Bush to skip half of APEC meeting

[babylonsister]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Bush-to-skip-half-of-APEC-meeting/2007/08/10/1186530610461.html


Bush to skip half of APEC meeting

August 10, 2007 - 7:04PM


US President George W Bush will skip the final day of the APEC leaders' summit, missing crucial deliberations during John Howard's showcase event with international powers.

His arrival on the evening of September 4, three full days before the official start of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit will add to the already heavy security burden on Sydney.

And Mr Howard will bring forward the official APEC photograph - where leaders get dressed up in the host country's national costume - to ensure the American president can take part.

Leaders from the 21 APEC economies will gather in Sydney for the two-day summit on September 8 and 9.

snip//

Mr Bush has to rush home to be in the US for the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks and for General David Petraeus' progress report to Congress on America's surge strategy in Iraq.

His departure means he will miss the final day of the summit when leaders issue a communique on how they plan to progress issues in the Asia Pacific region over the next year.

[yardwork]

1. He's welcome to stay, as far as I'm concerned.

There's no need for him to rush home. We don't need him here.

They probably don't want him there, either. "Um, George, don't you have someplace else to be?"

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. he is destroying the US legacy around the pacific.

what an idiot.

[Ezlivin]

3. He's there solely for the photo op

And fellow lackey Howard is more than willing to help out.

[htuttle]

4. What, exactly, is our country's 'national costume'?

And isn't that what Bush wears all the time? We all know how much he loves costumes...

[rodeodance]

5. He gets to dress in the HOST countries clothes.