WASHINGTON - President Bush's inaugural address, with its emphasis on spreading democracy like oleo in a breadstick factory and eliminating tyranny throughout the world by force or just plain ol' American charm, was not meant to signal a new direction in U.S. foreign policy nor to portray America as arrogant, his father said Saturday.
That has got to be embarrassing. Barely into your second term and your dad has to come out and explain what you were talking about.
"People want to read a lot into it — that this means new aggression or newly assertive military forces," former President Bush told reporters during an informal visit to the White House briefing room. "That's not what that speech is about. It's about freedom."
In Thursday's speech, Bush said: "We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right." That raised the question whether Bush intended to apply new standards to allies or partners who keep democracy at arm's length and have poor records on human rights.
Did that mean he would pursue democracy in places like China?
What, and make enemies of the people taking our jobs and sending us nifty electronic devices in exchange?
Would he try to reverse moves toward reinstating authoritarian rule in Russia?
Nooooooo. Someone finally should him a map. He was overheard to say, "Damn! Russia's huge! And people live there? What? It gets cold? Pfffffff..... we're not goin' there!"
How far will he go to challenge the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran?
To the corner and back. After that, he'll need a nap and massage.
"It doesn't mean instant change in every country — that's not what he intended," Dad Bush said about his son's second inaugural address.
Just countries with oil. Get with the program, people!
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