Bush to avoid Mandela, African summit, Kenya during Africa trip

[kayell]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030707/pl_afp/us_africa_bush_missing_030707142317

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The places where President George W. Bush (news - web sites) is not going on his sprint through Africa this week may say as much about US Africa policy as those he has included on his itinerary.


Bush will go to Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and Nigeria after leaving Washington.


But unlike many world leaders and celebrities who visit South Africa, he will not pay a courtesy call on revered statesman Nelson Mandela, an outspoken critic of his war on Iraq (news - web sites).


Bush will also avoid the summit of the African Union, which draws the continent's leaders to Maputo, Mozambique, between July 10-12 -- at the same time he will be on the continent.

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[bowens43]

1. Not visiting Mandela is a good plan .

The last thing the bushies need is to highlight the all too obvious contrast between a true statesman like Mandela and the bumbling idiot.

[joycep]

17. Yeah! That's what I thought too.

Bush is not fit to be in the same world with Mandela.

[joycep]

18. Yeah! That's what I thought too.

Bush is not fit to be in the same world with Mandela.

[joycep]

19. Yeah! That's what I thought too.

Bush is not fit to be in the same world with Mandela.

[joycep]

20. Yeah! That's what I thought too.

Bush is not fit to be in the same world with Mandela.

[joycep]

21. Yeah! That's what I thought too.

Bush is not fit to be in the same world with Mandela.

[MoonAndSun]

2. Has anyone heard of any planned protests being planned for AWOL?

If there are to be protests, I wonder if the media whores will tell anyone about them.

At least we know the British media will report on any, if they happen.

[underpants]

3. Oh gee that makes sense

Don't talk to the man who ended apartheid and for Christ's sake don't use the convenience of ALLt he leaders being together to talk to them......W only does that in Europe where all the leaders can at least pass for white and then he leaves early.

[Gloria]

4. This should really thrill the African-American community....

snubbing Mandela is simply boorish and ridiculous. Of course, Cheney's vote as a rep doesn't help either. I guess they don't care, since they just write off the AA vote anyway. Except when they feel they need to BLOCK AA's from voting, as in Florida!!

[study_war_no_more]

6. Black Rebuplicans

They do exist-go figure!!! Reverend Sharpton pointed out that Bush has not met with any Black leaders here NAACP ect as for Nelson he has already said he will not meet with Bush so Bush snubbing him is of no consequence. He also is not only a critic of Iraq but of Bush personally whom he says has unsound thinking!!! Gotta love that guy.

[critchmj]

9. I don't think that Dumbya snubbed Mandela ...

but the other way around. One of the newspapers had a story last week (probably British), that Mandela had been invited to meet Dumbya by/through the South African government and Mandela said, "NO".

[Zero Gravitas]

10. Mandela is snubbing Bush*

Bush* is avoiding Mandela, because Mandela made it known he'd rather not meet with the Weasel -in-Chief. Nelson Mandela is a man of honr and dignity and he does not want to lower himself by meeting with an un-elected agressive imperialist like Bush*. Doing so would only legitimise Bush*

[pinerow]

5. That's why I believe god has a sense of humor,

Look at Mandela....then look at Bush...ya gotta laugh, because if you don't you'll end up crazy...

[WhataBildeberger]

7. Snubbing Mandela? Oh, that's RICH!

Didn't Mandela say, like 3 weeks ago, that he wouldn't meet with *?

Who in the hell writes this crap?

[DemoTex]

8. Bu$h is the snub-ee. Not the snub-er.

But it is much more in keeping with his tough-guy image to re-write recent history before the ink is dry.

The world, however, knows who is snubbing whom. And why. And applauds.

[alfredo]

11. Most see through Bush's Photo op

as seen on the poll on this site;
http://www.cnn.com/HLN/

[Dulcinea]

12. That's what I thought too.

Mandela will be out of the country when Boy George is there, but can you blame him for not wanting to meet the Dim Son? Would you?

[doxieone]

13. Here is a photo from 7/2/03 of Bill, Mandela and Blair.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030702/170/4kkhz.html

You know this has to piss off Jr.

[Catt03]

23. Tony does not look happy

Bet he and Bush had a nice chat about this!

[xxqqqzme]

15. this must B an

Xample of 'revisionist history' squatter was so eager 2 talk about.
a few days ago. Everything squatter says or does has 2 B revised. He either f*cks it up or puts his foot in it.

[peterh]

14. The trip, the first by a Republican president to Africa

<http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id=AC798719-23FB-41B6-A449-068D1D87A74D>

first ever for a repug, huh…..kinda makes you go hmmmm…

[annagull]

16. He is just plain chicken shit not to go to African Union summit

I think he's afraid they will throw tomatos at him., but if he were a man and believed in his policies he would stand up for them. No, a chickenshit little monkey.

[dArKeR]

22. Bush visit key part of a strategy to combat rising anti-American sentiment

Africa sees this week's visit by U.S. President George W. Bush as a key part of a strategy to combat rising anti-American sentiment and the image of Washington as an international bully.

The trip, the President's first to Africa, comes while he is considering sending American peacekeeping forces to Liberia, pressing for restoration of democracy in Zimbabwe and promising a new $15-billion (U.S.) package to fight AIDS.

"Where else can they demonstrate Bush is more than just a cowboy than to come to the continent most in need of assistance," said Jakkie Cilliers, of the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030707.wafri0707/BNStory/Front/

Could it rise any futher? Is there an index to show if this is an all time high?