Posted on 11/21/2005 11:32:13 AM PST by indcons
In the first visit by a sitting US president to Mongolia, George W. Bush announced that he was in Ulan Bator to deliver an “important international message”, then after a pause, added: “Secretary Rumsfeld asked me to check on his horse.”
His comment got a knowing laugh from the watching Mongolian elite, dominated by officers festooned with gold medals. When Mr Rumsfeld visited Mongolia last month, the defence secretary received a horse as a gift, which he named Montana.
However, Mr Bush had a more serious reason for being here: to highlight Mongolia’s symbolism as an emerging democracy in the region, elevate the country’s international standing, and thank its leaders for their support in Iraq, where Mongolians form the third largest troop contingent per capita. “In Iraq, Mongolian forces have helped make possible a stunning transformation,” Mr Bush said.
As Mr Rumsfeld’s visit emphasised, the US has been forging closer military ties with the country, strategically located on the border of China and Russia. There are fears about its vulnerability to an expansionist China, which would be interested in its natural resources – oil, coal, copper and uranium. Mongolia was ruled by China from 1691 until the early 20th century.
One aim in giving Mongolia the high profile of a presidential visit is to build diplomatic protection from its bigger neighbours. Ahead of his trip, Mr Bush said: “By being friends, I think we can prevent any potential military dispute from arising.” He declared on Monday: “America is proud to be called your ‘third neighbour’.”
Even so, the Mongolian foreign minister, interviewed in the Mongol Messenger, the local English-language newspaper, appeared to play down that assertion. “We perceive all nations, including the US, as our third neighbours,” he said.
In 1990, after 70 years of Soviet rule, democratic elections were held in Mongolia. “Many of you can still recall the exhilaration of voting freely for the first time after decades of tyranny,” Mr Bush said. “You know the satisfaction of seeing leaders you chose take office...and of seeing them leave office if you decide to replace them.”
Although there are continued concerns about corruption, its politicians have learnt fast. According to a State Department biography of Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Mongolia’s president, when he won the election in 2000 after being advised by a British political consultant on how to reform his own party, he was dubbed the “Blair of the steppes” after Tony Blair, UK prime minister.
Mr Enkhbayar also has other British ties. He has translated novels by Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens.
For all the military and symbolic overtones, Mr Bush’s trip was also about something simpler: presidential tourism. On the way from the airport, silhouettes of soldiers bordered the route. In downtown Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s Soviet roots were evident in the city’s architecture.
Mr Enkhbayar showed Mr Bush into a traditional ger, a circular felt-lined tent, overlooked by a towering statue of Genghis Khan.
Mr Bush seemed pleased to review 200 local police officers, sporting swords, long brown riding boots and bright costumes. That compared with his visible unease in Beijing when he reviewed the military troops in the Great Hall of the People.
Later, Mr Bush watched Mongol warriors on horseback, drank – tentatively – fermented mare’s milk, and listened to traditional throat singing.
As he ended his challenging week-long trip to four Asian countries, Mr Bush offered Mongolians his highest praise. “I feel very much at home in your country. This is a beautiful land, with huge skies and vast horizons – like my home state of Texas.”
That's a kick butt pic - W with Genghis Khan (lookalike).
Bush should have done his Captain Kirk imitation, "KHAAAAAN!"
LOL.....check out this headline from the Aussie newspaper Sydney Morning Herald: "Bush praises Mongolian hordes for revisiting Iraq"
On a related note: "Mr Bush said US forces were proud to serve with Mongolia's "fearless warriors" and specifically thanked two Mongolian soldiers who shot dead a suicide bomber trying to drive a truck full of explosives into a coalition mess tent in southern Iraq." http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bush-praises-mongolian-hordes-for-revisiting-iraq/2005/11/21/1132421603818.html
See post # 43 on this thread....has an interesting headline that you might enjoy.
I'm surprised the Mongolians had the guy in Genghis Khan-era battle gear appear with Bush in photos. Would have thought they'd be trying to project a more modern image.
They are very proud of their heritage. The soviets suppress it for many years. Everything there is tied to Chinggis Khan.........In fact I am looking at a bottle of Chinggis Khan vodka right now.
LOL. What the Mongols say when they landed in Iraq?
Hey AS*****S, Were're Back!
"Mr Enkhbayar showed Mr Bush into a traditional ger, a circular felt-lined tent, overlooked by a towering statue of Genghis Khan"
I thought it was called a "gert" not "ger" it's like a big round tent with a teppee (sic) top. I stayed in one near the Illinois river once in OK, and those were really nice, not Ghengis Khan era inspired though, it had a kitchen, bathroom, and 2 beds, with a nice dome top sunroof.
Caption: President Bush greets his new press secretary.
Various forms of the word include yurt, gert, and ger.
Or maybe a couple thousand dudes like the one in the picture he's shaking hands with to guard it? I don't care who you are, that picture is funny!
my. Okay.. thanks for the info.
I expect much foam and spittle from the DU as well.
Probably unfairly blamed. Islamic society was always busy overrunning itself, mostly when more orthodox Arabs or North Africans swamped the "softer" Islamics, such as the caliphates in Spain, etc.
The dynamic of Islam is towards violence and repression. Baghdad was very advanced in its pre-Islamic period, as were Persia and other countries that were overrun by Mohammed's bandit hordes. For about the first 100 years, these countries could maintain a bit of their past; when Muslims from Baghdad were in Spain, they even still permitted figurative drawing and continued with their pre-Islamic scientific studies. But they were rapidly conquered by more radical Muslims.
When this group itself also finally succumbed to the intellectual influences of pre-Islamic Spain - which had been one of the intellectual "nurseries"of both the Roman Empire and Christianity, producing numerous poets, emperors, philosphers and theologians until the Visigothic invasion and even continuing to be important in theology and scientific research after this time - they were also considered heretics by other Muslims and were attacked. This has been true time and again throughout Islamic history. It is the result of the totalitarian, theocratic and retrograde nature of the religion. As well as its bizarre beliefs, which are somewhat in the Scientology category ...
Actually, that was Hulegu Quan, Chinnghis' grandson, brother of Mongke Qa Quan, and of Qublai Qa Quan [Mongke's successor]. Hulegu was the first Il-Khan of Persia.
Chingghis Quan is a demi-god to the Mongols. He's the fsther of the country and the World Emperor all rolled into one for them. His image is everywhere! He's become the representation of their national consciousness. No surpise he was there to meet "W".
"Genghis Khan knew how to deal with resistance in Baghdad."
Yep, and he must have been one heck of a good fighter and leader! Why?, because Kerry had nothing good to say about him in his infamous speech before Congress in 1971(+/-)!!
That is a very cool picture.
Worth a thousand words.
The turkic word was "Yurt", but the Mongols called them "Ger"
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