Bush Seeks to Restore Tattered U.S. Image With Heavy ‘08 Travel
Why does Bush need to restore tatterd U.S image if his nation building plan is working?
B- President George W. Bush’s diplomatic passport will acquire a slew of new country stamps during his final year in office as he tries to rebuild the U.S.’s international standing and create a foreign-policy legacy beyond Iraq.
The president plans trips to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America, which would make 2008 his busiest year abroad. While his major domestic initiatives may get stalled by a Democratic majority in Congress and the gridlock caused by election-year politics, he still has an opportunity to exert his influence overseas.
“When it comes to foreign policy, he’s not a lame duck; he can do a lot,” said Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, who served as director of policy planning at the State Department until June 2003.
Bush, 61, came into the White House promising a humble foreign policy and eschewing nation-building and foreign entanglements. That changed after the Sept. 11 attacks, when he adopted a style supporters hail as visionary and critics call cowboy diplomacy.
While the president will strive to strengthen alliances, it won’t come at the expense of continuing to prosecute the war on terror, said Jim Jeffrey, the deputy White House national security adviser.
“We want to be well-perceived in the world,” Jeffrey said in an interview. “But more importantly, we want to formulate policies that will protect the American people.”
Every president in his 8th year focuses on foreign policy (especially if the other party controls congress)…this is no different than his predecessors.
Bart
Talking Points……
No John, the truth…look it up starting with your fav Bill Clinton and his failed Mid East peace legacy attempts ‘99-’00.
Truth of the matter is that if Bush were really interested in repairing our image he would stay home. Everytime he goes out to other countries they start wondering even more why we have such an idiot representing us. Perhaps if he goes to Germany, this time he can keep his hands off Merkel.
You mean countries like Bulgaria and Albania — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qs42mjFD-4
Funny how you myrmidons just fall for whatever rhetoric the MSM feeds you — “America’s reputation severely damaged by Bush presidency…” — BS!
When the rest of the world needs help, who do they turn to…not Russia, not Germany, not China….no, America. So you can pontificate all you want about Bush destroying our reputation, but ample evidence is available to prove otherwise.
Bart
I never voted for Bill you are the one who supports Hillary on trade, immigration, spending, Iraq, Iran……
As a little side note some are saying he had his watch stolen in Albania.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q__P1jqaGqg
Will Bush be traveling to Pakistan?