S. Koreans fire water cannons at Bush protesters

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

SEOUL, South Korea - Police fired water cannons at thousands of protesters Tuesday as President Bush got a volatile reception in South Korea at the start of his three-nation Asian trip.

Dueling demonstrations reflected mixed sentiments in this U.S. ally, where public opinion surveys remain generally positive about America, though many people decry Washington for a variety of issues. Bush will meet Wednesday with President Lee Myung-bak for the third time since the conservative, pro-American leader took office in February.

Some 18,300 police were on high alert with riot gear and bomb-sniffing dogs to maintain order during Bush's brief visit, the National Police Agency said.

About 30,000 people gathered in front of Seoul City Hall for an afternoon Christian prayer service supporting Bush's trip. Large South Korean and U.S. flags were held aloft by balloons overhead along with a banner reading, "Welcome President Bush."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_re_as/bush_asia;_

[ck4829]

1. "Freedom's on the march!"

No, freedom is getting blasted with high pressure water cannons right now.

[DainBramaged]

2. I wonder if they came to listen to him speak? With American flags?

What a contrast. Let's see the McSenile campaign try and spin this.

[YOY]

3. "afternoon Christian prayer service supporting Bush's trip."

Thank you Rev. Moon and your load of f***wad looney followers.

[go west young man]

8. How any Christian could support that warmongering murderous

nutjob is beyond me. I'm not a fan of Christianity myself but those that support Bush are unbeknowist to themselves actually helping bring about its demise.

[YOY]

12. Moonies.

That's all the explanation you need.

[kmac3]

4. 18,300 Police, riot gear, bomb sniffing dogs great . . . .

Bush is dumb and arrogant enough to dream of adoring crowds cheering him on like Obama's experience in Berlin .....:rofl:

The only favorable crowds Dubya gets are pre-arranged. Will he ever come to terms that he is a hated man and can only travel and appear in public with a barrage of security.

[Hugin]

5. Was it the prayer service or the balloons which caused them to open up with the Water?

I'd like to know.


P.S. What a load of hooey.

[DesEtoiles]

7. the government "suggested" they attend

[HEyHEY]

11. The balloons, those things kill deer!

[Tempest]

6. It's interesting that South Korea likes Bush

But hates its own president.

[HEyHEY]

9. The ones I know can't stand him

I was there in March and most of the one's I spoke to blamed him for inflamming relations with North Korea and hated him. :shrug:

[Tempest]

18. Polls say differently

And the U.S. image has improved dramatically in South Korea since 2003 (from 46% to 58% favorable).
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=256

You can't use your personal experience as a basis because of your bias and because you're limited to who you talked to.

I highly doubt you went around and randomly polled people on their feelings about the U.S. or Bush.

[HEyHEY]

24. Hence the heading "The ones I talked to"

[Dukkha]

10. they don't

This is an inaccurate demonstration orchestrated by their administration. South Koreans are notoriously against US policies and have harbored anti-American sentiment. As they should since South Korea's national IQ is estimated at 106, being the highest in the world. I hope someday my Korean wife and I can relocate there.

[HEyHEY]

13. Yeah, that's what I thought

These "polls" were not at all representative of what I observed just four months ago.

[Tempest]

19. Polls say differently

And the U.S. image has improved dramatically in South Korea since 2003 (from 46% to 58% favorable).
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=256

The only policy South Koreans are against, that I've seen evidence of, is in relation to trade.

[HEyHEY]

25. I don't trust that poll now

The numbers are very similar to Canada's and I wouldn't say Canada is pro-Bush by any means. Plus, it is about anti-american sentiment. Not bush support.

[Frances]

14. Maybe Bush should have gone to Sturgis instead of Korea

Seriously, how can the Repubs make it wrong for America to be popular with our allies?

[Blue_Tires]

15. wow...and i thought the south was supposed to be the freedom-loving democracy

Of course, this is another reason for all the resentment the RWers had against Obama's lovefest in Germany...They know Bush could go to Micronesia and still have 100 protesters on his ass...

[pnorman]

16. 18,300 police to control "an estimated 20,000 anti-Bush protesters"

That's close to one cop per demonstrator!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As evening approached, an estimated 20,000 anti-Bush protesters gathered nearby. Police turned water cannons on them as they tried to move onto the main central downtown boulevard, telling the crowd that the liquid contained markers to tag them so they could be identified later.

"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.

The anti-Bush crowd dwindled later in the evening to several thousand people, with the hard-core remnants turning aggressive. Protesters shattered the windows of a police bus and authorities responded by again firing water cannons.

About 70 demonstrators were arrested, police said, in addition to another 12 near the military airport where Bush landed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pnorman

[AllyCat]

17. Loved all over the world.

Hey, if they don't like him much, we shouldn't be worried about voting for McSame.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

20. Water cannon used on Bush protesters in Seoul

Source: MSNBC

SEOUL, South Korea - Police fired water cannons at thousands of protesters Tuesday as President Bush got a volatile reception in South Korea at the start of his three-nation Asian trip.

Dueling demonstrations reflected mixed sentiments in this U.S. ally, where public opinion surveys remain generally positive about America, though many people decry Washington for a variety of issues. Bush will meet Wednesday with President Lee Myung-bak for the third time since the conservative, pro-American leader took office in February.

Some 18,300 police were on high alert with riot gear and bomb-sniffing dogs to maintain order during Bush's brief visit, the National Police Agency said.

About 30,000 people gathered in front of Seoul City Hall for an afternoon Christian prayer service supporting Bush's trip. Large South Korean and U.S. flags were held aloft by balloons overhead along with a banner reading, "Welcome President Bush."

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26035641/

---

South Korean protesters wearing masks of President Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, left, perform during a rally against Bush's visit in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday.

[valerief]

21. Wow. 18,000 police. 20,000 anti-Bush protesters. And that number is probably

downplayed, as it is here in the United States of Merka, so it was probably 10 times that number.

[Sodbuster]

22. Maybe there was a Rock concert that was just letting

out when he arrived.........

[hendo]

23. huh?

no "mad cow" bush?

edit: it must lose something in translation.

[eppur_se_muova]

26. "S. Koreans fire water cannons at Bush ..."

Sounded OK up to that point. :)