George Bush

Bloggers react to Bush’s speech on Iraq

Julien — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:10:42 +0100

To mark the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, George Bush made a speech to the Pentagon today, in which he insisted that the controversial offensive had opened a "major strategic victory" in the broader war on terror. Two American bloggers criticise their president's speech, but for very different reasons.

Bush reaffirmed in the speech that removing Saddam Hussein from power was the "right decision", and that this is a fight "America can and must win". He then went on to reiterate the somewhat worn out argument for continuing the war; that the Americans must combat al Qaeda in Iraq in order not to face them on their own soil; and to leave too quickly would cause chaos and strengthen terrorists in neighbouring Iran.

The cost of war comes as “a total surprise”

Julien — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:55:37 +0100

With presidential elections well under way in the United States the cost of war is a sensitive subject for the ruling Republicans. And every penny counts. The Center for arms control and non-proliferation tallies up every cent spent on the main U.S wars and publishes its findings online. And they have just been updated. World War II easily tops the table with a whopping $3.2 trillion (€2.2 trillion). But still climbing and currently in second place, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have almost reached $700 billion (around €500 bln) combined. The centre treats this information as a warning, they predict that if troops remain in both countries until 2018 as Bush said may well happen, the final cost will be over a trillion dollars. We spoke to the creator of the project about why he feels it's important to publish the figures.

Bush sword-dances in the Middle East

Julien — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:42:58 +0100

Our Observer in Bahrain has provoked hilarious comments from his readers by publishing this video on his blog ‘Mahmood's Den'. Bush danced the Ardha sword-dance alongside the king of Bahrain on his visit to the kingdom at the weekend. Every head of state is expected to partake in this ritual- even Putin... (see the video).

Video: AP, 12 January 2008

Taking on al Qaeda’s American 'media star'

Julien — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:01:40 +0100

Californian Adam Yahiye Gadahn, aka "Azzan the American" has really riled Americans on the Web with his latest al Qaeda video calling on followers to arrange an ‘explosive reception' for George Bush's arrival in the Middle-East. The dramatic tearing up of his US passport, followed by a "I don't need it to travel anyway" quip has especially enraged many Americans.

Bloggers have been clogging cyberspace with their own, sometimes rather witty, often rather bitchy, online messages. One of the responses, by an American woman who ironically calls herself a ‘dumb-blonde' has been making the rounds on YouTube.