Bush faces protests in Italy

[Thor_MN]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/06/03/bush.italy/index.html

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- President George W. Bush has arrived in Italy for the first stop on a European trip that will focus on the conflict in Iraq, as well as commemorating a war of six decades ago.

A protest has been planned for Friday in the city's historic Piazza Venezia as the president meets with Pope John Paul II, who opposed the war in Iraq, and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who supported the war and contributed Italian troops. Security has been bolstered in the Italian capital, with 10,000 police officers deployed, amid fears that anti-Bush protests could turn ugly.

A senior administration official, speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Italy, said Bush was not troubled by the protests. "That's why they were liberated from fascism, so they can go into the streets and protest," the official said. "It's all a part of the democratic enterprise."

and * is there to remind them of what fascism is all about...

[LittleApple81]

1. Again he did not want to make Iraq like the USA (prior *) but the reverse

make the USA like Iraq.
Demonstrations here are severely limited. And he is not "exposed" to people who don't like him and/or his policies.
So he wants freedom for Italy, Fascism for the USA.

[DustMolecule]

2. Cool! They have "Focus Groups" in Italy too!!!

n/t

[Bhaisahab]

3. before the day is over, bush will make an ass of himself. trust me. eom

[schultzee]

8. I hope he messes up really good

[bobthedrummer]

4. Another coincidence-The Bilderberg Group commenced their 2004

conference in ITALY today:crazy:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3773019.stm

[truthseeker1]

6. VERY interesting....and hardly a coincidence I would say

Thanks for posting that link.

[Joanne98]

34. That's interesting.

Good catch :)

[ewagner]

5. What?

No Free Speech Zones ?????

[schultzee]

7. But rePIG bu$h puts Americans in barb wire "free speech pins"

[Hepburn]

9. What the fuck is Pickles wearing???

Geeeeeeeeeez: Jackie Kennedy, she ain't! Gad Zooks - what is that thing over her shoulders???? An upholstery remnant from the WH Blue Room????

[crossroads]

10. I couldn't believe my eyes either...

Maybe she's 'taking one for the team'...lol... ya know, taking the spotlight off doofus in anticipation of the next FU!
:wtf:

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. I think she took it off the table

I think she took it off the table in the press dining room on AF1. It really is a showing of her excellent taste. Now she smells like mustard and literally tastes like a wet dishrag.... suits her personality perfectly.

Click here for "HERO KERRY ZERO BUSH", "VETERAN KERRY AWOL BUSH" and other fair and balanced yet stunning, insulting, shocking, funny buttons, magnets and stickers

[ixion]

24. rofl... it really does look like a table cloth...

I've seen her wearing drapes, too. :freak:

[ixion]

23. she gets the award for worst dressed first lady of all time

I mean, I'm no fashion plate, but her outfits seem to be of conspciuosly poor taste. I mean really... don't they have someone who can help her?

[jokerman93]

48. Her dress style is intentional

I think Babs is dressed up by her handlers intentionally with a fashion conceit that is meant to suggest a kind of biblical swathing. Meant to suggest Ruth -- the good wife.

Everything with these people is a manipulative brain f*k.

[0007]

25. Ashcroft probably lent Laura sometime to cover herself for

religious dignitaries.

[Pachamama]

39. Fashion Nitpicking: Laura - your supposed to wear the "wrap" wrapped...

....and like a shawl, not like a bib or kerchief, but I guess you've gotten so used to tieing the bibs on Chimpy....

:evilgrin:

[abracadabra]

12. Protests are BANNED in France when * visits

isn't that a 'riot' !
No protests will be allowed in Paris when * is there...
And we all know how the French feel about our Dick Tater.
Italy is lucky their protests aren't banned.

[buldra]

13. disgusting

A senior administration official, speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Italy, said Bush was not troubled by the protests. "That's why they were liberated from fascism, so they can go into the streets and protest," the official said. "It's all a part of the democratic enterprise."

