Posted on 09/20/2004 6:56:19 AM PDT by areafiftyone
ROME (Reuters) - Britain's ambassador to Italy has called President Bush (news - web sites) "the best recruiting sergeant" for al Qaeda, Italian media reported Monday.
The comment, made at a closed-door conference at the weekend, was denounced by one leading Italian newspaper editor, who issued an open letter snubbing the veteran ambassador, Sir Ivor Roberts.
Roberts was quoted as telling an annual Anglo-Italian gathering in Tuscany: "If anyone is ready to celebrate the eventual re-election of Bush, it's al Qaeda."
Corriere della Sera newspaper said Roberts also told the meeting of British and Italian policy-makers: "Bush is al Qaeda's best recruiting sergeant."
The British embassy in Rome declined to comment about the remarks, saying the Tuscan conference had been covered by the so-called Chatham House Rules, which means that anything said by delegates should remain off the record.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) is President Bush's strongest ally in Europe.
Giuliano Ferrara, outspoken editor of the conservative Il Foglio broadsheet, wrote an open letter saying he would boycott a previously scheduled dinner with the ambassador Monday.
"The dinner unfortunately would be a complete waste of time and a grotesque hypocrisy," he said.
Ferrara added that he would prefer to have supper with the French ambassador to Italy "who loyally represents in Rome Mr Jacques Chirac."
Ferrara is a fervent supporter of the U.S.-led war on Iraq (news - web sites).
Roberts was British ambassador to Yugoslavia in the mid-1990s, helping negotiations between the international community and Yugoslav authorities. He then served as British ambassador to Ireland before his Italian posting.
bump
Sheesh even Europeans buy into Kerry propaganda.
Of all the stupid things to do, insult the country to which you are the ambassador. Italy has been in our camp since the beginning, whatever crossed his mind to believe that this would be an acceptable remark? His is a diplomatic position, this isn't the least bit diplomatic.
Good post. I remember reading translations of OBL's terrorist recruiting pitch. These were prepared and disseminated before 9/11, and presented by the media after that attack. Before 9/11, OBL's persuasion was rooted in the idea that America was soft, lazy and afraid to fight back. (Remember this was the Clinton years). So doing nothing gets you attacked. Fighting back has led to how many attacks on American soil so far, eh? Between the two choices, I'll go for attack every time.
I'd say you pretty much summed it up. Euroweenies are a weak bunch, pathetic losers protected and freed by American blood, more than once. This is how they thank the U.S.
Maybe we could trick Barbara Streisand into giving a free concert for terrorists in Iraq. One bomb.
I'm quite new here. Is it permissible to post the ambassador's email address here?
I've already sent him my remarks.
I should have asked everyone:
I'm quite new here. Is it permissible to post the ambassador's email address here?
I've already sent him my remarks.
Email addresses are fair game, but not home street addresses.
Let's see if this guy is removed from his postition by the UK government.
Thanks.
For what it's worth, here it is:
Political and Ambassador's office: RomePoliticalSectionEnquiries@fco.gov.uk
Press and Public Affairs: InfoRome@fco.gov.uk
I sent a message to Sir Ivor "Neville C." Roberts at the first address
Neville Chamberlain could'nt have said it better..
Bush is a great recruiting sargent. He promises to make their career short and eventful.
Right, and I can assume that Churchill was Hitler's best recruiter ( as opposed to P.M. Chamberlain ). One fights. The other appeases.
Whenever I hear this kind of thing I wonder, these folks are always whining about Bush not getting friends and allies from helping on the war on terror.
Does that mean all these countries are not doing their best against terror, because they're sulking over Bush not being nice to them?
If Americans die because Germany and France aren't doing their best against terror, is that somehow Bush's fault?
The "Bush didn't bring our allies aboard" crowd doesn't seem capable of thinking beyond their little slogans. If they did, wouldn't they be protesting these other countries, saying "Stop being a baby and fight terror"?
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