A woman displayed pictures of President Bush and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Myung-bak, yesterday in Seoul. (JEON HYEONG-JIN/AFP/Getty Images)
"In Seoul, mixed reactions to Bush; Leaders stress an important partnership" by Ben Feller, Associated Press | August 6, 2008
SEOUL - President Bush was greeted in Asia with dueling demonstrations by prayerful, flag- waving supporters as well as raucous protesters doused by police water cannons yesterday, reflecting sharp political divisions at the outset of his three-nation trip.
The mixed reactions reflected a US-South Korean relationship that has endured volatile moments this year, but is still considered reliable and vital for both sides.
Bush will meet today with President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative, pro-American leader who took office in February. Lee's approval ratings tumbled when he lifted a ban on US beef despite public fears about its safety. The public outcry prompted street protests that drew attention worldwide earlier this year; Bush held off visiting Seoul around that time because of the unrest.
Those protests drew LIMITED attention in my Zionist War Daily, let me assure you!!
As Bush arrived yesterday evening, 30,000 people held an outdoor Christian prayer service to support him. His motorcade sped by pockets of people smiling and waving US flags.
Later, an estimated 20,000 anti-Bush protesters gathered downtown. Riot police blasted them with water cannons as they tried to march onto the main boulevard. Police warned the crowd that the liquid contained markers to tag them so that they could be identified later.
About 70 demonstrators were arrested downtown and 12 more were arrested near the military airport where Bush landed, police said.
"I don't have anti-US sentiment. I'm just anti-Bush and anti-Lee Myung-bak," said Uhm Ki-woong, 36, a businessman who was wearing a mask and hat like other demonstrators in an apparent attempt to conceal his identity from authorities.
Despite the protests, the United States has a good standing with the Seoul government. The United States has maintained a long-term troop presence in South Korea, now numbered at almost 30,000, since the 1950-1953 Korean war.
"The United States made sacrifices for South Korea during the Korean war and helped us live well," said Kim Jung-kwang, a 67-year-old retired air force colonel who wore his military uniform to the prayer rally. "The United States is not our enemy. Without the US, we will die."
Oh, come on now!!! You will DIE?!!
Bush is on his ninth trip to Asia; this one is built around the Olympics in Beijing. Bush also will stop in Thailand.
The White House anticipated protests over the beef issue but sought to put them in perspective. US beef has begun appearing again on the South Korean market and is selling.
The US-South Korea bond has had other tests this year, too.
A trade deal Bush wants with South Korea has been buried by Congress. And a seemingly obscure change in how the US classifies a set of islands drew widespread anger in South Korea, prompting Bush officials to abruptly reverse course.
Whatever the flash points, Bush and Lee are likely to emphasize the bigger picture - an increasingly prominent partnership that both nations need.
The countries are at the heart of an international effort to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons. Bush has indicated he will remove North Korea from the US terror blacklist, but not unless Pyongyang allows its dismantlement effort to be verified.
The White House is tamping down expectations about an Aug. 11 date by which North Korea is expected to agree to an inspection proposal.
Bush comes with thanks to South Korea for contributing help in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was expected to ask Lee for more troops in Afghanistan, where violence is on the rise."Why save that for last, war-promoting press?
Come to think of it, how come there are no VIOLENCE REPORTS from the WAR FRONTS in my AMERIKAN WAR DAILY TODAY?
Sigh.
