Bush defends Sharon from rare campaign-trail attack

[Nambe]

NASHUA, United States (AFP)

US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) staunchly defended Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from a surprising attack at a Bush campaign event in this battleground state.


Bush also recommitted himself to the internationally drawn "roadmap" to Middle East peace and blamed the Palestinian leadership for stalled efforts to create an independent Palestinian state living at peace with Israel.

"Ariel Sharon is a duly elected official in a democracy," said the US president. "We would hope that the Palestinians would have that same kind of democracy, which would lead to a more peaceful world."

A young woman had asked Bush in a question-and-answer forum how he could have called Sharon "'a man of peace' if he causes death and torture among innocent Palestinians."

"That's a good question," he said. "First of all, Ariel Sharon is defending his country against terrorist attack, just like we all are," Bush said, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd. ..

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[LauraK]

1. That little blurb has been in the works for a while.

There is no way dimson wrote that script.

[KittyWampus]

2. Actually, Sharon Is Both Causing AND Using The Terrorist Attacks

to further his own radical, self-serving agenda... just like Bush.

Sharon and Likud are NOT ISRAEL.

[DS1]

3. Questions = Attacks + Attacks = Terrorists

Bush survives Terrorist Attack in home state!!!

[ewagner]

4. What makes you think

that question was a plant and not an attack?

The response was too well rehearsed. It probably had a dual purpose:

first, Get the question out in the public rather than have it whispered, and;

Second, to demonstrate that Bush doesn't get all Softball quesions in the "Ask the President" forum.

My guess: Planted

[Lerkfish]

5. I agree...there's no way anyone CAPABLE of asking that Q...

would be allowednear a microphone in one of those events, unless it was a plant.

[Cocoa]

6. I always assume it's planted

in this case, I assume it's related to the spy story.

[IA_Seth]

7. rraaaaaaallllph

"His name is ralph man" (anyone love that movie)

Anyway, this makes me sick! Israel is a democracy now? When did that happen?