Bush went out of his way to lavish praise on Blair's successor, Mr Brown failed to reciprocate

[dajoki]

Brown lays down law on Iraq exit
US President George W. Bush talks with Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Toby Harnden, Washington
August 1, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/brown-lays-down-law-on-iraq-exit/2007/07/31/1185647903854.html

BRITISH Prime Minister Gordon Brown has prepared the ground for the withdrawal of British troops from the front line in Iraq.

He tried to redefine the relationship between Downing Street and the White House during his US visit when he made it clear he would control the timetable for British withdrawal.

The announcement came during a slightly awkward joint news conference with US President George Bush. The atmosphere between them was at times in stark contrast with former prime minister Tony Blair's close friendship with Mr Bush. Mr Brown signalled that his relationship with the President would be more businesslike, particularly on Iraq.

<<snip>>

His comments demolished suggestions that Britain might defer a decision to pull troops back to base to ease pressure on Mr Bush, who is facing calls from Republicans and Democrats in Congress to start withdrawing US forces from Iraq.

<<snip>>

A relaxed Mr Bush went out of his way to lavish praise on Mr Blair's successor, hailing him as a "problem solver". But Mr Brown failed to reciprocate. While he spoke warmly of the privilege of visiting Camp David so early in his prime ministership, he avoided praising his host personally, preferring to talk about the strong relationship between the two countries.

[babylonsister]

1. Not just another poodle; I'm very happy to read that! nt

[whistle]

2. I suppose there are some world leaders who refuse to accept being sodomized by Shrub*

...My hat goes off to PM Brown.

[UKProPeace]

3. Bingo!

That's British and Australian media picked up on that then, anyone spotted any US media who've picked this specific point up?

[dajoki]

20. NO n/t

[Stuckinthebush]

4. He's no dummy

His voters hate Bush and hated that Blair was Bush's poodle. Brown is going to do everything he can to show Bush that he is NOT his poodle.

[LeftishBrit]

8. You're right about British voters!

Let's hope that Brown keeps his living accommodation well away from the inside of Bush's rear end.

[I Have A Dream]

5. Yes! I hope that he stays like this.

:applause:

[cliss]

6. Well, what could he say?

Let's see ~ "Mr. Bush is very competent...." Not.

"Mr. Bush did a great job at....." skip that

"Mr. Bush is so......" forget it

"Hm....He......."

Screw it.

[dajoki]

26. "Hm....He......."

IS A MORON!!

[Contrary1]

7. My favorite part of the article:

"Mr Brown made it clear that the decision on when British troops would be pulled out of Basra and security handed to their Iraqi counterparts would be based purely on the advice of British military commanders.

His comments demolished suggestions that Britain might defer a decision to pull troops back to base to ease pressure on Mr Bush, who is facing calls from Republicans and Democrats in Congress to start withdrawing US forces from Iraq."

So when do the Freeps start boycotting English Muffins?

[CJCRANE]

9. They'll just call them "Freedom Muffins" n/t

[dajoki]

10. LOL!! I love it

[Alamom]

11. PM Brown also visited B. Clinton.............privately.

It also emerged that Mr Brown had held private talks with Bill Clinton, the former US president, at the Waldorf Hotel in New York on Monday night, just hours after leaving Camp David following his mini-summit with George W Bush.

The meeting with Mr Clinton - which was not mentioned on his formal itinerary - is certain to be seen as a move to prepare for the post-Bush world, with Hillary Clinton the frontrunner in the race to become the Democratic candidate for next year’s Presidential election.

However, Downing Street official stressed that the former president was deeply involved in the battle against global poverty.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/20...

[ProudDad]

17. Probably wanted to talk to someone intelligent

and get the nasty * taste out of his mouth...

[TankLV]

19. Probably had more than one occasion of a "little vomit" in his mouth

during his visit - you know - when you have to force back the urge to vomit but a little surfaces a anyway...

[Bryn]

12. I'm relieved!

:applause:

[Stinky The Clown]

13. I sa their joint presser and the Bush boy came off looking small. Mr Brown looked like a leader

I was particularly happy to hear him, in the presence of the small man who thinks he's king, say that ***Afghanistan*** was the 'central front in the war on terror.'

The body language was quite interesting, too. Mr. Brown, at the podium, steadfastly keep aloof relative to the small man to his left.

[dajoki]

25. CHARLIE Brown could make * look like a "small man" n/t

[LanternWaste]

14. It'll be another two to three months before I...

It'll be another two to three months before I realize a judgment on PM Brown, but for all intents and purposes, he's looking like a no-nonsense, pragmatic leader who won't kowtow to the U.S.

[anakie]

15. And by early next year

I hope to be seeing Bush even more uncomfortable hosting Kevin Rudd as Australian PM after we throw out the toady John Howard.


peace

[eweaver155]

16. It's funny seeing Bush trying to kiss PM Brown's ass!!

Hey, but that our Prez! :rofl: :rofl:

[Imagevision]

18. Browne was candid, he stated he would work with Bushco, he simply managed

to forget to mention the fact that he is pulling ALL the British troops out of Iraq by summer 2008.
Brown will hold every American's coat as they rush off to continue the surge.

[ProudDad]

21. Warning

Don't expect too much from Brown either...

[dajoki]

22. Please elaborate?

[ProudDad]

27. You don't get to be Prime Minister

of Great Britain from the "New" Labour Party without accruing some favors owed...especially favors to the big business interests that pay the bills...

[dajoki]

28. Yes, but that could be said about any politician n/t

[ProudDad]

29. Not the great ones

like Dennis Kucinich, my old congressperson Barbara Lee, my other old congressperson George Miller or Tony Benn in G.B.

Unfortunately there are way too few of the good ones...alas...


On Edit: Of course, none of those mentioned get much corporate money...

[dajoki]

30. Maybe Brown...

will be ok. I'm willing to give him that chance. He's starting out decent by standing up to the "decider."

[ieoeja]

23. Good. More countries need to tell Bush to shove it. n/t

[Quantess]

24. Bush must be mourning the loss of his poodle.

It hurts to lose a faithful pet.