Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Despite flaws, George W Bush is a loyal friend
Telegraph UK ^

Posted on 06/15/2008 8:21:24 PM PDT by nuconvert

Despite flaws, George W Bush is a loyal friend

06/16/08

When President Bush began his valedictory tour of Europe, we commented that he would be received correctly rather than warmly.

Still, it would be churlish not to bid him welcome in his final presidential visit to London. He might not have been the easiest of allies, but an ally he has been.

Anyone could compile a list of grievances: the steel tariff, the budget deficit, the reluctance to negotiate reciprocity in the US-UK extradition agreement, the calamities that befell Iraq after the invasion, the deaths of British servicemen in friendly fire episodes. But, whatever his failings, Mr Bush was never disloyal or ungrateful.

In the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001, a shaken president declared: "America has no truer friend than Great Britain." This was a break with the traditional State Department formulae that let Canada, Israel, Mexico and Germany feel equally valued.

But, in his moment of need, Mr Bush had no patience for such niceties, adding: "America has no finer ally than the United Kingdom."

A degree of logistical collaboration exists between the US and the UK on military and intelligence matters - even on nuclear technology - that is unparalleled between two sovereign states.

When Britain put particular requests before Mr Bush - on working with the UN, on the Israel-Palestine roadmap, on Northern Ireland - he complied eagerly. True, this newspaper disapproved of much of what Tony Blair was asking for, but this was hardly the president's fault.

There was a telling moment when Mr Bush last met the Queen just over a year ago. Having made a characteristic verbal slip, he turned towards her, his face carefully set in that leer he carries off so well.

Finding her unamused, he grinned to onlookers: "She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."

At first glance, this might seem like gaucheness, even lèse-majesté.

But think about it for a few seconds and you will see what a beautiful compliment it is. To acknowledge Britain as his country's "mother" might be historically accurate, but it is by no means uncontentious in contemporary America.

Many US politicians like to pretend that their institutions are a happy multi-culti fusion, owing just as much to Cajuns, Native Americans and Guatemalan illegals as to the high-minded Englishmen and Ulstermen who drew up the constitution.

President Bush was saying something true and touching but - being the man he is - passing it off as a folksy joke.

A country, like a man, can have friends who are difficult. But sticking to them is the essence of friendship. For all his inadequacies, Mr Bush always did right by us. We wish him well in future.

"Telegraph view" is written by our team of leader writers and commentators. This team includes David Hughes, Philip Johnston, Simon Heffer, Janet Daley, Con Coughlin, Robert Colvile, Iain Martin, Damian Thompson and Alex Singleton.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: allies; allyuk; britain; bush; bushlegacy; bushvisit; europe; greatestpresident; september12era; uk
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last

1 posted on 06/15/2008 8:21:26 PM PDT by nuconvert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Hear, hear!


2 posted on 06/15/2008 8:23:45 PM PDT by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Wow.

It is so rare that the media acknowledges the masterful tactician that Bush is in regard to humor.

Of course it is the foreign press.


3 posted on 06/15/2008 8:25:41 PM PDT by lonestar67 (Its time to withdraw from the War on Bush-- your side is hopelessly lost in a quagmire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Despite flaws, the UK is a loyal friend.


4 posted on 06/15/2008 8:27:51 PM PDT by TheWasteLand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lonestar67
IMHO, I think that historians will one day name GWB as one of our greatest presidents. The press has done their utmost to undermine and belittle him--and they've done a good job of it, as by far, most Americans and people around the world have a very low opinion of him.

Time will tell, though.

5 posted on 06/15/2008 8:30:05 PM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment-buy another gun today!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Our president has a GREAT sense of humor, I suspect her majesty does not.


6 posted on 06/15/2008 8:30:41 PM PDT by Ditter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

btt


7 posted on 06/15/2008 8:33:01 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ditter

If you had to put up with her progeny, would you have a sense of humor?


8 posted on 06/15/2008 8:34:17 PM PDT by doc1019 (I was taught to respect my elders, but it's getting harder to find one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

He hasn’t been at all loyal to the gun owners who put him in the presidency.


