World Leaders Hail Bush Re-Election

[Gravitymaster 0]

World leaders hail Bush's re-election, call for healing of global divisions over Iraq

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/041103/1/3o8sn.html


World leaders rushed to congratulate US President George W. Bush on his re-election to a second four-year term and pledged cooperation with Washington to heal deep divisions over a host of international issues, notably Iraq and the Middle East.

In Brussels, the European Union's executive arm extended "warm congratulations" to Bush on his re-election and pledged Europe's renewed commitment to the transatlantic link.

EU nations were deeply split over Washington's unilateralist policies, notably on Iraq, in Bush's first term in office, but are now coming together to work for the shattered country's reconstruction.

"The United States and the European Union are linked by strong cultural, economic and political ties, and by our shared values. This makes us each other's natural and indispensable partners," said Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who holds the EU's rotating presidency.

"Together, Europe and the United States face many critical challenges in the years ahead. As in the past, our best hope for success lies in common action," EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana said in a statement.

Congratulatory messages also poured in from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and leaders from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland and South Africa among others.

Annan said through his spokesman that he was "committed to continuing to work with President Bush and his administration on the whole range of issues facing the United Nations and the world."

Relations between Annan and Bush have been less than easy at times, particularly since the Iraq war, which Annan described as illegal, as it was waged without a UN green light.

French President Jacques Chirac, a strong opponent of the US-led war in Iraq, expressed hope that Bush's second term "will provide an opportunity to reinforce France-American friendship" and the transatlantic partnership.

"On behalf of France, and on my personal behalf, I would like to express to you my most sincere congratulations for your re-election to the presidency of the United States of America," Chirac wrote in a letter to Bush. "I hope that your second term will provide an opportunity to reinforce the Franco-American friendship."

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who also clashed with Bush over Iraq, voiced hope that his country would continue its "good cooperation" with the United States.

Many countries remain worried about Bush's foreign policy and its implications for the Middle East, if he is re-elected, especially given fears of international terrorism.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said from Bonn that he hoped the new US government "would help to bring peace to the Middle East".

Speaking before Bush's re-election was confirmed, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said he hoped nothing would change in the role the US-led coalition plays in Iraq whoever won the election.

"Whoever is the winner will be our friend. The United States has liberated us from a dictator and a very long period of war and agony," Allawi told the Italian daily La Repubblica ahead of a visit to Italy Thursday.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country is a wary neighbor of Iraq, expressed hope that the Bush re-election would contribute to world peace.

In Madrid, Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said his government "wishes to contribute to effective and constructive cooperation with the Bush government."

Zapatero, who took office last April, reversed his conservative predecessor Jose Maria Aznar's policy of strong support for the US intervention in Iraq and withdrew the troops Aznar had sent to Iraq in August last year.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco, a strong US ally, hailed Bush's victory, pledging to work with him to enhance the "remarkable quality of the strategic partnership that unites our two countries" while also expressing hope for "a new international order that is safer, more balanced, more fair and more human", the Map news agency reported.

In Israel, a top foreign policy adviser said: "Israel and the free world has every reason to rejoice over this result."

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in hospital outside Paris, said he hoped Bush's re-election would help jumpstart the Middle East peace process, one of his aides told AFP.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who hosted an EU-US summit during Ireland's presidency of the EU earlier this year, said it was important to maintain a strong transatlantic relationship and to "work together across the range of issues that face the international community at this time".

"The Americans have made a clear choice," Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Monteiro told national news agency Lusa. "For Portugal there is no change. We would work with any US administration although with this one we have come to establish a very close working relationship."

In Italy, President Carlo Ciampi reaffirmed the need for renewing "the spirit of transatlantic solidarity " because "terrorism is far from weakened."

"Italy is at the side of the United States in ...the struggle against the common enemy, in the determination to work together for the security of our nations and the stability of world ordert," he said in his message to Bush.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described a Bush win as a victory over terror.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said Wednesday he would be telephoning Bush to congratulate him but would also raise some bilateral problems.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with his Liberal Party members of parliament, Martin said he would specifically be raising US restrictions on the imports of Canadian softwood lumber and beef.

He added that he would also bring up multilateral issues, especially "the need for a new multilateralism" -- an apparent reference to Bush's tendency in his first term to act alone, without securing United Nations support.

South African President Thabo Mbeki said through a spokesman that he was "looking forward to continuing to work with President Bush to deal with the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment and to continue to co-operate on other bilateral issues."

[quade 3]

Aren't most of these the same guys that wanted him OUT of office just a few days ago?

What a bunch of sycophants.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[jjiimmyyt 0]

Quote

Aren't most of these the same guys that wanted him OUT of office just a few days ago?

What a bunch of sycophants.

More like political reality. What they going to say, shit George, really wish Kerry had won?

