Bush, Merkel hold ranch talks on Iran, Afghanistan

Source: AFP

CRAWFORD, Texas (AFP) — US President George W. Bush welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to his Texas ranch for two-day talks on issues like Iran and Afghanistan, with barbecue and maybe a hike on the menu.

Bush and Merkel -- who joined an elite group of world leaders invited to the "Prairie Chapel" property -- were expected to showcase diplomatic efforts to confront Tehran over what the West suspects may be a nuclear weapons program.

"In Texas, when you invite somebody to your home, it's an expression of warmth and respect. And that's how I feel about Chancellor Merkel," said Bush, who he hoped for "constructive talks as well as a chance to relax and visit."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to be on hand Saturday to discuss the Middle East peace process, as well as efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, Kosovo's future, pressure on Myanmar, and Lebanon's political crisis.

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gaa3pF72evL6o11WX9yJOiIwfVPw

"In Texas, when you invite somebody to your home, it's an expression of warmth and respect.

Every where else in amurika, you invite someone to your home to waterboard them!, right??? :eyes: :sarcasm:

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Has Emily Post been ressurected and is attempting to give idiot-boy lessons? Too bad Babs & Poppy didn't train their 'little guy' George very weill in the first place.....

Bush was also expected to take Merkel on a tour, because "he's fond of taking visitors around and showing off the ranch," said the spokesman. "It should be a nice day tomorrow."

According to a menu released by the White House, they were to dine on citrus and arugula salad with shaved parmesan; pecan-smoked beef tenderloin with sauteed mushrooms, green chili-cheese grits souffle, and roasted asparagus; and Prairie Chapel Pecan Pie with Blue Bell ice cream.

hank hill loves arugala

Cheeseburger pizza with peanutbutter and honey sandwiches.

At the kids' table.

Prairie Chapel is the name of the ranch.

How about Monterrey Jacques Frommage Grits souffle?

I wonder how enchanted Angela was by "the ranch"?

That maybe, possibly, it will be a German-right-winger telling an American not to invade a country and to stop killing all those semitic people...

is a repeat of the neck rub.No time is scheduled,it will be a spontaneous act performed while the press is present and designed to subtly reinforce who the leader of the free world is. Done with a lot of warmth, though not necessarily respect.

in putting pressure on companies doing business with Tehran. Contracts are being cancelled...this is the
same pattern as pre-Iraq!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2208219,00.html


WORLD MEDIA WATCH

Summaries are excerpted from the source articles; the featured article follows the summary section.

1//The Guardian, UK
WASHINGTON TELLS EU FIRMS: QUIT IRAN NOW

Multinational companies are coming under increasing pressure from the US to stop doing business with Iran because of its nuclear programme. European operators are facing threats from Washington that they could jeopardise their US interests by continuing to deal with Tehran, with increasing evidence that European governments, mainly France, Germany and Britain, are supporting the US campaign. It emerged last night that Siemens, one of the world's largest engineering groups and based in Germany, has pulled out of all new business dealings with Iran after pressure from the US and German governments. This follows the decision by Germany's three biggest banks, Deutsche, Commerzbank, and Dresdner, to quit Iran after a warning from US vice-president Dick Cheney that if firms remain in Tehran, they are going to have problems doing business in the US. The Foreign Office, while sympathising with City firms, has privately backed the US warnings in recent weeks, telling companies such as Shell and BP of the risks of continuing business with Iran. The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has urged French energy firms Total and GDF not to pursue new business in Iran. Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, is joining him in pressing for new sanctions, probably at EU level. ... If economic sanctions fail to have an impact by next year, pressure will mount from Mr Cheney to launch air strikes against Iran. The under-secretary for political affairs at the US state department, Nicholas Burns, and the under-secretary at the Treasury, Stuart Levey, have made frequent trips to Europe to warn companies they face the loss of American business if they continue to deal with Iran.

“Does it concern you,” the man asked, stuttering, “that the Beirut airport has been bombed, and do you see a risk of triggering a wider war? And on Iran, they’ve so far refused to respond. Is it now past the deadline, or do they still have more time to respond?”

“I thought,” Bush replied, “you were going to ask about the pig.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/magazine/17satire.html?_r=1&pagewanted=6&oref=slogin

feet away from Bu$h so he couldn't grab her again, but she still looked like she was going to bolt

if you google "Hotels in Crawford," you see you have to drive to the next town or on to Waco to get a hotel.

Lordy, I wouldn't "want to be her".....there's always the nearby 'peace house'. There she wouldn't need to be afraid....Ms. Merkel would be well cared for and in 'good'/interesting company, no doubt.

Peace,
M_Y_H