UK News 20-11-2003 Bush`s Buck House Welcome who: George W Bush what: Meets The Queen on first ever state visit by a US president where: Buckingham Palace, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "A rather desolate air hung over The Mall yesterday morning," says The Scotsman, "where only a handful of supporters had turned out to greet the world`s most powerful man for his official welcome to Britain." Or did they? According to The Sun this morning, "thousands of cheering supporters turned out to welcome George W Bush" as he arrived at Buckingham Palace. According to The Scotsman, the only group of people numbering in their thousands, "blocking traffic and generally making a nuisance of themselves," were the police. "The dramatic silence following the 41-gun salute that marked the President`s arrival at the Royal Pavilion was broken by a lone heckler addressing himself to the crowd on a loudspeaker," says The Independent. "If you think that Blair`s a poodle, shout `woof, woof`," chanted the protestor before being dragged away by security. "If you think Bush is a moron shout `retard`." "The military top brass were in full dress uniform, complete with sashes and gold brocade," says The Guardian`s Jonathan Freedland, "they looked like extras from Oh! What a Lovely War." Later, at Banqueting House in Whitehall, the President made a surprise speech to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) conference on Ballistic Missile Defence and opened his speech with a note of self-deprecating levity. "It was pointed out to me that the last noted American to visit London stayed in a glass box dangling over the Thames," he quipped. "A few might have been happy to provide similar arrangements for me." [... more]

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