by Damozel | Did you know that George Bush is still president? It's true.
And he's currently on a final 'goodwill' tour of Europe, where he'll be attending the US-European Union summit, making a pitch for a strong US dollar --- and how does that work? --- for action on the price of oil, and for tougher sanctions against Iran. (BBC News) The Europeans allegedly would like to focus now on what unites us, but aren't expecting much progress on global warming. Furthermore, the US envoy has apparently warned them not to expect our position 'magically' to change with a new president. (BBC News)
Bush evidently intends to talk to the EU about the need to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. As we know all too well, the cost of oil 'hit a record high on Friday, coinciding with a dollar slump, plummeting share prices on Wall Street and US unemployment suffering its biggest rise in 20 years.' (BBC News) Bush, ever the optimist, 'expressed long-term confidence in the US economy. (BBC News) Of course, he also had confidence that we could be out of Iraq in a matter of weeks. Hard to believe the EU is even bothering.
The BBC's Rodney Smith says Mr Bush will also seek to apply pressure on individual European businesses to take a harder line on Iranian banks and energy interests.
Barclays Bank, based in the UK, has already responded to US pressure, and ended all dealings with Iran's Saderat Bank and Bank Melli.
Mr Bush's talks with leaders are also expected to focus on aid efforts in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.. (BBC News)
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