I'm Italian, and frankly speaking I find this declaration insulting and unacceptable.
Mr. Bush seems not to remember that Italy was democratic BEFORE the coming of the Americans. He seems to forget the Italian liberation movement called "resistenza" which took place moths before the coming of the americans. He seems to forget that the liberation of Italy lasted at least a whole year, and was made not only by American Forces but also by Italians rebels of the "resistenza", cities like Milan, Tourin and Genoa were all liberated before the coming of the U.S. troops by the partisans. And the partisans fought for a whole winter alone against the Nazis, ALONE. No U.S. troops to help them. In the village near my native place (Bologna) 1861 civilians were killed by the Nazis....AND MY FAMILY WAS THERE, AND I DON'T REMEMBER ANY FUKING U.S. SOLDIER TO PROTECT ANYONE OF THEM.
So thankyou for having liberated us, but you were not the only.
and Mr. Bush, please GO HOME AND READ A BOOK.
thanks

[CWebster]

28. The Mrs is still instructing her special charge

He can now "read" books with four word sentences and smaller pictures on the pages.

[Norquist Nemesis]

29. He didn't forget.

His entire administration knows it all too well. It's just that revising history is another trait they've acquired second nature so they can cue the noise machine to fight against attacks.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Wish we could get an enlargement of the photo in your CNN article

His eyes look very large, as if he's frightened. I've not seen a photo of him looking like this. He looks like a big, over-protected baby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a minute ago, at 5:00 a.m., EST, CBS Radio News said that _Bush is due to meet the Pope in one hour.

Also they said that Rome is threatened with massive demonstrations, and with crowds quite possibly trying to break through police blockades.

Could be interesting, for sure.

[Joanne98]

35. That scarf isn't THAT bad.

We should leave her alone and stay focused on him. She probably hates him as much as we do. I think we should make fun of his clothes. He keeps wearing bullet proof vests under his clothes to make his chest look bigger. That's alot funnier. :)

[Judi Lynn]

15. From the Guardian: Violence warning as Bush flies into Rome

Violence warning as Bush flies into Rome

Sophie Arie in Rome and Ewen MacAskill
Friday June 4, 2004
The Guardian

The US president, George Bush, flew into Rome last night as the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, expressed concern that anti-war marches today could end in violence.
Mr Berlusconi, in a broadcast carried live on Italian television, urged demonstrators to show restraint. He said he was "worried about the possible violence" and said that a police report assessing the situation "does not leave us calm".

Huge marches are planned in the capital in protest against the war in Iraq.
(snip)

But unprecedented security measures were being put into force yesterday in the Italian capital: 10,000 police will be deployed, airports will be closed this afternoon to clear airspace over the city, sewers have been searched and sealed and monuments will be manned by snipers.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1231270,00.html

[maddezmom]

16. from the AFP: A fortress-like Rome greets Bush

Rome - Police turned Rome into a fortress on Friday as anti-war protesters pledged to give United States President George Bush a heated reception during his 36-hour visit which includes talks with Pope John Paul II and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Carabinieri police saturated the historic city centre, with heavy concentrations of the paramilitary force along the main thoroughfares and piazzas, as well as bridges, rail stations and airports. Helicopters droned in the sky overhead.

The interior ministry said about 10 000 troops have been mobilised.

Early morning traffic in the city centre was notably lighter as many people stayed away from possible flashpoints. The US state department on Thursday issued a warning to American citizens living in Italy to stay away from crowded areas.

Around a thousand demonstrators arrived in Rome by train early on Friday to join the street protests scheduled for mid-afternoon, rail authorities said.

~snip~
more:http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=24&art_id=qw1086334740393I342&set_id=1

[PaDUer]

41. WHY are these countries

allowing * to get what he wants, no protestors, whatever they desire!!
* looked like the dummy he is while the pope was speaking! He's a disgrace to the world!

[Just Me]

43. Very cool!!! GO ITALIANS!!!

Wish I could be there!!! :bounce:

[buldra]

17. bush photos in italy

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[Judi Lynn]

19. Excellent images. They are wonderful.

He is very, very watchful, isn't he? I've never seen him that withdrawn, and lacking confidence. He's not his usual cocky self.

This is interesting. I do believe he looks afraid in a couple of them. Thanks for sharing this deeper look into his trip.

Welcome to DU, buldra. :hi: :hi: :hi:

[Kinkistyle]

33. You're right. He looks like a little kid.

It looks like Pickles is his mother and he is a 1st grader having to go out and say high to the "grown-ups".

[Joanne98]

36. He always looks like a little kid.

With his hand caught in the cookie jar.

[Pachamama]

40. No, more like deer caught in headlights...n/t

[llmart]

22. Oh, my.

This is what represents the US as our head of state? Gadzooks! What the hell is she wearing anyway? I know it's petty to pick on that, but I am definitely "fashion challenged" and I have better stuff in my closet than that! See what drugs can do to you children????

