At 07:34 AM 7/27/01 -0700 Jim Sharkey wrote:
>can our President really make a statement like that in good
>consience when he clearly doesn't give one rat's whisker what the rest of
>this civilization thinks, or when he's made it clear that he's unwilling to
>even discuss certain topics?
>
>I just wonder what context that quote was made in, and if anyone else finds
>it ironic at all.
I would like to say that "yes", the President most definitely can.
The context of the speech, as forwarded, is partly a challenge to the very
prominent isolationist wing of America, and to a degree, the isolationist
wing of his own Party. It was in part about Bush affirming that America
has a role to play in supporting Western Civilization throughout the World.
Additionally, it was also a poignant message to the Polish people, that the
West will not abandon them this time, like we have so many times in the
past. I know that it now seems rather blase that Poland is already in
NATO, and is all-but a member of the EU - but historically speaking, this
is still a huge advance. Indeed, the question of NATO expansion produced
a rather bitter debate in this country less than a decade ago.
JDG
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
We are products of the same history, reaching from Jerusalem and
Athens to Warsaw and Washington. We share more than an alliance.
We share a civilization. - George W. Bush, Warsaw, 06/15/01
