Dueling Demonstrations Greet Bush In Korea

Protesters Doused By Police Water Cannons As Supporters Wave Flags In Seoul

(AP)  President Bush on Wednesday brushed off the raucous demonstrators who protested him as he opened a three-nation visit to Asia, saying it's a sign of citizens living in a country where they are free to speak their minds.

The dueling demonstrations by prayerful, flag-waving supporters and rowdy protesters doused by police water cannons reflected sharp political divisions in the U.S.-South Korean relationship, which has endured volatile moments this year, but is still reliable and vital for both sides.

I enjoy coming to a free society where people are able to express their opinions - and your country is a free society," Bush told South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Lee sought to downplay the protests.

"The majority of the Korean people have been eagerly waiting for your visit," said Lee, who noted that thousands of people had gathered on Tuesday in Seoul to pray for Bush and the future of the U.S.-South Korea relationship.

"And of course behind these people there were those who were sort of opposed," Lee said in a wry reference to the thousands of anti-Bush protesters.

Bush laughed at the way Lee phrased that.

"I admire your forthrightness, your integrity and your deep love for the people of Korea," Bush said, sitting across from Lee at a large oval table at the presidential mansion.

People were waving American and South Korean flags as Bush's limousine neared the mansion where he met Lee, a pro-American leader who took office in February. Lee's approval ratings tumbled when he lifted a ban on U.S. beef despite public fears about its safety. The public outcry prompted street protests that drew attention worldwide earlier this year.

The two leaders walked down red-carpeted steps and on to a manicured lawn where they were greeted by South Korean troops and a military band. Behind the troops, Bush could gaze at the skyline of Seoul through the sunny morning haze.

As Bush arrived on Tuesday evening, 30,000 people held an outdoor Christian prayer service to support him. His motorcade sped by pockets of people smiling and waving U.S. flags his way.

Later, an estimated 20,000 anti-Bush protesters gathered downtown. Riot police blasted them with water cannons as they tried to march onto the main boulevard. Police warned the crowd that the liquid contained markers to tag them so they could be identified later.

About 70 demonstrators were arrested downtown and 12 more were arrested near the military airport where Bush landed, police said.

"I don't have anti-U.S. sentiment. I'm just anti-Bush and anti-Lee Myung-bak," said Uhm Ki-woong, 36, a businessman who was wearing a mask and hat like other demonstrators in an apparent attempt to conceal his identity from authorities.

"Despite the protests, the United States has a good standing with the Seoul government. The United States has quietly maintained a long-term troop presence in South Korea, now numbered at almost 30,000, since intervening in the 1950-1953 Korean War.

"The United States made sacrifices for South Korea during the Korean War and helped us live well," said Kim Jung-kwang, a 67-year-old retired air force colonel who wore his military uniform to the prayer rally. "The United States is not our enemy. Without the U.S., we will die."

Bush is on his ninth trip to Asia; this one is built around the Olympics in Beijing. Bush also will stop in Thailand.

The White House anticipated protests over the beef issue but sought to put them in perspective. U.S. beef has begun appearing again on the South Korean market and is selling.

"While there may be some who will protest, I think you need to look at what's happening on the supermarket shelves," said Bush's adviser on Asian affairs, Dennis Wilder.

The U.S.-South Korea bond has had other tests this year, too.

A trade deal Bush wants with South Korea has been buried by Congress. And a seemingly obscure change in how the U.S. classifies a set of islands drew widespread anger in South Korea, prompting Bush officials to abruptly reverse course.

Whatever the flash points, Bush and Lee are likely to emphasize the bigger picture - an increasingly prominent partnership that both nations need.

The countries are at the heart of an international effort to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons. Bush has indicated he will remove North Korea from the U.S. terror blacklist, but not unless Pyongyang allows its dismantlement effort to be verified. The White House is tamping down expectations about an Aug. 11 date by which North Korea is expected to agree to an inspection proposal.

Wilder said Aug. 11 "is not a deadline." He said the date will come and go without change for North Korea's status on the terror list if it doesn't respond favorably.

Bush comes with thanks to South Korea for contributing help in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was expected to ask Lee for more troops in Afghanistan, where violence is back on the rise.

Bush, to some degree, has gotten swept up in local frustration really directed at Lee.

Lee soared into office in February with the nickname of "The Bulldozer" and a businessman's reputation for results.

But Lee deeply angered his own people at that time by lifting the ban on U.S. beef, timed to his visit with Bush at Camp David, Md., in April. It was seen as an obvious attempt to curry favor with Washington and win support from members of Congress for the stalled free-trade agreement.

Lee later apologized, accepted changes in the beef policy and sacked some key advisers.

[navyvet77]

it is a shame they did not get rid of the peice of ***!

