Here are some excerpts from Bush's first speech of his recent European tour, given in Brussels on February 21. Read the entire transcript here


"Arab states must end incitement in their own media, cut off public and private funding for terrorism, stop their support for extremist education and establish normal relations with Israel."

"Palestinian leaders must confront and dismantle terrorist groups, fight corruption, encourage free enterprise and rest true authority with the people."

"A successful Palestinian democracy should be Israel's top goal as well. So Israel must freeze settlement activity, help Palestinians build a thriving economy and ensure that a new Palestinian state is truly viable, with contiguous territory on the West Bank."

"The government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its leadership in the region by expanding the role of its people in determining their future."

"And the great and proud nation of Egypt, which showed the way toward peace in the Middle East, can now show the way toward democracy in the Middle East."

"Syria must also end its occupation of Lebanon."

"For the sake of peace, the Iranian regime must end its support for terrorism and must not develop nuclear weapons."

"Yet for Russia to make progress as a European nation, the Russian government must renew a commitment to democracy and the rule of law."


In this speech alone, he told six other nations what they "must" do. His subsequent speeches on this trip were similar. Is it any wonder that he comes off as arrogant? Is it any wonder that foreign leaders don't like him?

Bev and Jerry