Posted on 06/04/2004 4:48:14 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
ROME (AP) -
President Bush got a sharp dose of Europe's opposition to his Iraq policy Friday, quietly in the halls of the Vatican from Pope John Paul II and loudly in the streets of Rome from thousands of demonstrators.
The ailing pontiff complained about recent "deplorable events," an apparent reference to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops. In the absence of a commitment to shared human values, "neither war nor terrorism will ever be overcome," he said, struggling to speak.
However, the pope welcomed the recent establishment of an interim government and called for a speedy transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis.
Not far from the Vatican walls, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to demonstrate through central Rome, many with signs demanding Italy withdraw its troops from Iraq. A score of demonstrators hurling stones clashed with police during the march. Others threw firecrackers and set a trash can on fire.
Bush had dinner with a top ally on Iraq, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. On Saturday, the president heads to Paris to meet with one of his sharpest war critics, French President Jacques Chirac.
Despite Berlusconi's backing, and his decision to send 3,000 Italian troops to Iraq, polls show that a majority of Italians oppose the U.S.-led war and occupation of Iraq, a sentiment common throughout western Europe.
Bush is on a three-day trip to Italy and France to help commemorate the June 1944 liberation of Rome and the allied D-Day invasion of Normandy. He was also using the trip - and an international economic summit next week in Sea Island, Ga. - to try to build more support among leading nations for a new U.N. resolution to deal with post-occupation Iraq.
But the announcement in Baghdad that five U.S. soldiers were killed and five wounded on Friday when their vehicles were attacked in east Baghdad served as a reminder that Iraq remained an extremely dangerous place.
Seated next to the pope, Bush promised his nation would work for "human liberty and human dignity," without making any reference to Iraq. He presented the pontiff with the presidential medal of freedom, America's highest civilian award, calling him "a devoted servant of God."
The president and his wife Laura laid a green wreath at the Ardeatine Cave Memorial, where Nazi occupiers massacred 335 Italian citizens in 1944. Bush, alone, approached the wreath, straightened its blue ribbon and bowed his head as a bugler played.
At the Vatican, Bush sat impassively as the 84-year-old pope, seated in front of a microphone, read his statement in English in a voice that was audible, but not easily understood. His hands trembled from Parkinson's disease.
"Mr. President, your visit to Rome takes place at a moment of great concern for the continuing situation of grave unrest in the Middle East, both in Iraq and in the Holy Land," the pope said.
"In the past few weeks, other deplorable events have come to light which have troubled the civic and religious conscience of all."
Although the remarks appeared directed at abuses of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, they could also be taken to include other atrocities such as the kidnapping of foreign civilians in Iraq by Islamic militants and the beheading of an American contractor.
The pope did not elaborate. Neither would papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, although he did not dispute characterizations that the comments referred primarily to abuse at Abu Ghraib prison.
The spokesman said that while the pope had reiterated the Vatican's long-standing opposition to the war, he made plain he was ready to move forward.
Later, Navarro-Valls issued a brief statement summing up Bush's visit to the Vatican. "There were some points of agreement, especially regarding the process of normalization of Iraq," he said.
Navarro-Valls also spoke about the U.S. humanitarian role around the world, particularly in Africa, and, as the pope himself had stated, the promotion of moral values in American society.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "We appreciate the Holy Father's words of support for the interim government and for the transfer of sovereignty."
Regarding the pope's apparent reference to Abu Ghraib, McClellan said, "I'm sure the Holy Father is concerned about the abuses. The president is as well. That's why we are acting, taking a systemic look at the prison system and holding those responsible who committed those atrocities."
Friday's was Bush's third meeting with the pope since he became president.
Bush has aggressively courted Roman Catholic voters - a bloc making up about a quarter of the electorate that split evenly between Bush and Democrat Al Gore in 2000.
Thanking Bush for the medal of freedom award, the pontiff said: "God bless America."
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Are you saying the Pope hasn't expressed opposition to the war in Iraq?
I'm saying he didn't "condemn the leader of the free world". He received him graciously and blessed America. He was opposed to the Iraqi war, he is a man of peace, and he didn't think all peaceful solutions had been exhausted. I disagree, but I respect his opinion.
This is true. However the liberal media ignored the positive aspects and focused on the fact that the Pope condemned the war in Iraq.
And as far as this issue goes, the Pope has sided with the leftists against George Bush.
He was opposed to the Iraqi war, he is a man of peace, and he didn't think all peaceful solutions had been exhausted. I disagree, but I respect his opinion.
I don't respect "his opinion" anymore than I agree with it. The idea that a so-called "man of peace" has the gall to oppose removing a mass murdering tyrant who was estimated to be killing 16,000 of his own people a year is sickening. To say the least.
George Bush could teach "his holiness" a thing or two when it comes to morality and the courage to stand up for common decency.
Hello, anybody home? I simply stated that some Catholics I've talked to (meaning they actually communicated to me one on one) believe that the Pope is a sinless man. There is no "hearsay" to that. Maybe you should try to comprehend what I'm writing before responding...better yet, don't respond at all! P.S. Just so you aren't confused any further, I did not say ALL CATHOLICS believe this, only SOME of them. Read this message SLOWLY and you'll do just fine.
For the sake of your mommy and daddy, I hope they didn't pay out of their own pockets for your juris doctorate, because they got ripped off. Truth be told, you're probably just another not too bright product of outcome based education, aren't you Billy.
hearsay (hîr´sâ´) noun
1.Information heard from another.
2.Law. Evidence based on the reports of others rather than the personal knowledge of a witness and therefore generally not admissible as testimony.
You really do have a serious comprehension problem!!! For the last time: Some Catholics that I've met have adopted, as part of their belief system, that "the Pope is a sinless man." I know that most Catholics do not adhere to this belief, nor do you or I. I simply stated that some do believe this way. Opinion is not "hearsay"...why can't you seem to understand the obvious difference? (If you don't understand, please find someone who can explain it to you!)
The problem, for you, Billy, is that I comprehend your ignorance quite well.
Dear Cunnilingus, No more posts after this you "worthless piece of liberal human debris, Catholic Pagan-Worshipping Maryologist"...I tried to explain simple grammar, the difference in "hearsay" and "opinion"...you still failed to comprehend any of the concepts...SO GET LOST...YOU FREAKIN' LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bump!
But of course!
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