Job 9:12

December 11, 2003 9:38 PM

World Trade Organisation's Agreement on Government Procurement. "International law? I better call my lawyer. I don't know what you're talking about, about international law," the president said.
posted by the fire you left me (16 comments total)

Why should a man who was chosen by God to lead the planet care one whit about international law? Divine right and all that.
posted by cbrody at 10:25 PM on December 11, 2003

amen.
posted by quonsar at 10:51 PM on December 11, 2003

Has there been any word from Jim Baker yet?
posted by homunculus at 11:02 PM on December 11, 2003

The most fucked up thing is that every news outlet in the world has been reporting the first part of the Bush quote--where he looks like less of an ignorrant hick--all day long. All of the TV soundbites and almost all of the print stories cut off the part where he mocks international law.

"International law? I better call my lawyer. I don't know what you're talking about, about international law," the president said.

Yeah, if he doesn't pick up after the first few rings, it must be that he can't hear you over the sound of the shredder. Can Bush just hurry up and get a blowjob already?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 11:26 PM on December 11, 2003

Not that I agree but:


But there are circumstances under which signatory countries can set aside the WTO agreement. They are:

-- When it considers it "necessary for the protection of its essential security interests relating to the procurement of arms, ammunition or war materials, or to procurement indispensable for national security or for national defence purposes"

posted by buddha9090 at 2:25 AM on December 12, 2003

"This does not make our relations with some of our neighbors any easier," said one European diplomat in Washington whose country is closely allied with the United States.

Gee, I wonder what country that is.
posted by donth at 2:37 AM on December 12, 2003

Can Bush just hurry up and get a blowjob already?


At the rate he and his kowtowing corporate/media establishment are going, scoring some oral from an intern would earn him a fucking ticker-tape parade.
posted by moonbird at 3:46 AM on December 12, 2003

It's the kindergarten approach to transatlantic relations and kids don't get blowjobs, I'm afraid

donth Perhaps you missed this
posted by magullo at 4:54 AM on December 12, 2003

Uh, do any of the FPP links actually mention Bush's quote? The first two sure don't, and I'd read the third, but oh, registration required. Yeah, I heard this on the news this morning (and couldn't believe those words actually came out of his mouth), but CONTEXT, BABY, CONTEXT!
posted by mkultra at 7:10 AM on December 12, 2003

American Dollars are needed to buy petrol. At the point OPEC moves to the Euro - the world won't need American Dollars to buy the petrol.

If the 'world' wants to make sure GW Bush isn't re-elected or just wants to 'slap America in the face', all the 'world' has to do is to move to Euro pricing for petrol.
posted by rough ashlar at 8:15 AM on December 12, 2003

That's the point - the world is slowly realizing that using the petrodollar is impractical. The proposed move to the euro was started some time ago - some interesting parallels can be drawn. Before the Iraq invasion:
- Iraq traded for oil in euros.
- Both Iran and North Korea were in preparation to switch to euros
- Malaysia (before the "anti-Semitic" flap) had agreed to switch to euros

The United States is doing the best it possibly can to shore up our grossly inflated dollar, and since the government realizes that we can't maintain a financial stranglehold on oil, we need to maintain a military one.
posted by FormlessOne at 8:31 AM on December 12, 2003

Interesting world we live in, where a Republican mocks the WTO, and his opponents rush in to defend its legitimacy.
posted by fuzz at 8:36 AM on December 12, 2003

Interesting world we live in, where a Republican mocks the WTO, and his opponents rush in to defend its legitimacy.

No. Fucking. Shit.

I've no idea which dog to support in this fight.
posted by dejah420 at 11:06 AM on December 12, 2003

"But this particular effort by the Pentagon to reward friends and punish enemies is stupid, and should be abandoned."

-- William Kristol and Robert Kagan
posted by homunculus at 3:25 PM on December 12, 2003

This contempt for international law might also explain why the Bush administration is defending Unocal's involvement in forced labor in Burma.
posted by homunculus at 4:02 PM on December 12, 2003

While he's talking to his lawyer, maybe he should inquire about the legality of helping Lybia acquire North Korean Scud missiles.

WHAT.
THE.
FUCK.
GEORGE?!
posted by homunculus at 10:21 PM on December 12, 2003