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Bush has Roh over words on war
President Bush’s talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun ended on a sour note friday not over the War in Iraq, but rather the Korean conflict that ended with a truce more than five decades ago.
Whatever Roh heard Bush say through his translator, it wasn’t good enoug. ” I think I did not hear President Bush mention the a declaration to end the Korean War just now,” Roh said as cameras clicked and TV cameras rolled.Bush said he thought he was being clear, but obliged Roh and restated the US position.That wasn’t good enough either. “If you could be a little bit clearer in your message,” Roh said.
Bush, now looking irritated, replied ” I cannot make it any more clear, Mr. President. We look forward to the day when we can end the karean War. That will end will happen when kim verifiably gets rid of his weapons programmes and his weapons.”
The White House immediately down played the testy exchange and said the meeting went smoothly.
“There was clearly something lost in translation,” National security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a rushed e-mail to reporters.” I really think the interpreter must not have conveyed the president’s comments entirely clearly,” Johndroe said.