Posted on 05/20/2007 6:36:00 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush welcomed NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and his wife to Prairie Chapel Ranch today. Talks between the two leaders were expected to focus on Afghanistan, where NATO troops are fighting a newly emboldened Taliban enemy.
NATO chief in Texas for talks with Bush on Afghanistan
by Laurent Lozano
1 hour, 18 minutes agoCRAWFORD, United States (AFP) - US President George W. Bush welcomed Sunday NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at his Texas ranch for talks focused largely on fighting a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.
Bush himself drove a pickup truck to meet De Hoop Scheffer's helicopter as it landed at the president's sprawling ranch here, where discussions are expected to cover the recent strong showing by Taliban insurgents and civilian deaths in Afghanistan, which threaten to erode support for US troops and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force backing the Kabul government.
Bush is expected to seek reinforced allied commitments to participating in the US "war on terror" campaigns in Afghanistan if not Iraq.
Also likely on the agenda are Kosovo, expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the US effort to position a strategic anti-missile defense system in Europe, according to the White House.
De Hoop Scheffer arrived amid heightened tensions driven by Russia's objection to the anti-missile shield's expansion to Central Europe.
Bush and the NATO leader will have a working dinner with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates late Sunday, and further meetings early Monday.
In the meantime, the venomous Jimmy Carter, criticized the Bush administration quite bitterly today. This from the former president whose disastrous policies toward Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the Middle East, as well as then-rising Islamic terrorism, are directly responsible for the crisis of radical Islamism abroad in the world today. Fortunately, the White House did not let Carter's caustic remarks go unanswered.
'Carter is irrelevant,' Bush administration shoots back
POSTED: 3:53 p.m. EDT, May 20, 2007CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- The nasty words between President Bush and former President Jimmy Carter continued Sunday.
In a biting rebuke to Carter calling the Bush administration the "worst in history," the White House on Sunday dismissed Carter as "increasingly irrelevant."
Carter was quoted Saturday in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette as saying "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history." (Read full story)
The Georgia Democrat said Bush had overseen an "overt reversal of America's basic values" as expressed by previous administrations, including that of his own father, former President George H.W. Bush.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto shot back Sunday from Crawford, Texas, where Bush spent the weekend.
"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," said Fratto. "I think it's unfortunate. And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."
Carter was in Arkansas promoting "Sunday Mornings in Plains," a collection of weekly Bible lessons from his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
"Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man," said Amber Wilkerson, Republican National Committee spokeswoman.
She said it was hard to take Carter seriously because he also "challenged Ronald Reagan's strategy for the Cold War."
Carter's comments, which were published Saturday, were confirmed by his spokeswoman Deanna Congileo to The Associated Press on Saturday. She declined to elaborate.
Carter also said Saturday that Britain's support for the war in Iraq was a "major tragedy" for the world, as he criticized Tony Blair's unwavering support for President Bush.
Asked how he would judge Blair's support of Bush, Carter said: "Abominable. Loyal. Blind. Apparently subservient."
"And I think the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world," Carter told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Blair was in Baghdad Saturday morning for what will be his last trip to Iraq as British prime minister. Last week, Blair announced that he would step down June 27, making way for treasury chief Gordon Brown.
THE WEEK AHEAD:
— Monday, the President participates in a joint media availability with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Crawford, Texas, before returning with the First Lady (and the dogs) to Washington.— Tuesday, no public events are scheduled.
— Wednesday, the Commander in Chief delivers the commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
— Thursday, the schedule has not been announced.
— Friday, no public events are scheduled. The first couple are scheduled to spend the Memorial Day weekend at Camp David, Although it has not been announced, they are likely to return to Washington for the annual Memorial Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery.
I just pray that we get a nominee who will unite us and not divide us. That would send, yes, a jackass to the white house who would sully everything good that has been accomplished in the past 8 years.
Well said. I personally have not yet settled on who I’ll back during the primary season. It’s waaay to early. But, like you, Jewels, my #1 issue is terrorism. I want the strongest possible candidate as regards terrorism.
F250s are 3/4 ton pickups. F150s are half ton.
Amen, Wolfstar. I am not ready to begin wearing a burkha! EVER!!
I'm sure he does. He looks all business.
You're welcome. :)
I agree with your message, Wolf.
Nominees don't unite or divide us. We do that to ourselves.
Thanks. Much appreciated. :)
Wise words
They can divide us if we can’t reach consensus...which is like you said...ourselves.
and it looks right now like we are doing a very fine job and the first vote hasn’t even been cast yet!
Ping to #16
It would be a tragedy if it takes the ascent of Hitlery to bring us back together again.
if hiylery makes it...kiss your behind goodbye! she’ll welcome all terorist with open arms! like i’ve said before, nothing will change my mind..billyboy clintoon was/is a mole for the soviet union...until we know what he did in the soviet union while they were and probably still are our enemy, i will believe he wants to help destroy this nation!
Those are great pics tonight. Dubya in jeans, boots and driving his truck, it doesn’t get any better!
I love Miss Beazley one she is handful LOL! did Dubya or Laura almost lost their handling of her ONCE got her in time
I think I remember that photo
Barney and Miss Beazley look so cute
You know what Al Gore would say SEE Dubya using truck that burn hole in ozone look at your own crib AL HELLO
Least Crawford Crib use recycle energy of course Dubya has truck he is FROM FRIGGIN TEXAS HELLO
I wouldn’t be surprise maybe Barney is in truck with them in between NATO secretary in Front seat telling DADDDY let pick up NATO Secretary
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