CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, during a discussion of President Bush’s recent trip to the Middle East on Monday’s "American Morning," cited her discussion with unnamed "analysts and experts," and concluded " it's hard to discern any evidence of any success on this trip whatsoever." "American Morning" substitute co-host Kyra Phillips, following-up to Amanpour’s analysis, remarked, "Well, critics have come forward and said, okay, whether it's his policies in Iraq, Lebanon, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he's failed everywhere."
The three-minute segment, which was the last in the 6 am Eastern hour of the CNN program, came after a report by CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman, which summarized the President’s trip. Amanpour, in response to Phillips’ "failed everywhere" statement, gave a more nuanced take on President Bush’s foreign policy track record. "Well, events have moved beyond anybody's expectations and control.... If you look in Lebanon, the elected U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is not in control. Hamas is in control because it has a superiority -- rather Hezbollah, in terms of weapons. So the U.S.-backed allies there are not in control, basically, only in name only and de facto."
In her final question to Amanpour, Phillips continued her dour take on the Bush record. "And so is it him, is it his advisors? I mean, a lot of people are saying, he's got to do something for his legacy. He's got this Iraq war that's just tarnished his image and the Republican Party, but he continues to come home empty-handed. So can he even win?"
Amanpour replied, "Well, it's about policy, many of the analysts are saying. Policy is being pursued that has not paid off, in terms of the ends that presumably were imagined." She then concluded by going back to the issue of Lebanon, specifically, talking about the recent flare-up between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah.
The full transcript of the Amanpour/Phillips segment from Monday’s "American Morning:"
KYRA PHILLIPS: CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour joining us now. Did he [President Bush] achieve anything on this five-day tour?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Well, having talked around with analysts and experts over the weekend, it's hard to discern any evidence of any success on this trip whatsoever. He was in Israel and all those who I have been talking to who are working on that -- diplomats and others who are working on that issue feel that no progress was made there and that there's probably very little, if any chance of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of this year as the President has repeatedly said would happen.
PHILLIPS: I'm sorry go ahead. Well, critics have come forward and said, okay, whether it's his policies in Iraq, Lebanon, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he's failed everywhere.
AMANPOUR: Well, events have moved beyond anybody's expectations and control. If you look at the Palestinian territories, the elected President, Mahmoud Abbas, is not in control. The Hamas group are in control. If you look in Lebanon, the elected U.S- backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is not in control. Hamas is in control because it has a superiority -- rather Hezbollah, in terms of weapons. So the U.S.-backed allies there are not in control, basically, only in name only and de facto. The President made a speech during the 60th anniversary celebrations of Israel's founding in the Knesset. What could have been a very moving and an important speech there turned into a firestorm here domestically.
He then went on to Saudi Arabia and people say, you know, if you know the Saudis aren't going to raise the output in order to lower prices, why ask? It just makes you look weak. So that happened. And then, this speech to the Arab leaders was perceived as chiding and denigrating the Arab leaders in their system, at the same time lavishing praise on Israel and what's going on there. And so the reviews, if you like, from the region on this visit have not been stellar.
PHILLIPS: And so is it him, is it his advisors? I mean, a lot of people are saying, he's got to do something for his legacy. He's got this Iraq war that's just tarnished his image and the Republican Party, but he continues to come home empty-handed. So can he even win?
AMANPOUR: Well, it's about policy, many of the analysts are saying. Policy is being pursued that has not paid off, in terms of the ends that presumably were imagined. You've got -- as I say, in Lebanon, a policy pursued backing Fouad Siniora and a moderate coalition as Prime Minister and yet, Hezbollah never disarmed and able to turn around and turn its weapons back on to the Lebanese people in an unprecedented way. And just this week, Hezbollah agreed to sort of pull back a bit, but only after the democratically-elected legitimate U.S.-backed government backed down. The two issues that the Lebanese government took, which prompted Hezbollah to do what it, did have now been rescinded so.
PHILLIPS: Christiane Amanpour, always great to have you in the morning. Appreciate it.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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Truth hurts...
May 19, 2008 - 16:04 ET by clickerThe truth hurts, eh?
Since when is someone's
May 19, 2008 - 16:06 ET by Chris NormanSince when is someone's biased opinion the "truth"?
Don't worry CN...
May 19, 2008 - 16:10 ET by ontheright...we're about to get what liberals/socialists have wanted for years. Let's see who cries "uncle" first.
Just wait...
May 19, 2008 - 16:09 ET by ontheright...you haven't seen "hurt" yet.
Truths hurt
May 19, 2008 - 17:04 ET by Jerry MackWhat "truth hurts" are you referring too? Please enlighten me.
I challenge You or Amanpour
May 19, 2008 - 17:22 ET by BDI challenge You or Amanpour to justify the statement:
"Well, critics have come forward and said, okay, whether it's his policies in Iraq, Lebanon, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he's failed everywhere."
This is going to be fun.
First-off, it wouldn't
May 19, 2008 - 16:14 ET by mattmFirst-off, it wouldn't matter to Amanpour what actually happened in regard to any Bush policies, she would label them a failure anyway.
Secondly, success depends on how you define it. Carter Brokered a peace deal - yet peace eluded Israel. Clinton brokered a peace deal, yet the so-called Palestinians, who benefitted from concessions from Israel, keep complaining and keep killing. But because her fellow democrats got a piece of paper, to her it's a success.
She probably thinks Neville Chamberlain was a success, too.
Bush's errors came in miscalculating the patriotism of Americans and the dedication to freedom of some of our allies. His success lies in the fact that, whether the result is questionable or not, the goal, of freedom over oppression and peace through strength as opposed to appeasment through weakness, remains constant.
But then, American success was never a high priority for Libs.
Wait a second. So,
May 19, 2008 - 16:21 ET by Mr. KafirWait a second. So, the problems in Lebanon are Bush's fault? Um, how 'bout that UNIFIL force or the surrender monkeys that are supposed to be watching Hezballah? Do they bear any blame?
As for Iraq, that is an outstanding success. Sorry it hasn't been completed on your schedule Amanpour, you dumbass.
And the speech to the Arabs in Egypt is profound and bold. No one else has said the things the President has said to those 7th century troglodytes.
But of course you wouldn't know these things since journalism really isn't your profession.
No Oil No Peace shot
May 19, 2008 - 16:27 ET by Daniel BakerThats right unless we have more oil in the US their will be no peace.
Oil Shale please!
http://www.ornery.org/
Daniel... Why not add
May 19, 2008 - 16:37 ET by Clear thinkerDaniel...
Why not add drilling to your request?
"Abstain from McCain"
Amanpour's husband
May 19, 2008 - 16:30 ET by ArminiusLet's keep in mind that Amanpour's husband is Jamie Rubin, the Democrat party operative who dishonestly attacked McCain and Bush last Friday. Amanpour is merely carrying water for the Obama campaign. This is a huge conflict of interest and only provides further evidence that CNN doesn't give a hoot about journalistic standards.
www.sinsofthehusband.com
Well, as long as Kyra
May 19, 2008 - 16:31 ET by fitzfongWell, as long as Kyra didn't conduct this interview in the john again...
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
Rats. I thought Bush was doing better than Clinton..
May 19, 2008 - 16:34 ET by Gary HallRats. And all this time, I thought Bush was doing better than Clinton.
Well, at least President Bush:
- is credited with saving over a million lives in Africa from HIV/aids and Malaria; so far, and more to come. Even the LA Times editorialized in Feb. of 2008:
- went far in keeping Pakistan and India from exchanging nukes.
- corrected successfully, the policy disaster Clinton left behind in N. Korea - that little nuclear bomb problem.
- Led on ending the long standing Syrian military occupation of Lebanon.
- helping in bringing the worst of the 1990's based genocides and civil wars in Africa (over 6 million died) to an end. One more to go, Darfur, and he at least didn't look the other way like Bill Clinton did.
