ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 21, 2006
Bush 41 Defends Son To Arab Critics
'My Son Is An Honest Man,' Former President Tells Hostile UAE Crowd
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George H.W. Bush - seen here in Abu Dhabi - says the happiest day of his life was in 1988, when fourth generation Bush family politicians George W. and Jeb were elected governors of Texas and Florida. (AFP/Getty Images)
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"My son is an honest man," Mr. Bush told members of the audience which harshly criticized the current U.S. leader's foreign policy.
The oil rich Persian Gulf used to be safe territory for former President Bush, who brought Arab leaders together in a coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's troops from Kuwait in 1991.
But gratitude for the elder Bush, who served as president from 1989-93, was overshadowed at the conference by hostility toward his son, whose invasion of Iraq and support for Israel are deeply unpopular in the region.
"We do not respect your son. We do not respect what he's doing all over the world," a woman in the audience bluntly told the former president after his speech.
Mr. Bush, 82, appeared stunned as others in the audience whooped and whistled in approval.
A college student told Mr. Bush his belief that U.S. wars were aimed at opening markets for American companies and said globalization was contrived for America's benefit at the expense of the rest of the world. Mr. Bush was having none of it.
"I think that's weird and it's nuts," Mr. Bush said. "To suggest that everything we do is because we're hungry for money, I think that's crazy. I think you need to go back to school."
The hostile comments came during a question-and-answer session after the former president finished a folksy address on leadership by telling the audience how deeply hurt he feels when his presidential son is criticized.
"This son is not going to back away," Mr. Bush said, his voice quivering. "He's not going to change his view because some poll says this or some poll says that, or some heartfelt comments from the lady who feels deeply in her heart about something. You can't be president of the United States and conduct yourself if you're going to cut and run. This is going to work out in Iraq. I understand the anxiety. It's not easy."
Mr. Bush also told the audience its derisive hoots were mild compared to the reaction he got in Germany in the 1980s, after persuading the country to deploy U.S. nuclear missiles.
He told the audience — including dozens of women in black robes and head scarves — he is extremely proud of President George W. Bush and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the oldest of his five surviving children.
He said the happiest day of his life was election day in 1998, when George and Jeb were elected to the governorships of Texas and Florida.
Their elections marked the carrying into a fourth generation a tradition of political involvement that began with Samuel Prescott Bush, an Ohio businessman who became an advisor to President Herbert Hoover.
While being careful not to make any statements of opinion on issues that might affect his politician sons, George H.W. Bush was open in describing the pain he feels when his children are attacked.
"I can't begin to tell you the pride I feel in my two sons," Mr. Bush said. "When your son's under attack, it hurts. You're determined to be at his side and help him any way you possibly can."
One audience member asked the former president what advice he gives his son on Iraq.
Mr. Bush said the presence of reporters in the audience prevented him from revealing his advice. He also declined to comment on his expectations for the findings of the Iraq Study Group, an advisory commission led by Bush family friend and his former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former Rep. Lee Hamilton. The group is expected to issue its report soon.
"I have strong opinions on a lot of these things. But the reason I can't voice them is, if I did what you ask me to do — tell you what advice I give my son — that would then be flashed all over the world," he said.
"If it happened to deviate one iota, one little inch, from what the president's doing or thinks he ought to be doing, it would be terrible. It'd bring great anxiety not only to him but to his supporters," he added.
Mr. Bush said he'd spoken with Baker recently — the two are neighbors in Houston — but preferred to reminisce about old times rather than discuss what America ought to do about Iraq.
"In the early 1960s, Jim Baker and I were the men's doubles champions in tennis in the city of Houston," he said with a grin. "If I were to suggest what they ought to do, it just would not be constructive and certainly would not be helpful to the president. It would cause grief to him."
Mr. Bush said he was surprised by the audience's criticism of his son.
"He is working hard for peace. It takes a lot of guts to get up and tell a father about his son in those terms when I just told you the thing that matters in my heart is my family," he said. "How come everybody wants to come to the United States if the United States is so bad?"
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See all 100 Commentskchafey, it was not really worth replying even if I understand people can't help it. After all, it's just ...
Red, red whine, don't stay close to me.
Just let us alone;
It won't tear apart
Our blue, blue hearts.
Red, red whine, just like rummy.
we'd rather see you gone;
It won't tear apart
Our blue, blue hearts.
Couldn't help it myself :-)
You are not the type of person who SHOULDN'T think for themself, you obviously CAN'T.
