Bush’s Interviews on Television Fail to Move Saudis

[Robbien]

Rasheed Abou-Alsamh & Abeer Mishkhas, Arab News

. . .


“The man who is calling for justice himself isn’t doing justice in Iraq. He didn’t apologize for his forces doing inhuman things to the Iraqi prisoners. The American people are very good as a whole, but President Bush does not represent Americans and I’m not surprised that he didn’t apologize,” said Abdulrazak Al-Turki, a social worker.

Many of those interviewed also doubted Bush’s sincerity in saying that those responsible for the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners would be punished. “It is really hard to believe President Bush’s statement, the Americans are acting like occupiers. The damage that took place cannot be undone. America should be careful because its actions in Iraq are affecting its friends in the region,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, former deputy minister of commerce and current member of the Shoura Council.

“I think that President Bush’s credibility has been lost with these pictures,” opined Rania Muhammad, a librarian.

. . .

Basem Ali, a Harvard-educated banker, made the apt point that most Arabs wouldn’t be satisfied with an apology just for torturing Iraqis. He said Bush should apologize for much more: “President Bush’s comments in the Al-Arabiyah interview are just his way of evading his responsibility, just as he has done in the whole US military campaign in Iraq which was all based on lies to begin with.”

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=44409&d=6&m=5&y=2004

edited to pick up the first four quotes. The whole article is an interesting story from their viewpoint. They appear to be much nicer than I would be in their shoes.

[lovedems]

1. LOL!

* doesn't represent the American people, Americans are good as whole! That is a smart person!

I am glad they don't hold all of us responsible for the village idiot.

[Tellurian]

3. The Time jpg...would read better if it read "I AM"

Yes, the article tells it like it is...

and points out what a racist Bush is-
He feels it's beneath him to apologize
to "brown skinned" people.

Thanks, for posting it..

[lovedems]

4. Yeah, now that he is finally starting to tank in the polls,it would.

I might do a photo shop job on it.

Thanks for the idea!

[Tellurian]

7. Great!

It makes my heart feel good to know, the Iraqis understand Americans are not like Bush atall..

The American people are very good as a whole,
but President Bush does not represent Americans
and I’m not surprised that he didn’t apologize,”
said Abdulrazak Al-Turki, a social worker.

[Piperay]

16. Unfortunately there are too many Americans

that are just like chimp, more than I ever wanted to believe. :cry:

[Tellurian]

22. Then the Last Thing they should have is power!

Make it so, Scotti-

Make it so!

[peterh]

23. Yes there are….

I was watching Hardball yesterday and tweety asked Lindsey Graham what kind of emails he was getting regarding the abuse….Lindsey started off by saying that you’re always going to have a small group that was in favor and left it at that…..me thinks it wasn’t that small….ouch…..

[Skittles]

18. I am very gratified

I'm hoping this feeling is prevalent throughout the world. PLEASE don't let us be judged based on GEORGE F***ING BUSH.

[boobooday]

2. Imperialism Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

Apparently, if you throw in a heavy does of pseudo-Christianity.

Bush's moral high ground turns out to be the steaming pile of hypocritical poo, which we knew already, but are we finally at the point where the stench can no longer be denied?

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Tellurian]

6. booboo...I Love this..

http://www.boobooday.com/trump.html

[pinto]

5. Bush's statements all seem to be about the US, what about the VICTIMS?

[KC21304]

8. I thought the same thing as I heard him.

He truly does not get it. Went on about how we are so much better than Saddam. Some of us aren't, evidently.

[pinto]

12. would love to hear a question posed about the victims rights for redress.

Mr. President, do you think the victims of American military abuses have the right to ask for redress in a court of law?

[Tellurian]

9. This from your link Robbien:

from the very last paragraph:


“What do we expect from an invader? It’s ridiculous.
The media strategy of the Arab and Muslim world
is in a shambles. We are like dead bodies;
at least if we were in a coma there could
be a chance of revival. We are very reactive.

Don’t expect Bush to give us our rights,
we have to take them,” said Mutlak."

The last line does not bode well for our soldiers.
Bush has truly sabotaged their chances for survival.

[Robbien]

11. That quote hit me hard also.

I wanted to post it, but the rules say only four paragrahs.

That quote is also the feeling I have been getting from Riverbend's, Raed's, and Raed's Mom's blogs.

These are really nice people who I would love to have as my next-door neighbor. These people are trying hard to still like us and keep a hope alive for their future. And we harmed them badly.

[Tellurian]

13. That is why I said, this is the perfect opportunity for Sen. Kerry to

issue a press release with a compassionate apology to the Iraqi People with the hope, if he is elected president, he will do everything in his power to never allow a tragedy like this to happen again.

