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.
What nice family photos of First Pet India err I mean Willie Barney and Miss Beazley in family photo
Why does India look like Greta garbo pose which said I vant be alone ROFL
Hey Snugs I got beef with your probably soon to be New Brit PM Gordan Brown what this crap I hearing off UK Telegraph that he want pull troops out of Iraq Brit troops
What a wimp
But must he drive a Phord??!!
I agree with you. There are things I don’t care for about Rudy, but I do belive that he would defend this country by any means necessary with no hesitation. I don’t think he will ever forget 9/11 like so many others have. If we don’t have security, then nothing else matters. We won’t see another W for a very long time, so we’ll just have to unite around the candidate that can keep Hitlary and Osama Obama out of the WH.
You’re on the wrong thread.....
VERY NICE Message, Wolfstar.....and nice pics too! As I sit here in my comfortable home and think about those fighting for freedom around the world.....a few bad words from a few people make me laugh! And, vow to fight harder on the homefront.
As you're obviously uninformed, this is a NO-Bush-bashing thread, thanks.
Thanks for the Dose, Wolfie, and the wisdom.
I heard yesterday that once he was sure of election he state support for Iraq mission. Plus remember that there are Brtis coming home but because they have finished their mission they will not come home before.
They're doing God's work, that's for sure. :)
I thought they were 3/4 ton, but I wasn’t sure. I should have known though because my husband has a F 250 and a 150
And to everything you wrote in post #1 ...
BRAVO!
Thanks for the ping freema.
Thanks for the Crawford etc...pics from Sun. Wolf*!
LOL! Eleanor/Snugs I initially thought yesterday that Your Thread re: Cheney was The Dose for the day..I write that to clarify why I brought up the Toaster (try for) on that Thread.
;O) I didn’t pay close attention to the main Title. Just tried real hard to win a Toaster and then looked through the pics.
If you don’t like threads like this one, then, do yourself, and us a favor, stay off of them.
mI may be stuck in the relm of lurkdom for the most part but I'lll NEVER abandon the President NOR my FRiends on the DOSE! EVER!
I’m sorry, I mis interptreted your last post, I’m just “gunshy” from the last few days. Please ignore my ignorant rant. (slinking away with a red face)
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