9 posted on 06/15/2008 8:35:18 PM PDT by yarddog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lonestar67
I wouldn't be surprised to see President Bush's popularity rise in both the domestic press and public opinion. The only President who can really do harm is the current occupant, as Bush appears more like the known past the fear of him will subside and be replaced by fear of the next president, especially while we don't know who that will be. Nostalgia is the primary reason that Bill Clinton still has any popular support, he never accomplished anything, never faced a real national challenge (except maybe of his own making); Bush has a record that should hold up under the scrutiny of history.
10 posted on 06/15/2008 8:37:43 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Make all taxes truly voluntary)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: basil
"press has done their utmost to undermine and belittle him"

And the Russert led MSNBC/NBC has been the leader. Rush has recently said, NBC has been the worst. It will be interesting to hear what Rush says tomorrow.

11 posted on 06/15/2008 8:40:02 PM PDT by AGreatPer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: basil

Amen


12 posted on 06/15/2008 8:41:43 PM PDT by EDINVA (Proud American for 23,062 days.... and counting!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

“For all his inadequacies, Mr Bush always did right by us. We wish him well in future. “

“inadequacies”... I would not put it exactly that way, though I did disagree with the President on some things, especially spending. I think history will be kind to GWB.


13 posted on 06/15/2008 8:42:22 PM PDT by alecqss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

What a nice column. Thanks so much for posting it. I’m really going to miss this President.


14 posted on 06/15/2008 8:43:20 PM PDT by HokieMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HokieMom

HokieMom: “I’m really going to miss this President.”

Same here, especially with the two lesser men currently running for the office.


15 posted on 06/15/2008 8:48:31 PM PDT by CitizenUSA (Republican Who Will NOT Vote McCain!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

His loyal supporters that kept him office already feel he is a good president (even when we disagreed with him). Unfortunately, we don’t have the same feeling for his possible successor (as selected by the party and not the people).


16 posted on 06/15/2008 8:49:15 PM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Southack

“Having made a characteristic verbal slip, he turned towards her, his face carefully set in that leer he carries off so well.

Finding her unamused, he grinned to onlookers: “She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child.”

I agree with your “hear, hear” - wholeheartedly.

First of all, re: this article, yes, he does made (frequent) verbal slips (never will be the silver-tongued devil that BHO is) but he speaks sincerely, second, I don’t agree with the “leer” description - from the beginning, I always called it an unfortunate nervous smirk resembling “church lady” on SNL (which he’s gradually learned/been trained to ALMOST overcome), and third, I thought at the time that remark about the Queen was quite sweet, guileless and complimentary - I’m sure she took it that way as well (what mother wouldn’t, queen or not).

GW, for his mistakes and sometimes bad judgment, is a good man with a good heart - and his wife is a real class act. History will be MUCH kinder to him than the present.


17 posted on 06/15/2008 9:14:30 PM PDT by llandres (I'd rather be alive and bankrupt than dead and solvent)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: AGreatPer

And the Russert led MSNBC/NBC has been the leader.

I have to say this, and not just because TR died this weekend - I personally hate all on msnbc/nbc EXCEPT Tim. Not only was he a classy guy, but he was kind, fair and professional - he was one of those rare journalists who did really good, hard-hitting interviews AND didn’t impose his own views and opinions.


18 posted on 06/15/2008 9:20:10 PM PDT by llandres (I'd rather be alive and bankrupt than dead and solvent)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Nobody will accuse him of being wishy washy, which is the definition of leadership. George the Great will be judged well in the future. The Iraq war win will be his shining trophy.

Pray for W and Our Troops


19 posted on 06/15/2008 9:26:18 PM PDT by bray (Drill Congress!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: basil

IMHO, I think that historians will one day name GWB as one of our greatest presidents.
*****

Yup. Case in point, during the 2004 RNC nominations, Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledged that Nixon was his hero...NIXON??

When Arnold first came to the States, he saw 2 nominees making their speeches. The Democrat, Arnold said: “I’m trying to escape from socialism (Austria), now this??”

Then came NIXON’s speech, and after hearing Nixon’s speech, Arnold became a capitalist.

One day, some youngster will bypass the liberal media assassination of Bush and read with intelligence what he has done for the world and Iraq.


20 posted on 06/15/2008 10:05:03 PM PDT by max americana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson