Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Did Bush suggest bombing Al Jazeera?

The Associated Press is reporting that a British government official is accused of leaking a memo that suggested that President Bush on 2004-04-16 suggested to Prime Minister Tony Blair that coalition forces bomb the headquarters of the Al Jazeera cable TV network in Qatar.

Some sources have stated that the suggestion was "humourous, not serious," but other sources dispute that appraisal. The Bush administration has repeatedly denounced Al Jazeera and its coverage of U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

Did President Bush suggest bombing the free press in a friendly nation? Even if it was a joke, it was in reprehensibly bad taste, but if he was the least bit serious, even for a nanosecond, he has given us just one more reason to say that he is unfit to serve as President.

The White House called the report "outlandish," but, given the President's recent behavior, it's difficult to dismiss it so easily.