Bush To Visit Belfast, Do We Want Him?

George W Bush it has just been announced is to visit Belfast next month to 'put his seal of approval' on devolution.

He was invited to do so by the First and Deputy First Ministers Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, who visited him at the White House last December.

Source

My question would be, do we want him here? With all the pomp and swagger a US president brings he has NO substance and has played NO part in bringing peace to northern ireland other than to further get us tied into his capitalist corporate agenda. He says he doesnt negotiate with terrorists and yet its pretty much terrorists in our government, and is a situation which is the same the world over what makes our terrorists ok to don suits and give millions of dollars to?

Oh, and what kind of example is he with his record of bloodshed and hypocrisy, I just hope he doesn't get all the spectacular flag waving and ass kissing he expects and instead recieves a dose of our peoples PEACEFUL protests and DEMOCRATIC right to oppose his actions in the middle east. I doubt it though, any protests will probably be met with an iron fist and left unreported.

I certainly hope that while he is there, someone will pour 10-12
pints of Guiness down him and then just maybe he will see the light
as it really is. And hey, maybe a 5th. of Bushmill's might do the
trick also. Prez W doesn't seem to be getting too many warm receptions
around the world right now. Look what the Saudi's told him about
increasing the output of oil in that country to pacify the pathetic
thirst of oil for the Americans.

ZOOMER

It's just politics, you could do him the most damage by ignoring him. So make the recordings void with public. Shouting and protesting just strenghtens those people in their 'us against them' attitude. It's nothing to get your panties in a twist about.

Both Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness are very colorful characters, with a history of being very close to murder and blood shed.

Ian Paisley was one of the leading voices in starting the sectarian bigotry that led to 30 years and 3000 people killed with his firebrand politics mixing bible and bigotry. Below is a link to some of his lesser known deeds, most seem to be hard to find from mainstream sources. (hmm conspiracy maybe )

Ian Paisley, Pro Bigot

Martin McGuinness is a self confessed IRA leader who has probably never resigned from its inner army council. He has undoubtedly murdered or at best ordered the murders of innocents.

Martin McGuinness

Even though these two have such a chequered past, they are indeed leading the 'peace' here in Northern Ireland, possibly because it was them that kept the fighting going for so long in the first place and now are cashing in on this political bonanza. You couldn't choose two more suited 'democrats' to meet George W Bush!!



[edit on 20-5-2008 by BigC2012]

[edit on 20-5-2008 by BigC2012]

Of course George Bush will get a warm welcome here, you get sycophants world wide. Funny thing is, this morning as I was going to work the Ireland anti-war movement were protesting outside the courthouses, something to do with Raytheon(sp?) so George might get a warmer welcome than he's expecting because if people are willing to protest against the people who supply the weapons being used to slaughter 1000's of innocent people, how are they going to react to the man who started a war illegally which led to the slaughter of all those innocent people.

May you live in interesting times.

reply to post by BigC2012



Simple answer(From America) no you don't. Hell we don't want him, and we'll be hard pressed to find a place that does. Even the most staunch right wing republican doesn't want too much to do with Bush. So what does that tell you?

He's not going to say anything important to you or your people, he has nothing in mind or in the works to help N. Ireland, he won't say anything inspiring, and he's just going to breath your air get treated like a king and go home.

I say kick him out.

Speaking as an American I implore you to give him the warmest of welcomes, make his visit most enjoyable, and KEEP him! I think we've had quite of him over here.

The arrogance of the man irks me beyond belief - just why the hell do we need his approval?
It's like he's giving them a pat on the head for a job well done, the patronising git - he probably has no conception of the issues that were involved in a long and difficult process, and is doing this just to score points with someone.
If there's anyone left who's stupid enough to believe him that is.

Personally, I'd bring back the old tar and feathers and running people out of town on a rail for just one day

Of course, he couldn't possibly be looking for the irish vote for his party could he?

i would love to be a fly on the wall when they try to explain to bush that republicans in ireland are terrorists, anti-big business and very left wing socialist.
i'll also be most interested to see weather mcguiness reflects sinn feins rabid anti-war stance at his meetings.

If you want him, take him. We have no need for him in America.

I could understand if Bill Clinton were to visit (he played an important role in the peace process alongside Tony Blair and is still popular in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland), but I'm not sure as to why Bush himself is going. A gentle reminder that the US expects both the Republicans and the Unionists to continue behaving themselves, perhaps? Again, I think Clinton could have achieved this better. We'll see I suppose.

Anyway, it's a hugely complex issue - and still a delicate one. The US State Department has probably briefed Bush extremely well on what to say (and, more importantly, what not to say) since upsetting one of the three main 'sides' of the conflict (the Unionists, the Republicans and the UK Government) could be a very serious faux pas.

