[Carry_Okie]

Good grief...that is clearly a photoshop and a bad one at that.

Maybe. I do a lot of Photoshop work and I don't see much in the way of clipped edges or haloing from an extraction filter. There were a lot of wire photos of this little encounter and it was big news at the time. If it is altered, then it's merely a squish on an image like this one. Nor are such exchanges uncommon in the Middle East, which was the excuse at the time.

The hair isn't clipped against the background, the anti-aliasing isn't out of line. Either way, this little encounter was every bit as bad as Obama's bow.

[Ditter]

Europeans especially the Dutch are bad about this cheek kissing greeting. If you have any Dutch friends you know what I am talking about. I don't know about arabs but I wouldn't fault Bush for this if he was just following arab customs.

My Dutch friends have finally realized that I don't want to cheek kiss 3 times every time I see them and they now leave me alone.

[ravingnutter]

Big deal, they brushed cheeks, which is a common greeting in many countries and is a sign of friendship and respect. All this shows is a man secure enough in his own view of himself to allow this small gesture of familiarity to a guest. To refuse would have been rude and childish. Just like defending a "squished" picture that was clearly designed to defame someone is.

As for Obama,even a head bow is a sign of respect but a complete bow such as Obama did is a sign of submission. HUGE difference. So, no, the two are NOT alike.