February 11, 2009 4:43 PM
- Text
Bush's Watch Wasn't Stolen
(AP)
Whatever happened to the president's watch?
One moment President Bush was glad-handing Albanians on Sunday, proudly sporting a watch with a dark strap on his left wrist. Moments later, it was gone.
Did it fall off? Did one of his bodyguards remove it? Or did one of the crowd artfully slip it off his wrist and pocket it?
The United States Embassy in Albania on Tuesday emphatically denied that Bush's watch was stolen during his visit to the country, where he was acclaimed as a hero.
The Albanian media — and international Web sites — is buzzing with video showing Bush's wrist watch apparently disappearing while he was shaking hands with people in Fushe Kruje, 15 miles north of Tirana.
People waiting on the sidewalks on Sunday gave Bush a rapturous welcome, shaking hands with him, grabbing him by the arms and wrists, reaching out to embrace him and even ruffling his hair.
Bush was clearly delighted by the attention and plunged back into the crowd for more handshaking and to be kissed on the cheek.
But White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush's watch was not stolen by someone in the crowd. "The president put it in his pocket and it returned safely home," Snow said in Washington.
An Albanian bodyguard who accompanied Bush in the town told The Associated Press he had seen one of his U.S. colleagues close to Bush bend down and pick up the watch.
The Top Channel private TV station showed how one of his bodyguards may have talked to the president and then taken the watch from his hand.
Bush's visit to the tiny Balkan country, the first ever by a U.S. president, was considered as historic.
Albania issued three postage stamps with Bush's picture and the Statue of Liberty, renamed a street in front of parliament in his honor, awarded him the highest National Flag medal and Fushe Kruje town council also declared him an honored citizen.
One moment President Bush was glad-handing Albanians on Sunday, proudly sporting a watch with a dark strap on his left wrist. Moments later, it was gone.
Did it fall off? Did one of his bodyguards remove it? Or did one of the crowd artfully slip it off his wrist and pocket it?
The United States Embassy in Albania on Tuesday emphatically denied that Bush's watch was stolen during his visit to the country, where he was acclaimed as a hero.
The Albanian media — and international Web sites — is buzzing with video showing Bush's wrist watch apparently disappearing while he was shaking hands with people in Fushe Kruje, 15 miles north of Tirana.
"What the local media is saying is absolutely not true," said an embassy official, who declined to be identified.
President Bush's watch vanishes as he greets the crowd People waiting on the sidewalks on Sunday gave Bush a rapturous welcome, shaking hands with him, grabbing him by the arms and wrists, reaching out to embrace him and even ruffling his hair.
Bush was clearly delighted by the attention and plunged back into the crowd for more handshaking and to be kissed on the cheek.
But White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush's watch was not stolen by someone in the crowd. "The president put it in his pocket and it returned safely home," Snow said in Washington.
An Albanian bodyguard who accompanied Bush in the town told The Associated Press he had seen one of his U.S. colleagues close to Bush bend down and pick up the watch.
The Top Channel private TV station showed how one of his bodyguards may have talked to the president and then taken the watch from his hand.
Bush's visit to the tiny Balkan country, the first ever by a U.S. president, was considered as historic.
Albania issued three postage stamps with Bush's picture and the Statue of Liberty, renamed a street in front of parliament in his honor, awarded him the highest National Flag medal and Fushe Kruje town council also declared him an honored citizen.
Popular Now in Politics
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- Romney takes on hecklers at Maine town hall
- Sarah Palin revs up CPAC faithful
- Ann Coulter riles up the CPAC crowd
- Mitt Romney wins Maine GOP caucuses
- CPAC: Anti-Obama beats pro-Romney
- Timothy Dolan: Birth control tweak a "first step"
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- Romney on Obama: I will "knock him on his heels"
- After uproar, Obama tweaks birth control rule
- Mitt Romney wins CPAC straw poll
- Gov. Jindal prepping for national stage
- Gingrich: I'll undo Obama legacy on day one
- CPAC: Santorum rips Romney, rouses conservatives
- Santorum donor in the spotlight
- Santorum: Women could bring "emotions" to combat
- What Does 'GOP' Stand For?
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
- Grammys to honor Houston, Hudson to pay tribute
- Whitney Houston never forgot New Jersey roots
- Govt: Health scare on New Zealand flight just flu
- Quinn defends Ill. after CEO blasts jobs climate
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
