The entrance to the hall at the U.S. Naval Academy where the Middle East peace conference was convened today. Photo by Mark Silva
by Mark Silva
ANNAPOLIS -- "Thanks for coming,'' President Bush told the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, representatives of Saudi Arabia, Syria, the Sudan and some three-dozen other nations represented at today's Annapolis Conference.
And then Bush was gone.
The president, who has maintained that the United States will foster but not attempt to steer any of the peace-talks to which the Israelis and Palestinians have committed themselves today, did not even stay for lunch at the Naval Academy officer's club.
Bush shook hands and clasped Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as the three delivered promising speeches here -- all sounding a common refrain, that "the time is right'' for peace talks. See Bush's speech here.
But 10 minutes after Olmert finished speaking, just after noon, Bush lifted off from the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy in Marine One for a return helicopter ride to the White House. Abbas and Olmert, who met with Bush in the Oval Office on Monday, will return Wednesday for a followup before departing and opening talks which they have pledged to start next month.
"Thanks for coming'' -- Bush told the audience around the square table of Memorial Hall. He had met here with the two leaders beforehand, strode into the hall with them, and then he was gone. He returned to the White House for a meeting with Iraqi representatives and an interview with the Associated Press, in which he was certain to speak of today's achievements.
It was "a big event,'' White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said later in Washington. Tomorrow morning "is like the after-party.''
"What you saw today is that the president is fully engaged,'' said Perino, asked if Bush, who has never traveled to Israel as president, but had as governor of Texas, plans a trip next year.
""He made no announcement in terms of travel today -- you don't have to be in the region to facilitate,'' she said. "If there are plans and news of a future trip, he will let us know.
"They all came together today, and they had a moment that the president considers a significant moment,'' Perino said back at the White House in her afternoon briefing. "What he also said is that the Americans cannot impose peace, and this is going to take the Israelis and Palestinians having a genuine commitment in working together.
"Today was important, but what's really important is what happens in the days after and the weeks that follow,'' Perino said. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting, as she has been.''
"The president... is only a phone call away.''
• 
• 
• 
Comments
What a refreshing change to have a president who doesn't have to parade his ego by putting a finger in every detail. The visiting dignitaries from the Middle East would have a great appreciation for the president recognizing that they are the ones who have the responsibility for creating a lasting peace and that they don't need a tender while they go about accomplishing it. Nice diplomatic move.
Posted by: J. Wesley | November 27, 2007 3:54 PM
After SEVEN YEARS the Bush monarchy takes a swing at peace meetings somewhere on earth...and misses again.
If anyone thinks this show & tell get together is going to accomplish anything they are sadly mistaken. BushCo has no credibilty left anywhere but in the 24% club who live here in America (John D, Bruce), everyone else is just waiting for this idiot to pick up his Nintendo playstation and leave the White House for good.
Uncle Buckshot Dick is the real President anyway:
http://www.barbneal.com/wav/tvthemes/bhbilly1.wav
Posted by: John E | November 27, 2007 4:44 PM
"What a refreshing change to have a president who doesn't have to parade his ego by putting a finger in every detail."
Posted by: J. Wesley | November 27, 2007 3:54 PM
...Perino said. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting, as she has been.''
Yesterday, GOP true believers were applauding Bush here for being nice to Al Gore. Today, Bush gets a thumbs up for basically staying out of the way. The bar just keeps getting set lower and lower. By next week, they'll be giving him props for "making all gone" with his veggies and not knocking over the White House Christmas tree.
Posted by: kb | November 27, 2007 5:39 PM
Miss Elly,
Time to git the fancy eatin' table ready with vittles. Tell granny company's a comin'.
Posted by: President Jed Clampett | November 27, 2007 5:44 PM
American people to Shrub: "Quit Now!"
Posted by: weinerdog43 | November 27, 2007 5:53 PM
You just can't stand it can you.
Iraq is better, the economy is Good, Clinton's pet environmentalist is making nice at the White House.
Now, enemies are having constructive peace talks in of all place a military zone!
The liberals are running out of things to whine about.
A proud 24% is beaming today.
