Better late than never: Bush to go to Vietnam

It won't be quite the same as it was in the 1960s or even the 1970s, when George W. Bush was protecting Alabama's Crimson Tide from the Communist Red Tide.

Hostilities ceased 30 years ago, so it should be safe landing for the nation's Chickenhawk-in-Chief when he goes to Vietnam in 2006.

Details from the press pool briefing, via Wonkette:

From:XXXXX@list.whitehouse.gov On Behalf Of White House Press Releases
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 11:42 AM
Subject: POOL REPORT #1, 6/21/05

Pool Report No. 1
June 21, 2005

President Bush’s meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai

Oval Office

With a large, boisterous anti-communist demonstration going on outside the front gates of the White House, one of the largest pools in recent history waited outside the Oval Office for 45 minutes while Bush and the P.M. (first from Vietnam to visit the U.S. in 30 years) talked for about 50 minutes inside. The Vietnamese photogs took pictures of each other and the sprinklers dousing the South Lawn. Curiously, they paid little attention to Miss Beazley, the first lady’s Scottish terrier, freely roaming the patio.

As the pool crowded into the office, Bush said there would be two statements and said the two men talked about the economic relationship, Vietnam going into the WTO, security, mutual cooperation in the war on terror, the fight against HIV/AIDS and returning the remains of U.S. soldiers who fought in the war. Bush announced he will go to Vietnam in 2006 when it hosts the APEC meeting. Consecutive translations.

The prime minister, with his own translator, read a prepared statement and said his visit shows the U.S./Vietnam relationship has “entered a new stage.” He noted this is the tenth anniversary of diplomatic relations and said his country’s 80 million people offer a “huge market for American businesses.” He said he is building Vietnam into a “strong country with wealthy people and a democratic society.”

After his statement, aides immediately ushered pool out -- clearly no questions were wanted. And there was nobody seated on either sofa.

Note: Cell phone went off while the P.M. was speaking. The president stared straight ahead. Another cell phone went off in a second event later in the Old EOB and Bush later made a point of mentioning to an aide that he was irked. The aide told the sound technician with the offending device that that cell phones not on vibrate are rude.

Ann McFeatters
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Toledo Blade