I tried to stop Bush: Italian PM

[Snellius]

ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said today he had tried to stop US President George W Bush from going to war against Iraq.

"I didn't support every action of the United States. I tried to persuade them not to intervene militarily," Berlusconi said.

"But when I saw there was no way (to prevent it), I stood by the United States."

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7873160%255E1702,00.html

[truthspeaker]

1. reminds me of Neville Chamberlain

[Guaranteed]

24. Seriously...NOW who's the appeaser? nt

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. LIAR!!! "BERLESQUE" CON-EE....

is proudly corrupt and cannot be trusted!

[Grins]

26. You're right!

You’re right. He’s makin’ this crap up.

The two met in Gawd-awful Crawford, Texas' balmy JULY sunshine and had a joint press conference.

(Snips)
Comment: President Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi discussed a range of issues during talks at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, including "how to broaden the coalition to bring more security to Iraq," Bush said July 21….Bush thanked Berlusconi for his support on Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and the global war against terrorism and said the United States is grateful for Italy's "willingness to bear the burdens" of defending freedom.”

BERLUSCONI: "He (referring to Bush) already mentioned the topics we discussed in our meeting, and already said that we have a common vision on all of these issues, with no exception. I'll go back to Italy and Europe with a belief, which I already had, but which was strengthened by my visit here."

From:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary (Crawford, Texas)
July 21, 2003

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI IN PRESS AVAILABILITY

Prairie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas
<http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/hyper/2003/0721/epf102.htm>

[Beetwasher]

3. I Wonder What the Families of the Dead Italian Soldiers

Think about your cowardice and spinelessness? Why did you send them to die then?

[Kolesar]

4. I wish this story would get coverage nonetheless

I would like to see Bush counter this. The Bush message now is that they made a decisive move into Iraq, damn the consequences. Well, the allies are peeling away from him instead of seeing his wisdom and closing ranks.

[denverbill]

5. The Great Appeasor.

Funny isn't it? Republicans call Democrats 'appeasors' because we didn't want to invade Iraq. How the hell can you appease someone who isn't making demands? If we were saying "Let's just give Saddam Kuwait" then yes, we'd be appeasing.

In fact, the whole world was appeasing Bush. He invaded Afghanistan, and that was fine. He invaded Iraq, and even though most of the world opposed it, they did nothing. What will they do when he invades Syria?

[MetaTrope]

37. "Let's get out of Saudi Arabia like Osama wants"

Oops, did that already.

[La_Serpiente]

6. He is a bugiardo

that's all.

[montanacowboy]

13. ha ha ahahahhhhaa

RIGHT ON....A LAIR A LAIR A LAIR

[DrWeird]

7. Do the italians like their PM?

Seems quite the obvious prick.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. I think Berlusconi and Blair

both ended up in the same boat. Neither had any desire to go to war but both felt it was in their own countries best interest to go along with the US in order not to get cut out of all the deals. In a perverse way, they were looking out for their countries economic security.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

9. So did I. Where's my newspaper exclusive?

[David__77]

10. This is significant.

That he would even say this indicates a sea-change in opinion necessitating such a thing. Is he polishing an "anti-war" credential? While laughable, it does mean something.

[Jacobin]

11. Sounds just like John Kerry!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh whataworld, whataworld....I'm melting....I'm melting

[Robin Hood]

12. Success had many fathers,

but failure is an orphan.

[Kellanved]

14. ROFLMAO

Trouble is: with his power over the Italian media he may make people believe it.
This corrupt *******, who is against independent courts, should be removed from office (especially the EU presidency) ASAP.
He makes laws just to suit himself (Spider ban), twists law and order and let's not forget the discussed shoot to kill order against illegal immigrants.

[underpants]

15. Still it is pretty bad when a fellow head of state comes out and says that

It shows just how horrible of an idea it was and how bad it must really be there.

[Kellanved]

20. He sees more political gain in turning against Bush now

That's significant, no question.
What I would love to ask him is: "Why did you send Italian Soldiers to their death, if you didn't believe in the war?"
:puke:

[Sick of Bullshit]

38. Good question

And how would Mr. Berlusconi answer it?

[xxqqqzme]

16. did he clear this w/ KKKarl?

somebody is gonna B pissed!

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Who George

Or perchance his Prime Minister, Chenney?

[Unknown Known]

17. Liar! Berluscbaloni enjoyed playing Mussolini to *Hitler

All the rats are jumping ship! Distancing themselves from *

This is very significant:bounce:

[glarius]

19. What a STUPID man!...He should stick to singing and leave politics alone

Isn't he in the news for some sort of thing about him loving to sing Karaoke or something?

[JeebusH]

21. "I tried to stop Bush ... but he said 'No' ... so I had to go along"

it nice to know that the U.S. isn't the only country that has 'morans' running the show ... I guess

[burrowowl]

22. He must be really

worried that the Italians are going to boot his ass out!

[ignatius]

23. My son and I went to Rome in May this year. We took a

tour of the Vatican. The tour guide was very informative and told us that Berlusconi was worth billions and that he and Blair often yachted together and went to some exclusive island(I think it was Corsica) where the rich and famous hang.

More revisionist history...I haven't time now but will try to find what he said way back then(6 months ago and with the short attention spans of most people that is practically a lifetime these days.)

God I despise these weasels.

[Barrett808]

25. I see Willy Wonka to Violet and Tom: "Stop, don't, come back . . ."

WONKA:
OR WHICH WAY THE RIVER'S FLOWING

IS IT RAINING
IS IT SNOWING
IS A HURRICANE A-BLOWING

Bleh!
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of hell a glowing?
Is the grisly reaper mowing?
Yes! The danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing!

(Wonka screams. Chaos.)

http://wonkadotcom.tripod.com/script.html

[0007]

27. I stood by the United States! And ....

should be tried for murder. I hope other nations will take notice.

How long is junior gonna get away with this? If he junior is re-elected then what? How much more?

[yellowcanine]

28. He stood by Bush, not the United States

Not the same thing at all.

[leesa]

29. This is an excellent thing to hear. He is, of course, lying, but the

climate has become so bad for Bush that he feels compelled to say it. WooHoo!!!

[henslee]

30. I TRIED TO STOP BUSH... I WAVED A SIX PACK.... n/t

[teryang]

31. Trying to conquer Ethiopia again

It is bound to be a disaster. The devil made me do it!

What a pathetic leader trying to escape responsibility for so many deaths.

[roguevalley]

32. Liar, liar, pants on fire.

[Darranar]

33. Rrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhht...

[DemoTex]

34. Bullshit

.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

35. That is a bald-faced lie. Here are the links...

President Bush, PM Berlusconi Discuss Iraq and War on Terrorism
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030721.html>


Silvio Berlusconi
<http://www.balloon-juice.com/archives/002824.html>


Leaders' statement on Iraq: Full text
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2708877.stm>


Transcript: U.N. Decision on Iraq a Defining Moment Say Bush, Berlusconi, September 14, 2002
<http://www.usembassy.it/file2002_09/alia/a2091306.htm>

[Nlighten1]

36. Mussolini: I tried to stop Hitler

He wouldn't listen.

[frank frankly]

39. and the "coalition" loses one more country

good news.