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Schlock & Awe — Why Now?
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Schlock & Awe

by Bryan

Since annoying the people caught in his quagmire wasn’t enough: Bush attends APEC summit after brief Iraq visit. The city of Sydney, Australia is in full lock-down for three days for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC] forum.

Bush also is scheduled to meet with leaders from Japan, China, Russia and South Korea. Some have dubbed this year’s APEC the “China summit,” a reference to Beijing’s rising influence.

“Is this a China summit? The answer is absolutely not,” Bush said.

Yeah, right. Via Watertiger and Best of Both Worlds we find the press release from the office of the Governor-General of Australia, the Queen’s representative and ceremonial head of government, noting:

On Tuesday, 4 September 2007, at Defence Establishment Fairbairn, ACT, Their Excellencies the Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC and Mrs Marlena Jeffery attended the Ceremonial Arrival of the President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Hu Jintao.
…

Later, the Governor-General was represented at Sydney International Airport at the arrival in Australia of the President of the United States of America, the Honourable George W. Bush, by Colonel Bill Monfries, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

The Chinese got a state dinner, I hope someone thought to give Colonel Monfries a few bucks for the drive-thru on the way to the motel where the Shrubbery will probably be housed. Those military pensions don’t stretch as far as they did.

Actually the Colonel has done this more than once, on 27 April 2005:

Later, at Sydney International Airport, New South Wales, the Governor-General was represented at the departure from Australia of Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho, Queen of the Kingdom of Tonga, by Colonel Bill Monfries, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

The Shrubbery’s not really a totally lame duck [quack, quack, thump…quack, quack, thump…quack, quack, thump]…yeah, right, and I’m sure the Palace didn’t suggest that he should not receive his full due after trashing the Queen Mum’s garden.

2 comments

1 andante { 09.05.07 at 4:05 pm }

I remember the good old days, when the President of the United States was greeted by the head of state, feted at state dinners & glittering receptions, and cheered by admiring multitudes waving American flags.

I hope they forget to give the colonel fast-food money and George goes hungry.

2 Bryan { 09.05.07 at 5:04 pm }

Actually, he and his 700 closest friends stayed at the Intercontinental, but there was a bit a problem as, after all of the elaborate security sweeps and check points, two Australian brothers were discovered sitting in the lobby having a couple of drinks. They were from out of town, and came in for dinner and a brew before catching the train home. They must have been in the mens room when all this sweeping went on.

700 people, a 20 car caravan, a fleet of airplanes, and people wonder why were are broke.