Get them both out of the WH!!!!

[Tellurian]

26. The images look Photoshopped...

If Bush left last night he would have been arriving in daylight in Italy.

[AspenRose]

49. Tape from BBC World last night showed the plane landing

at night as well.

[Malva Zebrina]

30. she is an embarrassment

whatever that atrocity tablecloth /bargain basement dollar a yard drape thing she is wearing looks even worse over that baggy, woebegone pants suit. If she is attempting to look a little formal, wearing the drapery over a denim pants suit is just gauche and embarrassing. Over a dress, it may have not looked so bizarre. His eyes are darting here and there and indeed he does look scared.

[Pachamama]

38. Hitler Arrives in Rome....

:grr:

Protest this insult Italy....sorry you have to have our garbage for the day....

[truthisfreedom]

18. let bush prove that he doesn't mind protests.

let him demand that protestors be front and center at every one of his taxpayer-paid whistle-stops. instead of behind a "free-speech" fence miles away.

[drfemoe]

20. *lol*

whoosh* is now the patron saint of "democratic enterprise" and "freedom" (and those who LOVE freedom). What a HOOT!! He doesn't begin to understand the first thing about FREEDOM. Loser takes all is not an effective picture of democracy in action.

[Tripmann]

21. So this is Domocracy in action?

I can't believe there are people dying to bring this brand of Freedom to the Iraqis. I guess we will see a similar story in most European cities, protestors not being allowed to show Bush what we think of his take on liberty.

Hopefully we can rely on our American friends to transpose our true disgust come election day!

Tripmann

[CWebster]

27. No cheering crowds lining the streets to welcome

the "liberator". No victory parades to greet.

Instead there are over 10,000 police to guard him from, more likely, a lynch mob.

[PaDUer]

42. WHY are they allowing

* to get his way?! Why deny the people their rights to protest these scums?! I remember an article from way back that said he wouldn't be permitted into other countries..They do NOT want him there, so WHY let him go wherever and stop the peoples will to protest the pukes?!

[Nlighten1]

31. Bush isn't troubled by the protests because...

he will NEVER see the protests...they are going to keep bubble boy surrounded by people that praise him.

[bitchkitty]

32. Capitalism, in a nutshell:

The last paragraph says it all:

"Shouldn't we expect that the rich and powerful organise things in their own interests. It's called capitalism."

Shouldn't we expect that our leaders value and revere everyone's life as well as their own? I'm no political or sociological expert, but it seems to me that there could be a nicer, more humane way of running the world.

[Joanne98]

37. Only a fascist would call Democracy

an "democratic enterprise. Fucking neo-cons!!!!!!!!x(

[ET Awful]

44. They really should change the headline. . .

Bush has NEVER faced protesters, he avoids them like the plague. According to reports I heard this morning, his motorcade was specifically planned so he didn't even SEE the protesters, let alone face them.

[dArKeR]

45. 'US credit was lost in Vietnam'

Rome - Under the watchful eyes of police, tens of thousands of Italian anti-war demonstrators marched through central Rome against the visit of American President George Bush, many waving peace banners and calling for the pullout of Italian troops in Iraq.

The protest drew 150 000 people, according to organisers. Police put the crowd at around 25 000.

Italy has deployed about 10 000 police to protect Bush and his entourage. Premier Silvio Berlusconi has said he is worried about the possibility of violence, and the US Embassy warned Americans to avoid the crowds.

http://iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=qw1086361924922B234&set_id=1

[dArKeR]

46. Bush, Pope meet at Vatican - Protests

Rome — Pope John Paul II reminded U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday of the Vatican's opposition to the war in Iraq and said the world has been troubled by recent “deplorable events,” an apparent reference to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops.


Sitting with the President, the Pope called for a speedy return of the country's sovereignty and said the recent appointment of an interim Iraqi government was an “encouraging step.”


“It is the evident desire of everyone that this situation now be normalized as quickly as possible with the active participation of the international community and, in particular, the United Nations Organization, in order to ensure a speedy return of Iraq's sovereignty, in conditions of security for all its people,” the Pope said.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040604.wbush0604/BNStory/International/

[yellowcanine]

47. The Italians know a fascist when they see one.

.