Russia Objects to Bush Visit to Neighbors; Rice Replies

[Chicago Democrat]

Russia Objects to Bush Visit to Neighbors; Rice Replies


By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: May 6, 2005
WASHINGTON, May 5 - Shortly after the White House announced that President Bush would expand his trip to Moscow on Monday with stops to promote democracy in the former Soviet republics of Latvia and Georgia, the Russian foreign minister took the unusual step of sending a letter of protest to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Americans who have seen the letter describe it as an audacious objection by Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov to the itinerary of the president of the United States. Ms. Rice promptly shot back, in effect, that Mr. Bush could visit whatever countries he wished.

"Rice doesn't scare worth a damn," said a senior Bush administration official who insisted on anonymity because he did not want to be identified as taunting Moscow.

But the letter, the talk of Russia experts here, sets the tone for a difficult presidential trip that has to balance attending a celebration in Red Square of the 60th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat without endorsing the subsequent Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe. As one administration official put it, "If Bush gets out of this, he'll be Houdini."

http://nytimes.com/2005/05/06/politics/06prexy.html?hp&ex=1115352000&en=c2fa9f90983e2f5c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[pfitz59]

1. Rice is a "yes" girl

does whatever her "husband" asks......

[tanyev]

2. Oh, Condi.

Please, just STFU. You may want to warn your husb--, that is, the President, to be very careful of the soup over there.

[Rex]

3. So now Russia will form closer ties with South America

Imperialism always leads to war.

[RC]

4. Really, now?

"Ms. Rice promptly shot back, in effect, that Mr. Bush could visit whatever countries he wished."

And if there is a problem with that country allowing Jr. bu$h in? He will go anyway if he wishes?
He need to find out he is a monarch of only one country. Maybe he would want to visit North Korea or Iran for "peace" talks?