Be Nice To The Prez When He Visits

U.S. Expats in UK Hit by Wave of \'Anti-Bushism\'
Thu Nov 13, 8:12 AM ET Add World - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - The British abandoned their stiff upper lips and hugged Americans after 9/11. Now much of that goodwill has evaporated and the blame is being laid firmly at the door of George W. Bush.

After the twin tower attacks, a military band broke with tradition and played the American national anthem at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Less than 18 months later, one million people took to London\'s streets to protest against the forthcoming U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites).

Now with President Bush (news - web sites) heading to these shores next week to see Tony Blair (news - web sites) for what should have been a triumphal reunion with his closest ally, the 200,000 Americans living in London are reflecting on how times have changed.

They recall with wonder how the British dropped their innate reserve after the attacks on September 11, 2001.

But now, after wars in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq where British and Americans fought side by side, they face a wave not of anti-Americanism but anti-Bushism.

"It\'s tougher being an American in London than it used to be. Our President has made it so," said Newsweek Magazine\'s London correspondent Stryker McGuire.

"Even among friendly Britons, there\'s a growing skepticism about the gun-toting, electric-chairing land that has let Dubya be Dubya for nigh on three years now.

"Blair and Bush definitely are the odd couple," he added. "Take the issue of religion -- Blair doesn\'t wear his religion on his sleeve like Bush does."

And Bush is accused of turning his back on Europe.

"There is a sense in Europe that he hasn\'t paid enough attention to the French and Germans. A lot of people would argue the French and Germans were right on Iraq," he added.

Christine Swanson, back home after taking the kids on the morning run to school, said: "I am frustrated. As horrible as September 11 was, it was a real opportunity to move forward in a positive way.

"There was a lot of goodwill to tap into and it took the incredible talent of George Bush to piss it all away in two years."

Almost 25 years after she first called London home, Pennsylvania-born Virginia Schultz vividly recalls the days after 9/11. "People were hugging me in the street. I thought the way they reacted then was wonderful."

"Right now there is strong anti-Americanism and I compare it to the Vietnam War. Bush has been targeted as the villain in all of this. I think he is even more unpopular than Nixon was."

The New York Times \' London correspondent Warren Hoge told Reuters: "America is now something of a rogue state, a pariah nation."

"People repeatedly say it isn\'t Americans we don\'t like, it is just Bush. He pushes hot buttons. Bush has so much to do with this rather stupendous fall-off in American popularity. It is quite amazing to think where we were the day after September 11 and how much of that goodwill has been squandered."

Film-maker Paul Berczeller, a New Yorker now living in London, agreed: "The groundswell of goodwill has definitely evaporated. It was a real missed opportunity.

"As an American living in Europe, I have tried to explain back home how negatively Americans are viewed in Europe."

Banker Eleanor Hope-Bell felt overt support had subsided. "The motivation to say something to someone in the street or the immediate need to act on your emotions isn\'t there."

But Anglo-American ties, she argued, are deep-seated. "When you think about World War II, that will never go away, the brotherhood will never go away."

[Kurt Angle]

*Waits patiently on grassy knowl caressing sniper rifle*

*Ace runs to the phone to call the secret service*

I\'ll be there!



Ok, not really

We all know where there brains are, don\'t we?


By the way, why did the eat ush? And what is ush, anyway?

Bad angle, it says "We hate Bush", I saw it on tv.

Btw, I dont sympathise with ATAC, Reclaim the streets or some other rubbish anarchist organisation. I just thought the picture was funny.

Lets not forget what happened that day, BANG.. Ooops
http://www.sosialistiliitto.org/gbg/kuvat/poliisit_ampuu.JPG

Everything is falling into place for a VERY interesting 2004.

Yes, that is when Bush will declare martial law, call off the elections, make himself president for life and best of all round up all the whiny liberals in this country

[Titan]

I really wouldn\'t be suprised if Bush got assassinated by the end of his election. He won\'t get relected that for sure.

Be Nice To The Prez When He Visits

ha ha thats the funnyest thing i have read ALL year

Originally posted by ooseven
Be Nice To The Prez When He Visits

ha ha thats the funnyest thing i have read ALL year

You do know that I posted this with you in mind.

I wish him many projectiles, I also hope that at some point his guards have to pile him into a car quickly and run away, just little thing\'s that\'ll bruise him and piss him off.

He\'s not welcome, in fact, I hope Air Force One crashes on its way over the pond.

Edit : I don\'t really want serious riots here, that\'d look bad and be pointless, all he\'ll do is run away and not see the proper protestors. Eggs, rotten fruit and unwanted children all count as small projectiles that you could throw at him. At least if AF1 crashed over the Atlantic it wouldn\'t be our fault.

So either bruises or a full out crash. I thought you dudes were all loving and peaceful. Guess not.

We can be loving and peaceful, but would you turn around to one of the men f*cking you in the ass against your will and say thank-you?

Thought not.

Not saying to say thank you if you disagree with him. Wanting him dead is sick!