Did anyone see the footage of Italian President Ciampi giving a statement to the press at the White House today? Bush was seated next to him. As Ciampi was speaking (in Italian) on Italy's resolve to see the mission through in Iraq despite Wednesday's horrific massacre, Bush constantly fidgeted, slumped in his chair, with his legs wide open. His posture and decorum were terrible. He even yawned at one point. Sure, he might have been tired, but come on! He looked like some drunk cowboy in a B Western saloon scene. I think the guy's losing it or he is just plain disrespectful.
I saw it on RAI International, the Italian language station available through Time Warner, Cablevision, and DirectTV/Dish. I don't know if the clip made it to the US broadcast or cable news networks. Maybe Sardinia saw it on RAI-Italy, Mediaset or Telemontecarlo.
Berlusconi: "I tried to stop Bush". Wowee. Nothing like sticking by your allies and convictions when things go south.
I think everyone can agree that Berlusconi is a slime. However, it was President Ciampi and the Italian people that Bush disrespected, not Berlusconi. And I remind you, Ciampi was making a very powerful statement that Italy would continue its mission in Iraq despite things appearing to "go south." Also, be careful about accusing Italians of going south when things go wrong. When things went south in Lebanon in 1982 and we Americans skiddadled out of there, it was the Italians who stayed to try to keep some semblance of peace and order in Beirut. Years later in Somalia, we got hit hard and ran again. Who stayed? The Italians.
Wow. Just wow. I thought this was going to be a thread about Bush saying something that would offend Italy. But no. Isn't there something more important to worry about than Bush's posture? Or is this touchiness the only thing that matters?
Reading articles, Italians were "shocked" by the attack on their troops. They figured that their troops were popular and less of a target. Either the Italian public is in a fantasy world, or they are just plain stupid. This latest "incident" only shows RAI has too much free time on his hands.
Well you were the guy that assumed the US troops would be welcomed by the Iraqi people a few months back. So I wouldn't go around saying someone else lives in a fantasy world...