Bush Celebrates Israel's Birthday Amid Rocket Fire

by Phil Skipper | May 14, 2008 at 05:01 pm | 336 views | 10 comments

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in Israel

President George Bush was doing his best to put a happy face on an unhappy situation in Palestine. I'm not sure how he can do any good with everyone knowing he's soon on his way out.

JERUSALEM (AP) -- President Bush put an optimistic face on fading hopes for Mideast peace Wednesday, declaring that Israel's 60-year triumph over war and tragedy shows democracy can succeed everywhere. But Bush's upbeat message was marred by rocket fire from Gaza and threats of heavy retaliation by Israel.

Intended as an occasion for celebrating Israel's birthday, Bush's visit instead brought bursts of fresh violence, ominous warnings and disputed claims that Israel plans to expand settlement activity in the West Bank, a development that could undermine peace talks with Palestinians. It appeared that all sides were vying for the president's attention.

Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed the peace process and threats to Israel's security - only to learn that a rocket fired from Gaza had hit a crowded shopping center in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. At least 14 people were wounded. Two militant groups, the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad and the Hamas-linked Popular Resistance Committees, claimed responsibility.

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amyjudd

at 17:07 on May 14th, 2008

good stuff:

Phil Skipper, I like this story. He never seems to get it right does he?

moonwolf

at 17:52 on May 14th, 2008

good stuff:

Phil,

Though this may come in the form of an unsupportable email I think this says it all about the reason for George's trip to Israel:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Laura Bush" <laurab@whitehouse.gov>
To: <bellringer@fourwinds10.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:22
PM
Subject: Siterun Contact Request from Linlar
Services

Siterun Contact Request from Laura
Bush.

[TO PATRICK BELLRINGER]

Sender Message:

I can no longer stand by and watch my husband
[President G.W. Bush] destroy our world. So, I'm writing this note to you in
the hopes that this will get out. This trip to the Middle East is a complete
sham. He is going to Israel to finalize the war with Iran. As soon as my
husband and I get back to the US, he will attack and destroy about 80% of the
country [of Iran] and it's people. My consciousness to God and my country is
telling me something is terribly wrong here. God, I pray that this man I
married will not try to kill me or those people. I know that this may sound
crazy , but from reading your site, I think you can understand. I realize now
that he has gone insane, and I worry for me, my daughters, this country, and the
world. Please help me in getting this message out to the
world.

Laura Bush

politisite

at 22:18 on May 14th, 2008

You don't really believe this email do you? Her address is first.lady@whitehouse.gov not laurab@whitehouse.gov. BTW she is in Jerusalem as she visited some sites today

politisite

at 21:56 on May 14th, 2008

good stuff:

Phil Skipper, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Drew Bulman

at 22:30 on May 14th, 2008

Moonwolf, now you're just being silly.

cyb3rvoyag3r

at 23:02 on May 14th, 2008

Yes but I have Pope Ratzingers "magic wands"!

cyb3rvoyag3r has contributed a photo to this story.

azzayindia

at 00:14 on May 15th, 2008

good stuff:

Phil Skipper, I like this story. It's good stuff.

afshinrattansi

at 05:19 on May 15th, 2008

Looking North over Tehran towards the Alborz Mountains. February, 2008.

afshinrattansi has contributed a photo to this story.

Phil Skipper

at 17:31 on May 16th, 2008

Thanks for all the comments. Not sure about the Laura email though (;

trodas

at 17:54 on May 18th, 2008

An Israeli policeman stands smiling and pointing next to the body of 16-year-old Sabri Fayez al-Rujoub, who has just been shot dead by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank city of Hebron; 14 Feb 2005. (Reuters/Nayef Hashlamoun).

trodas has contributed a photo to this story.