Roy Hattersley (Guardian Unltd): Bush is not welcome in Britain

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Monday October 27

Bush is not welcome in Britain
The president's state visit serves no one's interests but his own
By Roy Hattersley

Has anyone yet explained why President George W Bush is about to make a state visit to the United Kingdom? In my time at the Foreign Office, the supreme accolade of an invitation from Her Majesty was only awarded after long deliberation had convinced the prime minister and foreign secretary that Britain's national interest would be served by arranging for the king, queen or president in question to perform a number of meaningless ceremonies and eat numerous mediocre meals in the company of the royal family. What do we have to gain by feting President Bush?
According to Downing Street, George Bush's presence in London will provide "an important opportunity to deepen our close relations with a close international partner". How much closer is it possible to get than the closeness that made us follow America into an unjustified war? President and prime minister meet each other almost every month. Clearly, this state visit had been arranged for reasons that do not meet the usual criteria . . . .
But how is the national interest - real or imaginary - served by George Bush inspecting a guard of honour from the Household Brigade? Is there a single item of US policy - foreign or domestic - that will be changed by the talks that accompany the visit? Will the two leaders know each other better by the time the cavalcade moves on? Heaven help us, this state visit has all the signs of a genuine tribute. Tony Blair is expressing his admiration and gratitude.
The only alternative explanation - which I would prefer to believe - is that President Bush . . . agitated for an invitation. It is easy enough to identify what is in it for the president. At the very beginning of the American electoral cycle, he is under attack from the Democrats (and some Republicans) for turning some friendly nations against the US. His critics also accuse him of being an insular cornball who had never left home territory before he was elected and could not remember the names of the leaders of major allied countries. Does anyone doubt that film clips from the state dinner at Buckingham Palace will appear in his television campaign commercials?

The only way it will serve Bush's purpose is if the compliant media runs cropped shots of him and doesn't show the peasants with pitchforks wherever he goes.

[La_Serpiente]

1. I have this feeling

that the protestors are going to shut down the entire city of London. Maybe even the airport.

These protests are going to be HUGE!!!

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. yes

100% of the population out in force will send the message

[wtmusic]

2. Hey c'mon

this is a great image-cleansing op for Poodle </sarcasm>

[Submariner]

3. President Clinton needs to fly in to London

a day or so before or after chimpy does to raise the embarrassment factor. Bill would be cheered by the crowds in the UK whereas shithead Bush will be pummeled with insults imho. I would love to see that happen. Let's humiliate Bush out of office.....he wanted to be humble right?

[Hieronymus]

4. Oh yea,

the perfect squelch.
The contrast would be profound.
:kick:

[DemoVet]

10. And let's have Al Gore follow Bill

Wouldn't that tie Herr Roves's hemmorhoids in a knot?

[JackSwift]

5. Bush and Blair both benefit

by being seen with another "important" leader whom they can get along with. Both have lost enormous credibility with their general populations, and Blair with his core constituency. If they can pull it off with only a few thousand protesters, it'll help Blair. The US population could care less.

But if a crowd anything near the size of the pre-war demonstrations materialize it will be a disaster for both. If it looks like that will happen, it will get called off.

[izzie]

7. I e-mailed the newspaper and asked if the Brits would keep him.

No answer as of now but I have hopes.

[T_i_B]

8. Can we have Howard Dean instead?

Or maybe even Bob Graham since he's no longer running for Prez.

Good article though. Trouble is that Blair really is oblivious to the worries of the British people about the subserviant direction he is taking us. Perhaps you lot can have phoney Tony instead?

[number six]

9. It's a simple. cheap PR job...

but don't worry, the Londoners won't let us down.

[Manix]

11. I hope the Brits give the ignorant asshole everything he has coming..

to him and more!!

[T_i_B]

14. Here's the link

I might as well post the Stop the War Coalition website, as they are the ones organizing the anti-Bush protests.

http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

Wednesday 19th November

Cavalcade with cyclists, taxi drivers, scooter clubs etc following open carriage as alternative state procession procession. Protests at his arrival point and at other times during the day depending on itinerary.

Thursday 20th November

We will organise a national demonstration in London (assembling at 14:00 hours) jointly with CND and MAB. This may take a form that will be slightly different from recent demos - e.g. fewer speakers, music or some other form of entertainment rather than our two or three hour rallies which may not be the best idea for a weekday.
Direct action events including toppling of Bush’s statue in Trafalgar Square at the end of the demonstration and other forms of NVDA will also be incorporated into the programme.

Friday 21st November

Trial of Bush with Bob Marshall Andrews and other lawyers/or People’s Assembly to condemn war crimes.

[dudeness]

12. a simple answer to Mr Hattersley question

and its a well worn path..when the political tide is turning against the incumbent on domestic matters..focus attention on banal, meaningless handshake world tours..

[Atman]

13. Time-worn advice

"when the political tide is turning against the incumbent on domestic matters..focus attention on banal, meaningless handshake world tours.."


And say "They hate for our freedom!" a lot.