Istanbul bombings overshadow Bush visit

[gristy]

Check out the picture of the shrub. I think he's been stuffed. Very scary.

· President holds talks with PM
· Guantánamo Bay 'high on agenda'
· Protesters prepare for major demonstration

Press Association
Thursday November 20, 2003

The US president, George Bush, today arrived at Downing Street for talks with the prime minister as news of suicide bomb blasts in Istanbul overshadowed his state visit to the UK.

At least 15 people have been killed in the Istanbul attacks, which saw the British consulate and the city's headquarters of HSBC targeted.

In London, protesters were gearing up for a day of demonstrations against Mr Bush's visit.

Mr Bush's motorcade swept into Downing Street, where a sombre-looking president and first lady were warmly greeted by Tony Blair and his wife Cherie on the steps of No 10.

They posed briefly for photographers before entering, the president's arm around Mr Blair's shoulders.
...

Guardian link

[maddezmom]

1. looks like a bulletproof vest to me

n/t

[Maeve]

3. CBS mentioned that last night

Yes, he wears a vest when outside on this trip.

[maddezmom]

6. bet he's wearing it inside, too

after the fine display of security at the palace.

[Malva Zebrina]

5. they did not look somber to me

all kissy wissy in front of the cameras--like old time friends, which of course they are. Inside more smiles and posing-

Cherie Blair kissed by smelly chimp lips. Eeewwww



Laura wearing some kind of horse blanket she may have dredged up from somebody's attic--she insists on wearing clothes that do not fit --her matronly backside is emphasized with this horrendous fashion statment she chose today. Compare to Cheri



Rictus smile

[leftchick]

7. Pickles' rictus smile looks just like....

this one......

[smirkymonkey]

10. My god, she does!!

Except that the Joker has nicer outfits :)

[colorado_ufo]

15. The Underboob Pockets are sure to be a trend-setter!

Actually, I've never seen anything quite like it. With appropriate uplifts and underwires, however, they do have utilitarian potential.

[pinkpops]

2. he's stuffed alright

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. It so nice of al Qaeda

to help get the peace protests off the front page.

[jobycom]

9. Nah, it's a predictable message to England

If they deal with Bush, they can expect more of this.

It's the media's choice not to link the two events. The lead story should be "Bush's unwelcome visit to England spawns more terror attacks on British targets." Instead, it's more "Bush condemns terror attacks." Oh, really? Mighty white of him, don't you think? That should stop the attacks.

The media is running interference for Bush, not al-Queda, or Michael Jackson, or Paul Wellstone (Though that was a brilliant stroke, if you ask me. Releasing the Wellstone findings just as Bush is preparing for Hell Week? Give the liberals something else to fume about, and bring out the wildest speculations amongst them to make them look crazed, which in turn colors public perception of their opinions of Bush's visit. Pretty smart.)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. Too easy to caption

Blair: "I hypnotized him! Watch me make him act like a chicken!"

[smirkymonkey]

11. Will he go right back to Madame Tussaud's

when the photographers are through??

[kskiska]

12. He looked sorta like that

when he met the Pope, too.

[Socialist Christian]

13. Ban on TURKISH media

turkish media isnt allowed to report on the details.

[hel]

14. Not

Turkish media has been first warned not to and then banned from displaying graphic images from the bombing sites. Not from reporting on the details.