by David Nitkin
The White House has issued "a little bit of an apology" for announcing an August visit by President Bush to South Korea before details had been finalized, spokeswoman Dana Perino said this morning.
Relations between the two nations are at a sensitive juncture, with South Koreans staging massive protests over a decision by President Lee Myung-bak to allow the importation of U.S. beef, and negotiations continuing over the suspension of North Korea's nuclear activities. A week ago, Bush cancelled a trip to South Korea that was to have been part of his travels to a G8 meeting in Japan later this month.
Word of the August meeting came Tuesday from Dennis Wilder, senior director for Asian affairs for the National Security Council as he briefed reporters about the G8 trip.
Bush and Lee will meet at the G8, Wilder said, and "will be an opportunity to lay the groundwork for the visit that President Bush will make to South Korea, which is now scheduled for August 5th and 6th. That is just prior to the president going to Beijing for the Olympics," Wilder said.
But Perino said today that Wilder jumped the gun, and that the U.S. issued a mea culpa to the South Koreans.
"We're nearly ready to be able to announce it, but we're not ready yet. There's some i's that need to be dotted and t's crossed. There was a little bit of an apology from the United States, but I think it's pretty minor. We are working on the dates," Perino said. She called Wilder's statement "premature but not inaccurate." The dates could change, she said, but the meeting would take place in August.
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Comments
let's hope dubya doesn't screw this one up too.
anyway, I found this report on South Korea and the beef protests, it's pretty interesting. its about how much technology is ingrained in their culture and how they're using it to organize.
Posted by: johnmat | July 2, 2008 11:21 AM
Where is America's apology, for the deplorable state in which he has left our great nation. He owes us an apology, before South Korea !! He did, and does, have his priorities, backwards, like everything else, with which he has been confronted !! He must be setting up his itinerary, for when he leaves office!! He wants to make public appearances, for some easy money and to continue to perpetuate his fear-mongering around the globe. He doesn't have to worry about the money, I'm sure the Corps will take good care of him and Vice-President Cheney !! They did it the old-fashioned way, they earned it !!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | July 2, 2008 11:28 AM