South Korean president goes at it with Bush

Korean president Roh Moo-hyun's frustration over the US' policy towards North Korea reached a boiling point during a press conference with President Bush on Friday:

The tense moments with Roh came as the leaderseach made statements to reporters after their meeting. Roh concludedhis by questioning why Bush hadn't mention the issue of the war's end.

"I might be wrong. I think I did not hearPresident Bush mention a declaration to end the Korean War just now,"Roh said through an interpreter. "Did you say so, President Bush?"

"It's up to Kim Jong Il," Bush said.

Roh pressed on. "If you could be a little bitclearer," he said, prompting nervous laughter from the U.S. delegationand a look of annoyance from Bush.

Of course, the White House quickly backtracked:

The White House acted quickly to downplay the awkward exchange.National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe, said "there wasclearly something lost in translation during the photo op."

Didn't look like it to me.

Even though the South Korean President's exchange with Bush may have irked the older generation in his country, since they have always been warm to US policy, it underscores how lonely the US is in the world community.  Britain is withdrawing from Iraq.  South Korea is now angry.  Japan and Australia might be Bush's biggest allies.  However, the anti-war protests in Australia all week long will put pressure on Prime Minister John Howard to distance himself from Bush.

Comments

[Jon]

Bush being an idiot can't be lost in translation. Its like music and beautiful sunsets, universally understood.