flame in the Statue of Liberty’s torch. From there, President Bush traveled to the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial in Paris where American soldiers who died during World War I and II are buried. The president also...

The real 'options on the table' that should worry Europe and the world lay elsewhere - in the likelihood of moves by Iran's Arab neighbours to develop nuclear weapons of their own. He said the 'time is now' for the outside world to put in place 'diplomacy with consequences' to bring Iran's uranium-enrichment activities to an end, not least because he believed that a new group of European leaders had 'gone beyond the Iraq period' and were engaged with the US in multilateral efforts on a range of other issues. In London, however, Iraq inevitably will be back on the...

PARIS: There is good news and bad news for President George W. Bush as he pursues his valedictory tour of Europe this week, according to a new worldwide study by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. On the one hand, the image of the United States has improved slightly in many countries over the past year. On the other, the new optimism appears to be driven largely by the fact that Bush will soon be leaving office. In addition, while the prospect of Bush's departure and the excitement of the U.S. primary contest have helped the image of the United States,...

President & Mrs. Bush met today with Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican. The pope treated the president to a rare tour of the Vatican Gardens, a spot where popes pray privately and only special guests are allowed to stroll. First Lady Laura Bush toured the Mattei Palace in Rome and met there with students in the American Study Center. The first couple then boarded Air Force One and traveled to Paris, France. During the flight, Mrs. Bush participated in a rare press gaggle with reporters on the plane. “Hey everybody, how are you all? Good to see you.” (Transcript)...

President Bush heralded a “new era of transatlantic unity” when he arrived in France yesterday, with the location of his speech as significant as its content. By choosing Paris for what White House officials described as “the centrepiece” of his week-long farewell trip to Europe, Mr Bush sought to put the seal on a dramatic transformation in relations with France since President Sarkozy was elected last year. Britain, which for so long has acted as a sometimes rickety bridge across the Atlantic, no longer has such strategic diplomatic importance. President Bush is spending two nights in Paris, but only one...

President Bush heralded a “new era of transatlantic unity” when he arrived in France yesterday, with the location of his speech as significant as its content. By choosing Paris for what White House officials described as “the centrepiece” of his week-long farewell trip to Europe, Mr Bush sought to put the seal on a dramatic transformation in relations with France since President Sarkozy was elected last year. Britain, which for so long has acted as a sometimes rickety bridge across the Atlantic, no longer has such strategic diplomatic importance. President Bush is spending two nights in Paris, but only one...

George W Bush and Pope Benedict XVI have held an intimate meeting in Rome as rumours mounted in Italy that the president may follow in Tony Blair's footsteps and convert to Catholicism. The two men spoke for half an hour in the 12th century Tower of St John, a private area in the Vatican gardens which is used by the pope for private reflection. The usual protocol for heads-of-state is a meeting in the pope's library in the Apostolic Palace, but a spokesman for the Vatican said Benedict wanted to reward Mr Bush for the "warmth" of his reception at...

Today the President is in Italy continuing what many believe is his farewell European tour. He met with the Italian President and Primeminister plus attending a round table meeting with Italian entrepreneurs who have spent time working with U.S. companies in Silicon Valley. The First Lady and Secretary of State attended a conference at the Kleber international centre in Paris after which the First Lady travelled to Rome to attend a plenary session at the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome. Defense Secretary Robert Gates attended a NATO defence ministers' meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels

Iran, Iraq and other hot spots topped discussions between U.S. President George Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Thursday in Rome. "We did have a wideranging discussion," Bush said during a news conference. "I appreciate very much the fact that Italy is meeting international obligations." Bush noted that U.S. citizens probably didn't realize how many Italian troops were deployed around the world, including 8,700 troops in areas such as Kosovo and Chad. "We talked about Iraq, how Iraq is changing for the better, how people are beginning to realize the blessings of a free and peaceful society," Bush said,...

"U.S. President George W. Bush talks with Italian entrepreneur Micol Macellari during a roundtable on business exchange Thursday, June 12, 2008 in Rome, Italy.""A demonstrator shouts slogans on a street leading to the US embassy in Rome, cordoned off by police, during an anti-Bush protest in Rome, Wednesday, June 11, 2008."

The President spent the day in Meseberg, Germany with Chancellor Merkel. They had meetings and held a joint press availability before the President continued on to Rome. TRANSCRIPT Mrs. Bush was in France for a four day visit.

Washington, May. 21, 2008 (CWNews.com) - US President George W. Bush will visit the Vatican in June during a trip to Europe, the White House has confirmed. President Bush will visit Germany, France, England, and Northern Ireland on his European tour, as well as Italy. The American leader visited Pope Benedict at the Vatican last June as well, in the first formal meeting since the Pontiff's election in 2005. More recently Bush welcomed Pope Benedict when he arrived in the US in April of this year. In other news, Canada’s foreign minister Maxime Bernier is in Rome to meet with...

On their last day in Israel President & Mrs. Bush participated in roundtable discussion with Israeli youth leaders at the Bible Lands Museum. (Transcript) "Mr. President and Mrs. Bush, thank you so much for choosing to spend this time with us. This is an amazing opportunity and I'm very honored and glad to be here. Congratulations, mazel tov also for your daughter's wedding." (Laughter.) Among the press, the hot topic continues to be the comments made by President Bush yesterday at the Knesset in Jerusalem: "Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if...

Today is Day #4 of the President and Mrs. Bush’s trip to the Middle East and their final stop. They are in Egypt visiting the beautiful resort city of Sharm el Sheikh. (see Sanity Island photo today and maps above) The President is meeting with a number of key leaders from the region, including President Mubarak of Egypt, President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, King Abdullah of Jordan, President Karzai of Afghanistan, Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan, and several senior officials from Iraq's democracy. He will also address the World Economic Forum in the Middle East.

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt — U.S. President George W. Bush said Saturday that the Saudis' modest increase in oil production is "something but it doesn't solve our problem" of soaring gas prices. Taking note of the kingdom's recent decision to raise production by 300,000 barrels a day, the president said the United States must act, too, to ease the gasoline crisis. He mentioned steps such as developing alternate fuels, improving conservation and expanding domestic exploration. "We've got to do more at home," the president said on a lawn of a resort overlooking the Red Sea. He spoke after a private meeting...

Saudi oil output hike would not solve US problems: Bush US President George W. Bush said on Saturday that a hike in oil output by Saudi Arabia would not solve American energy problems. "It's not enough, it's something but it doesn't solve our problem," Bush told reporters in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Bush said he was "pleased" with a Saudi decision taken on May 10 to increase its oil production by 300,000 barrels per day in response to customers, but said that he was "also realistic" about what the Americans should do. "Our problem in America gets...

U.S. President George Bush is in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Washington and Riyadh. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, the two leaders are expected to reach agreement on civilian nuclear technology.They will discuss a deal to help the kingdom develop civilian nuclear power for medical and industrial uses as well as generating electricity. The agreement provides access to safe, reliable fuel sources for nuclear reactors and demonstrates what the Bush Administration calls Saudi leadership as a non-proliferation model for the region. [I certainly hope McCain disowns this policy....

Thursday May 15, 2008, American media hit a new low. To paraphrase Michelle Obama, I have never been less proud of my country. On the occasion of Israel's 60th anniversary, President George W. Bush gave one of the greatest speeches of his career. Yet, America's media could only see this event through the tiny prism of the upcoming presidential election, and thereby totally ignored virtually everything that was said by the most powerful man in the world to one of our nation's greatest allies. From a speech that lasted over 20 minutes -- interrupted eight times by applause from Israeli...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabian leaders made clear Friday they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush amid soaring U.S. gasoline prices.