Mandela giving Bush another tongue lashing about categorical imperatives and the moral obligations of his office – in Bush’s own Oval office!
President Bush is notorious for holding grudges and exacting revenge. (Just ask his family’s unauthorized biographer Kitty Kelly.) Indeed, many people suspect that these very emotions motivated his war against Saddam Hussein.
But there are at least 2 people on this planet who seem exempt from Bush’s wrath – no matter how much they offend him. In fact, they are the only people that are known to have called this President of the United States an idiot and have him remain solicitous of their respect and good grace: one of them is his mother, and the other is Nelson Mandela – the former President of South Africa.
In Mandela’s case, not only did he rebuke Bush in the harshest (and very personal) terms for invading Iraq but he added insult to injury by heaping praises on Bush’s nemesis Jacque Chirac – in the same breath – for opposing that war.
Yet there was Bush yesterday being reprimanded like an unruly child and seeking brownie points by promising Mandela the moon for his various foundations to fight HIV/AIDS and educate African children.
Thank you for bringing such moral clarity to the arena of international politics Comrade Madiba.
But never mind his transgressions, just pretend you’re a catholic bishop and take Bush for all the cash you can get….
Amandla!
News and Politics
Anonymous says
And what was the outcome of the reprimanding? How much has Bush pledged for these charitable foundations and for the development of Africa?