Oh, and we'll make sure the President arrives back promptly... we know you want to make the most of the time you have left with him (you've only got until January!), and I'm sure Bush himself likes looking at the opinion polls each week

reply to post by projectvxn


I agree with you!

We DON"T want him here, I see NO reason why Ireland would want him either!

Hey, maybe you can try him for war crimes over THERE!

That would be a good reason to want him to visit Ireland! Here Bushy Bushy Bushy, why don't you come visit us people over here in Ireland?

I now, but I can dream can't I!

Well I'm personally looking forward to Bush's visit. After all it's probably the last opportunity to give him a good send off. So let's give him hell.

The funniest thing I've heard so far is George Bush is staying in the Belfast Hilton, in the Bill Clinton suite. We have to undergo bag searches and extra security checks going in and out of work and I don't even work in the Hilton. The strangest thing I've heard is the CIA or FBI (whichever group is involved in security) have been setting up a command post in the Hilton and just after they were finished and had left the hotel, it was broken into. The break-in, apparently, was totally unrelated to the Bush visit but who knows. If anything else happens i'll keep you posted.

Hmmm he clearly isn't required is he? Hopefully he won't add any extra tension to a country that could still fall back into violence. Just don't mention religion Bushface!

I do understand people's point's about Adams and Pasiley etc being linked to the violence in NI and mabye being guilty of murder and it must be hard for people who lost friends and family in the conflict, but through these negotiations between succsesive British goverments and the factions within NI a peace has been achieved.

Mabye Bush could take this example and seek to negotiatie not 'appease' negotiate with America's enemies.

You know what is sad?
I hate the man as much as any of you, but he does represent the United States of America (sorry, my fellow American's it is how the office of President has always been and MORE importanly should be)
So to treat him with disrespect (my God, I am choking on this but it is still true).....anyway, to treat him with disrespect is to disrespect America.
So if you all could ignore George W. Bush the piece of # man, but respect the symbol or office of President of the United States, that might be something to consider.
But of course the arsehole would view any cheering as being for him and not anything to do with America sentiments. I wish someone or some people over there would point that out to him.

reply to post by Res Ipsa


Your statment that to disrespect the worst president in the history of the USA is a disrespect to American people is ridiculous. Your average American is like other people in the world far removed from the eliteists that run the countey. The only way it is disrespectful is as an inditement over the people who voted him into office twice!

I think it would be a profound statement against American Imperialism to provide him with only the bare minimum of diplomatic courtesies. Furthermore, I think your citizens should line the streets along his motorcade route and turn your backs on him right before he passes, so he can see the action. No booing, no hissing or anti-American posters. Just turn your backs on HIM.

As a U.S. citizen I would be ever so grateful.

I'm not getting sucked into defending a guy I can't stand.
He represents the United States whether any of us, or any of you like it.
You can't just blame the people that voted for him, once or twice. You better also blame the lazy bastards that didn't like either candidate so they didn't vote at all. They are the ones in fact that elected Bush by default. I bet you anything that most of the Bush bashers on this site have never casted a vote in their lives. Well, they did by not voting...and guess what....these same people aren't going to vote this year either, but they will be bitching about who ever it is in office. "not my fault man, I don't vote for him".
He represents the United States. Treat him any damn way you want.

Originally posted by Peruvianmonk
reply to post by Res Ipsa

 

Your statment that to disrespect the worst president in the history of the USA is a disrespect to American people is ridiculous. Your average American is like other people in the world far removed from the eliteists that run the countey. The only way it is disrespectful is as an inditement over the people who voted him into office twice!

----------------------------------------------------
you know, I actually take offense to this. We, American's, are not like any other Country. The office of President of the United States represents alot to anyone with an education or anyone over the age of 50. We aren't one of these puppet, banana republics that the office of the leader for the moment means as much as all the retarded medals on their uniforms.
I think you and maybe some others (sadly some American's on this site) don't understand our Country. Some have earned the right to protest how our government has screwed the pooch, but most, at best, are arm chair quarterbacks that think it is vogue to bash what they no next to nothing about. These people need to go live in another Country for a couple of years so they can better define what freedom is or isn't.
Disrespecting the President of the United States while representing the United States IS disrespecting the United States. I'm not telling you that we don't deserve it! But as American's we damn well better own it whether we voted for him, or didn't vote at all, or voted against him (like me) Because of that arsehole, you have every right to spit in my face too.
All of you have the right to spit in each one of us American's faces. If that is what you believe is justified.
You American cowards that can't own this, well stop calling your self Americans. You don't get to take the good without the bad.