They may not like him or his policies but they know they have to work with him for the next 4 more years.

"This isn't an iron lung, people. You can actually disconnect and not die." -Dave

[quade 3]

Yeah, I know . . . but holy crap that's a fast turn around isn't it?

Reminds me of the Mayor of Halloweentown.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[skycop 0]

Some are hedging their bets, except the Poles and several other countries to whom America has led the way out of oppression.
The Brits, the Danes, and several other smaller countries who still understand what America stands for.
I should say most discerning Brits!!

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[tunaplanet 0]

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Aren't most of these the same guys that wanted him OUT of office just a few days ago?

No. That was the libs and Flipper claiming that. Remember? Flipper had this secret list of leaders around the world who wanted Bush out. Of course he wouldn't share that "list" with anyone.

Forty-two

[jjiimmyyt 0]

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Yeah, I know . . . but holy crap that's a fast turn around isn't it?

Reminds me of the Mayor of Halloweentown.

Its unlikely, but there may even be an element of 'well done for winning, don't agree with you, but well done'.

"This isn't an iron lung, people. You can actually disconnect and not die." -Dave

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Aren't most of these the same guys that wanted him OUT of office just a few days ago?

What a bunch of sycophants.

Damn Quade, thats what we have been trying to tell you for a long time. The leaders of many UN Countries are a bunch of petty dictators who don't give a rats ass about the US. They are only out to line their own pockets.

Say, wasn't it Kerry who claimed his election would bring our allies back in line with us?

Do you think now that Kerry has lost, he will share that "Secret Plan" to win the war with us?

[quade 3]

As a historical note . . . it was Nixon, not Kerry, that had the "secret plan to win the war".

Kerry never said he had a "secret plan" because he's actually read a history book or two and wouldn't say anything that freekin' stupid.

"Kerry's secret plan" was the invention of the RNC spin meisters that routinely took comments made by Kerry out of context and "improved" them until they were almost unrecognisable from and usually the complete opposite of what was actually said.

That said . . . GWB appears to have never read a history book because he -does- reuse famous phrases from the past all the time. One need look no further than his use of the word "Crusade".

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

As a historical note . . . it was Nixon, not Kerry, that had the "secret plan to win the war".

Kerry never said he had a "secret plan" because he's actually read a history book or two and wouldn't say anything that freekin' stupid.

"Kerry's secret plan" was the invention of the RNC spin meisters that routinely took comments made by Kerry out of context and "improved" them until they were almost unrecognisable from and usually the complete opposite of what was actually said.

That said . . . GWB appears to have never read a history book because he -does- reuse famous phrases from the past all the time. One need look no further than his use of the word "Crusade".

""I know that as president there's huge leverage that will be available to me, enormous cards to play, and I'm not going to play them in public. I'm not going to play them before I'm president." John Kerry on ABC's This Week.

[quade 3]

So, you're saying that's the same thing as saying the historically charged words "secret plan"?

Sorry but that's not even close.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tunaplanet 0]

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Sorry but that's not even close.

Closer than the theory Rove was in a conspiracy theory with 527 ads.

Forty-two

[Gravitymaster 0]

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So, you're saying that's the same thing as saying the historically charged words "secret plan"?

Sorry but that's not even close.

"I will get our troops home from Iraq with honor and with the interests of our country properly protected."

How soon? "It will not take long to do what is necessary," he said. "I'm not going to give you a specific date, but I'll tell you that I have a plan, and I will put that plan in place." -Kerry in an interview with Ron Fournier-AP

[SpeedRacer 1]

some of you guys are maybe a little cynical??

what's wrong with being polite? yeah there have been disagreements, but since Bush has won, the only intelligent thing to do at this point is to make the best of it & try to approach the international relationship with a positive attitude.

That's not being a sycophant, its just good sense.
Reconciliation after a disagreement is not a sign of weakness or a lack of integrity. In fact reconciliation is exactly what we should strive to do.

---

Speed Racer
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[tunaplanet 0]

Yeah. How many times did we hear, "I have a plan" from that moron? If you answered over a gajillion you are correct.

Now how many times did you hear what that "plan" was? If you answered 0 you are correct again.

And no, Quade. The republicans had nothing to do with Flipper being associated with that phrase. He did it to himself. One of the many reasons he got spanked in the elections.

Forty-two

[ahegeman 0]

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What a bunch of sycophants.

Yeah, same bunch of sycophants that Kerry wanted to administer the "global test". And yet liberals wonder why we should give a damn what a bunch of spineless foreign beaurocrats with their own opposing agendas think about our foreign policy.

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There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'.
--Dave Barry

[mr2mk1g 10]

A lot of EU countries are quietly happy with the result. Not exactly because they want Bush in... but simply because if Kerry had won they would have been under a lot of pressure to send troops to Iraq. With Bush still in the Whitehouse the question doesn't get raised and they don't have to deal with the issue.

