“Why should I care about North Korea?” (Bush, while TX Gov, to Bandar)

[Human Torch]

All You Need to Know is Contained in the First 13 Pages

George W. pulled Bandar aside.
"Bandar, I guess you're the best asshole who knows about the world. Explain to me one thing."
"Governor, what is it?"
"Why should I care about North Korea?"
Bandar said he didn't really know. It was one of the few countries that he did not work on for King Fahd.
"I get these briefings on all parts of the world," Bush said, "and everybody is talking to me about North Korea."
"I'll tell you what, Governor," Bandar said. "One reason should make you care about North Korea."
"All right, smart alek," Bush said, "tell me."
"The 38,000 American troops right on the border." ..."If nothing else counts, this counts. One shot across the border and you lose half these people immediately. You lose 15,000 Americans in a chemical or biological or even regular attack. The United State of America is at war instantly."
"Hmmm," Bush said. "I wish those assholes would put things just point-blank to me. I get half a book telling me about the history of North Korea."
"Now I tell you another answer to that. You don't want to care about North Korea anymore?" Bandar asked. The Saudis wanted America to focus on the Middle East and not get drawn into a conflict in East Asia.
"I didn't say that," Bush replied.
"But if you don't, you withdrawl those troops back. Then it becomes a local conflict. Then you have the whole time to decide, 'Should I get involved? Not involved?' Etc."
At that moment, Colin Powell approached.
"Colin," Bush said, "come here. Bandar and I were shooting the bull, just two fighter pilots shooting the bull." He didn't mention the topic.
"Mr. Governor," Bandar said, "General Powell is almost a fighter pilot. He can shoot the bull almost as good as us."

Bob Woodward
State of Denial
2006

06:31 AM in 2006 Mid-Term Elections, MESS '0' POTAMIA (with apologies to Jon Stewart), State of Denial | Permalink

http://roxanne.typepad.com/rantrave/2006/10/all_you_need_to.html

[Olney Blue]

1. God help us.

[wake.up.america]

3. This cannot be true... or is it?

[Olney Blue]

4. Are you talking about the veracity of Woodward's book?

Or whether God would/could/should help us?

[wake.up.america]

5. Sorry, I meant to ask if it were true that Bush actually said that...

concerning Korea, not that I would be surprised. In addition, referring to the prince as a**h*** is amazing.

[BushOut06]

2. Colin Powell's gotta be wondering why he ever became a Republican

The GOP has done nothing but stab him in the back every chance they got. Is it any wonder that after all this abuse, he's finally fighting back against those lying racist assholes?

[calimary]

6. What. A. Jerk.

Good God...

[MiniMe]

7. Why is he asking a Saudi prince this? Shouldn't he be asking,,,

his own advisors? And shouldn't somebody who aspires to the Presidency already know the answer to this? Geez.

[BoneDaddy]

8. I think BAndar is a scumbag

but if Bush refers to heads of state as "assholes" what the hell do you think he thinks of us?