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| Three Guys in a Dinner Jacket |
| 2006-09-28 |
| Before they sat down with President Bush for a peacemaking dinner at the White House, the bickering leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan shook hands with their host but not with each other. If the head of Waziristan had been there they might have broken the ice with a game of bridge. Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whom Bush considers key bulwarks against Islamic radicalism in a volatile region, barely looked at one another as Bush appealed for cooperation against the common enemy of terrorism. At least they're more open and honest than the French. "I look forward to having dinner with friends of mine who don't happen to share the same faith I do but nevertheless share the same outlook for a more hopeful world," Bush said in a brief Rose Garden appearance before Wednesday's light dinner of soup, sea bass and salad. Soup and salad. Yum. W must have thought he was in Crawford. After the private meal, the White House issued a bland statement that called the session a "constructive exchange" but outlined no new agreements or initiatives. The White House did not make any officials available for questions. I guess that means no food was thrown. But it's hard to have a food fight with soup and salad. Maybe that explains the menu. "They committed to supporting moderation and defeating extremism through greater intelligence sharing, coordinated action against terrorists, and common efforts to enhance the prosperity of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan," the statement from press secretary Tony Snow said. That Tony is such a card. Karzai says Musharraf turns a blind eye to hatred and extremism being bred at Islamic schools in Pakistan. At one point, Musharraf said Karzai is behaving "like an ostrich," refusing to acknowledge the truth and trying to shore up his political standing at home. Just one big, happy family. Maybe we should start calling W Captain Andy. The heated accusations had put the White House in the middle, and Bush clearly thought it was time to clear the air. We'll have no more of this bickering or you'll both be sent to your rooms right now with nothing more to eat. Standing between the pair, Bush emphasized "the need to cooperate, to make sure that people have got a hopeful future" in both countries. He stole that line from Big Bird The Afghan and Pakistani leaders stood stiffly on either side of Bush as he spoke without notes or a lectern. Musharraf was tightlipped, hands clasped awkwardly before him. Karzai nodded agreeably as Bush spoke. Neither of the foreign leaders spoke. Mushariff wants to be somewhere else checking out how the book is doing on Amazon. Karzai knows he has to keep up the Eddie Haskell act if he's going to keep getting his allowance. "Today's dinner is a chance for us to strategize together" and find common solutions, Bush said. Riiight. I wonder if they used those plastic place mats with maps of the border area so they could draw invasion plans with grease pencils between courses. This is arguably the most important event that occurred yesterday. That this is all the news released about it seems ominous to me. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #7 Karzai is great. Perv(ert) is a bullshit merchant. End of story |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-09-28 18:27 |
| #6 A little poker night? The article in WOT re the increase in attacks in Afghanistan since the little Waziristan ceasefire never mentioned? No CIA home videos? Couple of brandys and cigars? What? |
| Posted by: john 2006-09-28 15:35 |
| #5 Today's dinner is a chance for us to strategize together" and find common solutions, Bush said. I swear that when I first read that sentence, I thought it said "strategerize" |
| Posted by: Chinter Flarong9283 2006-09-28 13:41 |
| #4 Karzai knows he's right. So do Bush and Perv... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-09-28 13:21 |
| #3 The more I hear from this guy, including his smackdown of Jennifer Lefty the Ap Reporter, the more I like him. "Karzai says Musharraf turns a blind eye to hatred and extremism being bred at Islamic schools in Pakistan." |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2006-09-28 12:59 |
| #2 Bush plays Mo in 'Three Stooges Paint the House White'. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-09-28 09:38 |
| #1 funny comments - but the Eddie Haskell part was unfair. Karazi is a stud. |
| Posted by: anon 2006-09-28 08:58 |