- was the first sitting US President to officially call for an independent sate of Palestine.
- had historical successes in Liberia and with Lybia.
- pulled us out of the economic collapse that Bill Clinton left behind.
- kicked Bin Laden out of Afghanistan. Oh, and gave Afghanistan back their own government again - more to do here, but does anyone in the media or on the D(ic) side of the isle really want Bush to own the success?
- rid Iraq of Saddam - That tyrant the D's helped put in power, and since something the D's kept saying they wanted get rid of.
And the number one success of George Bush? Kept Al Gore out of the White House.
Gary Hall
May 19, 2008 - 16:54 ET by MrShyAmen.
Especially to your last point -- how we should all thank our lucky stars that Bush beat out Gore in 2000, even if by a hair.
And now, just to re-post an earlier post (that's quasi-relevent to this thread, regarding Bush's foreign policy) because his great vision bears repeating...
- - - -
A BRILLIANT, HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, ELOQUENT (YES, "ELOQUENT"), HONORABLE AND COURAGEOUS PRESIDENT.
ONE OF THE TRULY GREATS. PERIOD.
Everyone, check out four pure, truthful -- and even poetic -- bits in this interview. I actually think he's more graceful and articulate when he's off the cuff than when he does prepared speeches:
ENGEL: Do you intend to finish your term in office with a military action of some kind against Iran?
BUSH: Oh Richard, that's highly speculative. I've, I've always made it clear that options are on the table, but you know, the biggest weapon we have against those who can't stand freedom is the advance of freedom.
ENGEL: If you look back over the last several years, the Middle East that you'll be handing over to the next president has, is deeply problematic. You have Hamas in power, Hezbollah empowered, taking to the streets, Iran empowered, Iraq still at war. What region are you handing over?
BUSH: Richard, Richard those folks were always around. They were here. What we're handing over is a Middle East that one recognizes the problems and the world recognizes them. ** There's clarity as to what the problems are. **
ENGEL: The war on terrorism has been the centerpiece of your presidency. Many people say that it has not made the world safer, that it has created more radicals, that, that there are more people in this part of the world who want to attack the United States.
BUSH: This, this the beehive theory. We should have just let the beehive sit there and hope the bees don't come out of the hive? My attitude is, the United States must stay on the offense against al-Qaeda. Two ways.
ENGEL: What happens if you smash the bees, the hive and let them spread?
BUSH: Excuse me for a minute Richard. Two ways. One, find them and bring them to justice, what we're doing, and two, offer freedom as an alternative to their vision. And somehow, to suggest that bees would stay in the hive is naive. They didn't stay in the hive when they came and killed 3,000 of our citizens.
You've got that right, Mr. President.
It's sickening, just sickening, how the MSM has successfully recreated him in their image -- into some idiot, dolt, a failure -- and how so many have swallowed all of this filthy MSM propaganda whole.
Say what you will about AGW, about gas prices, about the "recession" (well, no, don't say what you will about that one.... another fabrication out of thin air that's a disgusting lie repeated daily in the MSM) but regarding the WOT, this man should be thanked, put on a pedestal, given a dedicated holiday in his name when he's out of office... you name it, he deserves it!
You might not have this from my mom, or my brother, or any of the brainless, self-absorbed idiots in my city, New York, but you have the utmost thanks and appreciation of Mr. Shy (for whatever that's worth :p)
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
Mr. Shy
May 19, 2008 - 16:55 ET by Gary HallI see absolutely no shyness exhibited here. To hell with the prozac, NB is working it's wonders. (;~> gary
Nations now with Conservative Leaders since Bush elected
May 19, 2008 - 19:02 ET by PawpawNIn dissent to the story, bet she didn't give a list of the Nations now with Conservative Leaders since Bush elected. Let's just name a few - France, Germany, Canada, the list is growing every election in those Nations we seen to have set against us! Wow, he must have the best reverse logic of any President ever. 20 years down the road Pres George W Bush will be looked upon as a truly great statesman and a leader in the global war on terror!