Except for the time when he told the UN and American people that Iraq was getting uranium from Niger, or the time he said Iraq had something to do with 9/11, or when he said he had proof Saddam had WMD's, but they are only little white lies. They only cost the lives of a couple hundred thousand Iraqi lives and only about 3000 Americans. I mean it is not as bad as if he got his rocks off one afternoon in the white house with some secretary...I mean that diden't cost anyone their life but is far worse, don't ya think?.
You Slick Willy supporters question Bush's honesty...are you kidding me?
Jealous you lost 2 elections and your sweetie pie Clinton got impeached. I can see you waking up every morning swabbing your ***, and sending e-mails to every congressman begging for impeachment out of blind jealousy.
You're the kind of people who SHOULDN'T think for themselves, considering your thoughts have no basis in reality and lack any semblance of logic.
Stick to driving your kids to soccer practice and giving blow jobs, you're not good for much else.
I hope your congressman replies to your e-mails and tells you to grow some balls, and get a life.
Bush saying "My Son Is An Honest Man!" So tell
us one *** time that King George 43 aka George
W Bush was honest about anything or any other
lying Bush now then for us,Ex President George
H W Bush will you? I say it's more "Like Father
Like Son" since dishonesty,arrogance and stupidity seem to run all thur the Bush Crime
Family along with total incompetence!
G41 your son G44 is the biggesssst liar president in the history of the USA. The previous president have been lying (if ever) to the US constituents, while yours, to the world... and there is nothing to be proud of... Shame on you too.
Calling people Traitors, because they are Bot 100% Behind a Failed Foreign Policy, only indicate you and Mr. Bush are cut from the same Ignorant Cloth, and that You have no Original Thoughts.
So you said you would go fight ... So why Are you not fighting ? You forgot to tell us if you are just really a coward ... or if your (insane) dreams make you unfit to serve.
"..... An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime...."
The Communist (Russia) were War Opprotunist that turnd countries into their image of Government .... the Nazi's did it it trying to rule the world.....
So I guess you think they were Bold, Brilliant, Noble Efforst by Politicians ... to be Admired ?
A Democray Building Imerialistic Governemnt Based on Pre-Impetive Strikes is "Not An america Or Government I would Admire".
American Presidents or Congresses that indorsed these actions, have seen them always fail. Cuba, Iran, Lybia....
To form a Democratic Government, that survives, the strength has tocome from the people... adn it most sucessful when it is because of Government Evolution. Not Because it is Forced on them By a More Poewerful Nation.
How does anyone expect a Democracy to survive In Iraq after America Leaves, In a place where Democracy is Viewed as a Western afront to Muslim Values, adn Iraq is surrounded by Ratical Muslim Nations (currently)?
As a Texan I agree in large part to what you said. I am ashamed to call him a Texan, or to think he was once our Governor.
It is likely to be considered a "Political War of Opprotuniity" that took real troops way from the War on Terror and the HuntFor Bin Laden.
Maybe Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeild and Bush Hatched a Democracy Building Imperialist Campaign in the Middle East ... while America was still trying to cope with Invasion or Attack Fears. Certainly they allbelieved it would be over in just a few weeks, and they would all be heros. They were grossly wrong. America is now the "Most Hated County" in the World.
Since the Invasion of Iraq, Bush has Kept the Fear Tactic Going, but has not actually face his failed polisy ... or returned to actually fighting Terrorism.... becasue we no longer have the Armed Forces necessary to do it.
Meanwhile Africans die needlessly while we are Stuck In Iraq, unable to Support a UN Led Peace Keeping Force.
GW. Bush only flamed the Fires of Hate Against the Western World, and became the Poster Child for the "West Intends to Take Muslim Lands", of the terrorist Groups.
And for Madrid and London, that proves again that
going to Iraq wasn't part of the war on terrorism.
Probably counterproductive : less troops in Afghanistan ...
Just because they haven't landed an attack on U.S.A. doesn't mean they aren't attacking the west!"
Well, the original post said "we, americains" ...
And the famous British plot sounded as phony as the Sears Tower plot. The suspects had not even bought plane tickets ... Looked more like a setup to justify wiretapping or make it an issue for the elections.
And, btw, Bin Laden was ("was" because he probably died quite some time ago) a CIA agent, visited by CIA people in an american hospital in Dubai a couple of months befor 911.
God knows what we will still discover if Dems push for a real 911 investigation.
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