Woodward : Bush didn't have a clue about North Korea

[tocqueville]

// George W. pulled Bandar aside.
“Bandar, I guess you’re the best asshole who knows about the world. Explain to me one thing.”
“Governor, what is it?”
“Why should I care about North Korea?”
Bandar said he didn’t really know. It was one of the few countries that he did not work on for King Fahd.
“I get these briefings on all parts of the world,” Bush said, “and everybody is talking to me about North Korea.”
“I’ll tell you what, Governor,” Bandar said. “One reason should make you care about North Korea.”
“All right, smart alek,” Bush said, “tell me.”
“The 38,000 American troops right on the border.” …”If nothing else counts, this counts. One shot across the border and you lose half these people immediately. You lose 15,000 Americans in a chemical or biological or even regular attack. The United State of America is at war instantly.”
“Hmmm,” Bush said. “I wish those assholes would put things just point-blank to me. I get half a book telling me about the history of North Korea.”
“Now I tell you another answer to that. You don’t want to care about North Korea anymore?” Bandar asked. The Saudis wanted America to focus on the Middle East and not get drawn into a conflict in East Asia.
“I didn’t say that,” Bush replied.
“But if you don’t, you withdrawl those troops back. Then it becomes a local conflict. Then you have the whole time to decide, ‘Should I get involved? Not involved?’ Etc.”
At that moment, Colin Powell approached.
“Colin,” Bush said, “come here. Bandar and I were shooting the bull, just two fighter pilots shooting the bull.” He didn’t mention the topic.
“Mr. Governor,” Bandar said, “General Powell is almost a fighter pilot. He can shoot the bull almost as good as us.”

Bob Woodward
State of Denial
2006

found on superfrenchie
http://superfrenchie.com/?p=1003#comments

post #35

can probably be verified by Duers... if true it gives you an idea of the "leader" if you already didn't have one

[MadMaddie]

1. Preaching to the choir my friend...preaching to the choir..

[tocqueville]

8. not really

the dialogue shows two things

- Bush trusts the Saudis more than his own intelligence services
- This is a very efficient quote to use when the regular "it was Clinton's fault - excuse" shows up when the US administration is accused of letting this happen... “Why should I care about North Korea?”

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Bush: Oooo, there's a 'North' Korea now?!

[jpak]

11. "Do they have black people there? He asked..."

:evilgrin:

[Captain Hilts]

3. Bush suffers from testosterone poisoning. nt

[izzie]

4. I would not put it past Bush to bomb Iran he is so mad.

And guess what who would get rid of a President during war. It would also show that guy in Korea. Not that I would see it that way but I am guessing Bush will think it is good to show force even if it on other side of world and a counter punch to the Nov. vote. Nice I really trust my govt.

[rock]

5. Bandar, the top Conehead?

Why would bush* ask him?

[BootinUp]

6. Holy Crap! I guess I am going to have to get that book

And they nominated this guy for the Presidency? Unfuckinbelieveable.

Sounds almost like Gomer Pyle.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. The sad part

is he's now a 60 year old man and he talks and boasts like the bully from 8th grade. How do people tolerate this asshole? I certainly wouldn't. I don't tolerate it from my kid and his friends, no less an elected official.

[smirkymonkey]

23. "I guess you're the best asshole who knows about the world?"

WTF?

I really can't believe that someone hasn't kicked his pathetic little ass already. There is nothing worse than a condescending idiot.

[AtomicKitten]

7. I'd be surprised if he can tie his own shoes.

I think the wingnuts will fall back on their favorite and familiar Blame Clenis excuse.

[Poiuyt]

10. My God, is that passage really in the book? Or was someone just being

funny?

[tocqueville]

12. I'd like somebody to check

but it looks like the poster on the blog I visit is reliable

[Jacobin]

14. I honestly don't know

Its too hard to tell anymore. That's what freaks me out the most

[lonestarnot]

13. No surprise here. Just fucking disgusting.

[Raksha]

15. Wait a minute--is this real quote from the Woodward book?

I thought it was a joke! I don't have the book, so someone please clue me in: Did this conversation actually happen?

[tocqueville]

17. confirmed here LA Times

One of the more troubling subplots running through "State of Denial" involves Prince Bandar, the long-time Saudi ambassador to the United States. By Woodward's account, when then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush decided to run for president, his worried father enlisted Bandar, an old family friend, to tutor the son on foreign policy. When Bandar arrived in Austin, the younger Bush blithely observed that while he had lots of ideas about domestic policies he didn't have a clue about foreign affairs. The Saudi took him under his wing, but he proved a trying pupil, who addressed his mentor as "asshole" and "smart aleck." (Perhaps this is how hereditary princelings affectionately address each other?) At one point, the younger Bush peevishly demanded to know why he needed "to care about North Korea." Bandar pointed out that, if he became president, he would have 35,000 American troops sitting on the DMZ.

http://www.calendarlive.com/books/cl-et-book2oct02,0,3791549.story?coll=cl-home-top-blurb-right

[Raksha]

20. Thanks for the confirmation and links.

I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. How could ANYONE who wanted to run for president not know OR CARE that the U.S. has 38,000 troops sitting on the DMZ? Yeah, I know...there shouldn't be anything that shocks me about this criminal administration. God, what kind of crap is going to come out after they leave office (if they do)? I'm almost afraid to find out.

I really thought the OP was a joke and I was waiting for the punch line.

[tocqueville]

16. confirmed on this blog

http://roxanne.typepad.com/rantrave/2006/10/all_you_need_to.html

this is so amazing that you should kick up this thread, people has to know, specially today

[Disturbed]

18. Busholini is a borderline moron.

There hundreds of examples of this. Now we can read one more.

[Toucano]

19. People won't believe this is real.

It's just too much. I don't doubt it, of course, but the public at large thinks too highly of "the President" - regardless of who it is.

[tocqueville]

21. it happened when he was Governor, but still...... nt

[trashcanistanista]

22. Yes,

This is in the first 40 or so pages of the book. I am 3/4 finished with it now. He was planning his cabinet while he was governer and Rice and Bandar frequently visited him to discuss his future presidency. Bandar expresses surprise (in the book) that Bush was so sure he was going to win. The Bushies wanted Bandar to teach W about foreign policy of which he new nothing. The "asshole" quote about N Korea is lifted word for word from the book.

edited to add: PATHETIC!