Posted by aheadace at 11:38 PM : Aug 05, 2008

------------------------------------------------------

If your talking about Clinton, I could not agree more. If your talking about Presidant Bush then I say go drink your Kool Aid.

[txgrouch2006]

"Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them. Not once, but repeatedly. Unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war. Not only against soldiers, but against civilians, firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. And not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.

%u201DThe international community had little doubt then, and I have no doubt today, that left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again. "

Speech from the Oval Office by President William Clinton, explaining his attack on Iraq
reported by The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 16, 1998

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/clintontext121698.htm

BTW, Bill Clinton was impeached on December 19, 1998.

WHAT A COINCIDENCE!!!

[txgrouch2006]

%u201CIn 1998, the United States also changed its underlying policy toward Iraq from containment to regime change and began to examine options to effect such a change, including support for Iraqi opposition leaders within the country and abroad. "

Hillary Clinton%u2019s Senate floor speech
October 10, 2002

http://clinton.senate.gov/speeches/iraq_101002.html

[libsluv2spit]

You''''re simply out of touch with reality. Bush has murdered over a half million humans (more than Sadam) for oil profits and he''''s done it by claiming he was fighting for our freedom, (first it was wmd, wmd, wmd, 962 lies) thus attempting to implicate honest citizens in his crimes.

By spying on Americans in violation of the law (a felony impeachable offense) his actions are quite similar to governments that do terrorize their ciizens.

By outing a CIA agent for political gain, he has traitored all Americans.






Posted by notfooled at 09:52 PM : Aug 05, 2008
+ report abuse

*******

you know you remind me of a hard core christian who finds a face of the virgin mary on a piece of toast..he beleives in it enough that his mind makes him think it is a face..same with the liberal masses..YOUR HOLLYWOOD VACTICAN feeds your thier version of the truth for MONEY....yes a lot of it...tons and tons of it..many authors actors and comedians launched thier careers with one simple genre..anti-bush...they feed it enough and you start to believe it..

conspiracies and allegations..how valid are these???what have you attained?? the DNC cannot EVEN BRING UP THESE ALLEGATIONS because they would fall flat on thier faces BECAUSE ITS ALL BULLSH*T..they know it and they will stoke it enough to get voted in..(which they did)

simple question...WHERE ARE WE ON THAT IMPEACHMENT?????????????????

[emelder]

L o n g posts in here tonight.

[demwatcher]

"You''''re simply out of touch with reality. Bush has murdered over a half million humans (more than Sadam) for oil profits and he''''s done it by claiming he was fighting for our freedom, (first it was wmd, wmd, wmd, 962 lies) thus attempting to implicate honest citizens in his crimes.

CLINTON SUPPORTED REGIME CHANGE IN IRAQ BEFORE BUSH, AND WE DID FIND WMD IN IRAQ, LOOK IT UP DUMBARSE.

By spying on Americans in violation of the law (a felony impeachable offense) his actions are quite similar to governments that do terrorize their ciizens.

DEMOCRAT LIES AND SPIN, SPIN, SPIN.

By outing a CIA agent for political gain, he has traitored all Americans.

IT WAS ARMITAGE THAT RELEASED HER NAME TO NOVAK. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT, WEASLE.

And by blocking nearly every investigation into what really happened on 911, he places himself squarely against the interests of the American people.

YOU CONSPIRACY FREAK. HANGING OUT WITH TOM CRUISE?

For instance: 20 minutes BEFORE building #7 at the world trade center fell, the BBC announced that bldg #7 had fallen down. http://911blogger.com/node/10025

A REPORTING MISTAKE DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR CASE. NEWS MEDIA ALWAYS TRIES TO GET A JUMP ON EVENTS.

And if he and his henchman could, they would silence every one of us. Wake up.

LIKE ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT DIED UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION?

Posted by notfooled at 09:52 PM : Aug 05, 2008"

Talk about OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY.

[notfooled]

notfooled,

If you are from the U.S. a few questions:
1. When were you last terrorized by your government?
2. When was your family taken and murdered by the government?
3. When were you last threatened to die if you did not believe/worship Allah / Lenin / Castro / Mao

Probably never....yet you call the President of the U.S. the biggest terrorist in the world. Why would he tolerate your dissent if he is what you say he is. Simple answer, because you''''re wrong.

Posted by dwmcgill at 08:59 PM : Aug 05, 2008

You''re simply out of touch with reality. Bush has murdered over a half million humans (more than Sadam) for oil profits and he''s done it by claiming he was fighting for our freedom, (first it was wmd, wmd, wmd, 962 lies) thus attempting to implicate honest citizens in his crimes.

