Those comments in full
For those who want to see President Bush say "shit," the video of the event can be found at Crooks and Liars. The BBC has a transcript of the complete comments, and Juan Cole offers his take on what was said:So, the whole blow-up is Syria's fault, for putting Hizbullah up to making mischief. No reference to Israeli actions in Gaza. No reference to, like, the wholesale destruction of Lebanon by the Israeli air force. And no blame for the Lebanese government of Fouad Siniora.
[...]
It is an astonishingly simple-minded view of the situation, painted in black and white and making assumptions about who is who's puppet and what the Israeli motivations are. Israel doesn't appear as a protagonist. It is purely reactive. Stop provoking it, and it suddenly stops its war.
[...]
It is a little window into the superficial, one-sided mind of the man, who has for six years been way out of his depth.
I come away from it shaken and trembling.
As do we all.
[edit] Interestingly, from the conversation it also seems like Blair has bought into the idea that a successful, democratic Iraq will cause middle eastern governments to "domino" into democracy. Now, setting aside the fact that I don't believe that Iraq is heading for democracy (more like anarchy), I think the domino effect is a hopelessly naive idea. It's also a very American idea, based upon the American founding myth and associated ideas, but it's not one that really has any sort of traction in Britain. It shows just how far outside of the British mainstream he is, and how.. dazzled, perhaps, he is with Bush. Very depressing - he has to go, and soon.
[...]
It is an astonishingly simple-minded view of the situation, painted in black and white and making assumptions about who is who's puppet and what the Israeli motivations are. Israel doesn't appear as a protagonist. It is purely reactive. Stop provoking it, and it suddenly stops its war.
[...]
It is a little window into the superficial, one-sided mind of the man, who has for six years been way out of his depth.
I come away from it shaken and trembling.
As do we all.
[edit] Interestingly, from the conversation it also seems like Blair has bought into the idea that a successful, democratic Iraq will cause middle eastern governments to "domino" into democracy. Now, setting aside the fact that I don't believe that Iraq is heading for democracy (more like anarchy), I think the domino effect is a hopelessly naive idea. It's also a very American idea, based upon the American founding myth and associated ideas, but it's not one that really has any sort of traction in Britain. It shows just how far outside of the British mainstream he is, and how.. dazzled, perhaps, he is with Bush. Very depressing - he has to go, and soon.