Sen. Kerry could move mountains issuing a statement to that effect and perhaps soften the anger towards our troops.

[aquart]

15. Without the smallest right to do so.

"Pre-emption," my derriere.

[Tellurian]

19. Anybody can do any thing they damn right well please...

sorry, you're too late.

I guess you haven't noticed as yet-

We've already BEEN preempted!

[Just Me]

10. Oh, I am so glad they see Bush for the extremist he is,...

,...and have the depth to distinguish between an extremist and a nation of people. And this from the nation where most of the 9/11 terrorists were from,...the nation we usually tag as "extreme".

Wish we had more people who had the depth to avoid using the ole' broad brush thingy. We really have got to become better at holding individuals responsible,...especially individual leaders who are tearing this world apart.

[Tellurian]

14. Yes, Just me..

The Bush misAdministration is having an effect on all of us.

Their behavior is foreign to us, because we treat people with compassion and understanding.

[Mechatanketra]

24. I'm not so sure.

I can't help thinking, in the rush to war and its continued support not only by the Administration but even many of its ostensible opponents, that labeling Bush an 'extremist' and touting the presumed vast chasm between him and Joe Sixpack American isn't just cognitive dissonance -- kidding ourselves to avoid facing the disturbing and painful idea that we might live in a nation that really is more like Bush in mindset than us, even if that mindset seems to run against everything (freedom, equality, democracy, justice, benevolence) that's supposed to be "American".

We like to think of ourselves as a point in an ever-forward advance of progress from barbarism ... but I keep thinking, there was at least a point where a Caligula could pass beyond his people's, even his own bodyguards', ability to stomach his actions. I'm not sure America has that capacity, that there's anything these people can realistically do that won't be swept under the rug of wishful thinking, willful ignorance, and shallow apathy. Everything's either not as bad as it seems (even if it involves people dying) or just couldn't have happen ed and isn't worth talking about (no matter how much evidence demands investigation).

[DemoTex]

17. Bu$h smirked several times during his M.E. TV "interview."

How will that play in Baghdad? It offends me for the president to smirk during what should be a grave and somber interview. Is the smirk a tic? Has he no control? Will it offend the Iraqis and other middle easterners?

It also offends me that he did not apologize on the behalf of the American people. But, being a Bu$h is never having to say "I'm sorry." Never .. ever.

[LizW]

25. Bush's performance in that interview today

was not for the benefit of the Iraqi people, or the people of the Arab nations. They already know the truth. Their men and women have come out of those prisons and have told the first-hand accounts. The stories of what was happening there were well known long before the pictures filtered into the mainstream U.S. press. NOTHING Bush could ever say could change how the Iraqis feel about what has happened.

Bush knows this, and he doesn't care. What he does care about is what the American electorate thinks. His performance was for Freep-America. That's why all the smirks, the condescending "what you have to understand" (to the Arab people), the empty assurances that a full investigation would be done (transparency, etc.). His message was coded for his base, full of smug assurances that we would handle this (wink, wink). And most of all, NO REAL APOLOGY.

[0007]

20. junior is so drunk with power that he doesn't realize you

don't play politics with the truth.

[teryang]

21. his statements to Iraqis were in the imperative

...form. Iraqis MUST understand this...and Iraqis MUST understand that... This is indicative of his dictatorial delusions over the conquered nation. He speaks to the American public this way all the time, as if people don't need to persuaded or they are not entitled to their opinion.

"Democracy makes mistakes." Hello! The military isn't a democracy. It is a top down structure. The commander gives orders and the guys on the bottom follow. Who's the guy at the top????

The speech was an evasive litany of propaganda. It was directed at the American public not the Arab world. This is no way that the Arab public would accept this speech.

The recent public policy statements about Sharon doom any American policy in the mideast.

[cliss]

26. Thanks Teryang,

for yet another insightful post. We are fortunate to have you as a member of the DU.

[teryang]

28. Thank you!

If you overlook my grammar and spelling, sometimes I can get across. Most people think I'm nuts.

[0007]

30. I don't!

[teryang]

33. "drunk with power"

You hit the nail right on the head.

[July]

32. My skin crawls every time he says "my country."

I know we all can use the expression, but I can't help feeling that he really thinks the country is his plaything.

[dbt]

27. Kick

Back to the Front Page wif dat Ugly Old Truth. BTW, if bu$h had wanted to show the Arab world that he was sincerely sorry (quit laughing, dammit!), he would have appeared on al-Jazeera.

:spank:
dbt

[T_i_B]

29. Here's a clue for you Bush

If you want to get them on your side you will need to...

APOLOGIZE

[saigon68]

31. BUSHES STATEMENT FAILED TO MOVE MY BOWELS

This morning--

BUT ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE I DID HAVE A LAUGH OR 2