[jerry81 10]

Quote

what's wrong with being polite? yeah there have been disagreements, but since Bush has won, the only intelligent thing to do at this point is to make the best of it & try to approach the international relationship with a positive attitude.

That's not being a sycophant, its just good sense.
Reconciliation after a disagreement is not a sign of weakness or a lack of integrity. In fact reconciliation is exactly what we should strive to do.

You're wrong. A good leader will hold his own ground no matter what. Changing one's behaviour when faced with different circumstances is neither good sense nor diplomacy (where'd you get that idea?). It's flip-flopping. Attempting to make the best out of a situation that's not entirely to one's liking is not intelligent- it is a clear sign that one's backbone is missing and that one puts their country's best interests before their own integrity and reputation, which is bad for any politician to do. Additionally, most of the leaders who do this are probably also liberals or socialists, which means they are stupid poo-poo heads and you shouldn't really care what they think.

Next time, we'll explain why anyone who tells you populism in politics is growing more important is a dumb liberal. Be sure not to miss it.

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[nigel99 144]

it is traditional to congratulate presidents on re-election. Hell even Mugabe gets congratulated by the west usually...

but to ensure you're not misguided in believing that all is well check out the front pages in some of the UK press

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[PhillyKev 0]

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Aren't most of these the same guys that wanted him OUT of office just a few days ago?

What a bunch of sycophants.

did you read the comments? No one really seemed to be fawning over him. They congratulated him for winning and expressed a desire to have a stong partnership with the US.

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

it is traditional to congratulate presidents on re-election. Hell even Mugabe gets congratulated by the west usually...

but to ensure you're not misguided in believing that all is well check out the front pages in some of the UK press

Just another example of the snobby, elitist foreign rags. I would be very unhappy if these types of stories were published by newspapers (and I use that term lightly) in my country. It's sad so many take delight in reading them because it says a great deal about their maturity level, which directly relates to their ability to understand issues. It is amazing that these rags are able to stay in business. I'm pretty sure they aren't purchased by the more intelligent and well informed people.

[crozby 0]

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Just another example of the snobby, elitist foreign rags. I would be very unhappy if these types of stories were published by newspapers (and I use that term lightly) in my country. It's sad so many take delight in reading them because it says a great deal about their maturity level, which directly relates to their ability to understand issues. It is amazing that these rags are able to stay in business. I'm pretty sure they aren't purchased by the more intelligent and well informed people.

I'm sorry to say that many people in the UK can relate to the Mirror headline even if they think the Mirror is a shit newspaper.

We see images of Bush spouting Star Wars shit like "They are evil, we are good, good will prevail" and it seems pretty clear that if the message has to be put that simply then the audience must be very uneducated and/or very uninformed and/or very stupid.

Your president speaks to adults like Sunday School teachers in the UK speak to young children. And you guys lap it up.

Righty or wrongly that speaks volumes to us about the average Bush supporter.

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

Quote

Just another example of the snobby, elitist foreign rags. I would be very unhappy if these types of stories were published by newspapers (and I use that term lightly) in my country. It's sad so many take delight in reading them because it says a great deal about their maturity level, which directly relates to their ability to understand issues. It is amazing that these rags are able to stay in business. I'm pretty sure they aren't purchased by the more intelligent and well informed people.

I'm sorry to say that many people in the UK can relate to the Mirror headline even if they think the Mirror is a shit newspaper.

We see images of Bush spouting Star Wars shit like "They are evil, we are good, good will prevail" and it seems pretty clear that if the message has to be put that simply then the audience must be very uneducated and/or very uninformed and/or very stupid.

Your president speaks to adults like Sunday School teachers in the UK speak to young children. And you guys lap it up.

Righty or wrongly that speaks volumes to us about the average Bush supporter.

Then perhaps you need to re-evaluate what you think you know if you find yourself relating to a publication you admit is a rag. The worst situation I can imagine is when people are too ignorant not to realize what they think they know is wrong. Rags like these profit on the ignorant.

[mr2mk1g 10]

The papers have an opinion. They expressed it. Just because you think they're wrong doesn't mean they aren't. Just because you disagree with what they say doesn't mean many people don't agree with it. You're not the only one allowed to have an opinion.

[crwtom 0]

In fact the reaction among the German governing coalition of
social democrats and greens is one of relief.
If Kerry had won there would have been some serious pressure
on them to get engaged in Iraq money and military wise. Now
noone seriously expects them to pick up on issue - they're off
the hook and can witness from a distance how an islotaed US
and Iraq consume themselves in somethis self-induced new
version of a cold (or luke-warm) war.

Cheers, T

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Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true