Posted by: Dan B | November 27, 2007 7:27 PM
It's funny that John E., perhaps the most worthless human cells in history, and weinerbrain, perhaps the third most worthless grouping of human cells ever, still are clueless.
The Bush administration has been working with the Palestinians and the Jews since Day One, even including Jordan's King. However, each time Hamas or some Arab terrorist group began killing Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese to quell any successes. But yet, we keep trying.
In 2000, to his credit, Clinton did everything imaginable to get some sort of agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, and it still went nowhere.
Bush is correct in that if it is to work, it must be the parties themselves -- and in low key diplomatic discussions -- who do the talking with the U.S., lead by Condi Rice, there to help facilitate.
Yet, the Loons on the Left continue to hate and deny, hate and deny. But then what new?
Posted by: John D | November 27, 2007 8:24 PM
It's going to be funny to see what the left says when "W's" approval ratings climb over the next month or two.. The guys got a couple of things going his was recently and the Lib's still b1tch...
Unbelievable...
Posted by: Northside Neuman | November 27, 2007 8:49 PM
This is the president "fully engaged"? It's times like this I miss Reagan's charm (well, to be sure, I was quite young in the 80's). I'm sure Reagan would have said something more memorable and inspiring as his parting words than "thanks for coming."
This is not a Memorial Day barbecue at the ranch, President Bush. Thanks for coming? Really? If this is "fully engaged" looks like, no wonder so little has been accomplished with regards to peace in the Middle East.
Posted by: Devin Novgorodoff | November 27, 2007 8:49 PM
It's going to be funny to see what the left says when "W's" approval ratings climb over the next month or two..
We will say good for you, nice to know ya, too little to late, we can't elect another president who messes up and needs eight years to come around...j
Posted by: The Left | November 27, 2007 10:47 PM
You've truly run out of insults when you go with "weinerbrain."
Posted by: Gary | November 27, 2007 11:11 PM
You're right. The old Bush approval meter is climbing to new heights! He didn't start any new wars, insult (or massage) any foriegn leaders, and didn't even run anybody over with his bike. It's a banner day for the Bush administration! Woohoo!
Posted by: Tom O | November 28, 2007 1:41 AM
It's going to be funny to see what the left says when "W's" approval ratings climb over the next month or two.. The guys got a couple of things going his was recently and the Lib's still b1tch...
Unbelievable...
Posted by: Northside Neuman | November 27, 2007 8:49 PM
Northside Fruitcake,
What, do you think that "W's" approval rating might "soar" from 24% all the way up to 29%?
While your hoping that W's approval rating gets out of Tricky Dick Nixon territory I'll be looking forward to the upcoming new Democratic President and the veto-proof Democratic super majority in Congress that we're going to get in 08.
Posted by: John E | November 28, 2007 2:08 AM
If Bush holds a peace conference, he will get criticized by the far left. If he doesn't, he will get criticized by the far left. If he does anything in between, he will get criticized by the far left. Rhetorical question - if the far left engages in the same predictable, kneejerk criticisms of Bush regardless of circumstances, is there any reason to listen to them?
Posted by: Herbie H. | November 28, 2007 10:27 AM
Herbie H, I don't see anybody here criticizing Bush for holding a peace conference. Better late than never, I say. Some may criticize him for leaving the conference early, but I think that's a good move too. It's not like he's a master of diplomacy and compromise. So I'll admit Bush has done a good job over the last day or two. And as for ignoring the comments from the "far left", I'm long past thinking that anybody who still supports Bush will listen to anything but praise for him.
Posted by: Tom O | November 28, 2007 1:05 PM
Tom O., maybe you missed John E.'s post. There are similar one's the past couple days re the peace conference; condemning it before it has a chance simply because Bush is involved. I agree with you there is a faction of the far right that will only listen to praise for Bush. However, responding to this blind loyalty with blind condemnation regardless of circumstances is equally silly.
Posted by: Herbie H. | November 28, 2007 2:14 PM
Herbie,
Yeah, after all it's not like he's a hypocrite wanting to polish his legacy of failures, is it?! He's well-respected throughout the world for his peace initiatives in the Middle East.
C'mon, man...
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | November 28, 2007 3:23 PM