By spying on Americans in violation of the law (a felony impeachable offense) his actions are quite similar to governments that do terrorize their ciizens.

By outing a CIA agent for political gain, he has traitored all Americans.

And by blocking nearly every investigation into what really happened on 911, he places himself squarely against the interests of the American people.

For instance: 20 minutes BEFORE building #7 at the world trade center fell, the BBC announced that bldg #7 had fallen down. http://911blogger.com/node/10025

And if he and his henchman could, they would silence every one of us. Wake up.

[ajaxtheleast]

"Since this''ll be one a'' m''last talks

with the man upstairs could ya'' maybe

have somethin'' happen ba''tween now an''

m''leavin that''ll translate inta

m''havin what some folks think

of as possessin'' moral character n''

stuff like that there?,,,,

''preciate it."

[dwmcgill]

notfooled,

If you are from the U.S. a few questions:
1. When were you last terrorized by your government?
2. When was your family taken and murdered by the government?
3. When were you last threatened to die if you did not believe/worship Allah / Lenin / Castro / Mao

Probably never....yet you call the President of the U.S. the biggest terrorist in the world. Why would he tolerate your dissent if he is what you say he is. Simple answer, because you''re wrong.

[dwmcgill]

skyk,

ALWAYS and NEVER is rarely true. Take your example for one; North Korea (NK) has a multi-generation policy of introducing Communist elements into South Korea (SK) and Japan to destabilize their enemies.

Perhaps you should READ and UNDERSTAND more os NK''s history of terror and subversion before you blithely make a comment about what NK would/could do. Perhaps you are not aware that SK is continuously finding NK tunnels (some miles long) to allow illegal infiltrations.

This does not mean that I believe that every person protesting is a NK ''plant''. However, NK''s history of subversion of the student-age demographic (timing protests to university finals for example) is well known.

[dwmcgill]

Simply amazing,

Protesters and supporters sounds like a real democracy, but not to the lib-nuts sounding off here. No dissent allowed.......the mean spirited police are the ''bad guys'' while protesters are automatically the ''good guys''. This sounds so much like the 70''s it is sickening.

The lib-nuts will simply have to come to grips with the loss of freedoms that will be had during BHO''s presidency. Perhaps BHO will withdraw our troops ("Bring them home now" chants can be heard already) from South Korea so that the North Koreans can have one last chance at a unified peninsula with China''s help. Boy wouldn''t that be great.

Funny how those who are old enough to have been alive when we initiated our commitment to South Korea have a better outlook on the U.S. then those that have assumed that their freedom is free.

[notfooled]

Another sad display where brave citizens risk their governments ire to protest the world''s # 1 terrorist.

Bravo protesters, down with those paid or threatened to come and support this murderous criminal.

[omded]

The world is a big, giant circus. Fortunately, there''s no shortage of clowns!

[vietnam21]

The Dems. got jealous uh....looser.....

[vietnam21]

all pissed off.


Posted by deacon20081

Dump as$

[babooph]

I wonder how much money I was taxed to pay for the "support" demonstrators?

[notblue]

McVet, the fact that the brits would choose kim over an American president proves they are as goofy as the leftwingers in the U.S.

[txgrouch2006]

SHRUBCo must have paid those supporters to show up...
Posted by six-six-seis at 05:02 PM : Aug 05, 2008

SNAP! I didn''t think of that. THE PROTESTERS WERE PAID PERFORMERS.

[mcvet-1]

"If" the North ever attacks the South again...I reckon all those protesters of George "W" will turn into supporters...real quick. (''''Cept for "imbedded" communists)

Posted by guadalcanal3 at 04:11 PM : Aug 05, 2008

LOL Want to bet? The Citizens of England found Bush to be WORSE than the leader of North Korea by a VERY wide Margin. I''d say if it came between allowing a KNOWN War Criminal like Bush help them or France, they''d pick France in a heartbeat! Sieg Heil BUSH!! Sieg Heil Bush!! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[skyk-2009]

"How much did they pay the Bush supporters?"....Not as much as the anti-Bush protesters...especially if they were recruited by the the North.

Posted by guadalcanal3 at 04:55 PM : Aug 05, 2008

Have any of you noticed that the Supporters of the WORST President in US History ALWAYS lack the basic ability to READ and UNDERSTAND the story being discussed. Now the Article CLEARLY spells out that the protesters against Bush ARE citizens of SOUTH KOREA and COULD NEVER be from the North. Mostly BECAUSE the North has a GUARDS along the DMZ between the TWO nations and people who enter that are are SHOT! This isn''t news! This is something that is taught in 6th grade class''s all across this nation. It would appear to me that people like this poor soul would go back to school at night and just get a BASIC Class or two... that way they wouldn''t be SO embarrassing!!