The Daily Telegraph:In his new book, A Journey, Mr Blair writes that the former US president was confused by the presence of Guy Verhofstadt at the 2001 G8 summit in Genoa. “He didn’t know or recognise Guy, whose advice he listened to with considerable astonishment,” Mr Blair writes. “He then turned to me and whispered, ‘Who is this guy?’ ‘He is the prime minister of Belgium,’ I said. Belgium? George said, clearly aghast at the possible full extent of his stupidity. ‘Belgium is not part of the G8’.” Mr Blair explained to Mr Bush that Mr Verhofstadt was there as “president of Europe”. Belgium held the presidency of the EU council at the time. Mr Bush responded: “You got the Belgians running Europe?” before shaking his head, “now aghast at our stupidity”, Mr Blair writes.
To which
Andrew Stuttaford responds: “Running Europe”? Well, not quite, but W’s aghastness will do nicely. In fact, very nicely.
As for not knowing who Verhofstadt was, one can only admire the president’s shrewdly selective assessment of what information is worth knowing — and what is not.
Ha ha, well, you know, I don't think I've ever known who a Belgian head of state is, mind you, I'm not a head of state meeting one at meetings where heads of state meet other heads of state and are supposed to know what's on the fucking agenda. Evidently at least two heads of state who were not George W. Bush knew what the deal was.
The more knowin' you have in your head, the less room you have for Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThe "President of Europe".
ReplyDeleteC'mon, boy. Yer jist funnin me now, ain'tcha.
Why I could never be preznit: I would have told Bush that it was the Janitor and could he ask the guy to leave.
ReplyDeleteI had mercifully repressed most memory of just how awful Worst was.
ReplyDeleteDon't you forget!
I don't think I've ever known who a Belgian head of state is
ReplyDeleteNot wanting to be pedantic or anything, but I think you will find that the Belgian head of state is King Albert II, and has been for a while. Also, the Head of State of the UK is a certain Queen Betty, longmayshereignoverus.
OK, I am wanting to be pedantic.
I knew I was gonna get in trouble for that, and also not mentioning that it was in the capacity as other-than-head-of-one-state that Mr. Bloody Belgian was in proximity to His Idiocy.
ReplyDeleteOr "for not mentioning" if you want.
ReplyDeleteEver since the 2001 G8 summit in Genoa I've been shocked by the Congo Free State.
ReplyDeleteNever too soon.
ReplyDeleteTigris, did you see this Crooked Timber thread? A lot of Belgians (including, in this case, the erstwhile European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid) still reckon that the Belgian occupation and exploitation of the Congo was a good thing; and that the surviving Congolese should have been grateful for the "railways, schools and hospitals and boosted economic growth" rather than harping on about the slavery and amputations and 10 million dead.
Bloody Belgians.
The thread is quickly overrun by people defending British Imperialism (the kinder, gentler form) and includes a poem by SMcG.
Following that link I get a nice empty comment box, whereas they normally close 'em.
ReplyDeleteI could end that thread with some pro or anti Zionist screed...
Did I ever mention that the two scariest doods I ever met in my life were Belgians?
ReplyDeleteI did?
How many times?
Oh. Sorry.
Carry on...
one can only admire the president’s shrewdly selective assessment of what information is worth knowing — and what is not.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance is wisdom.
Did I ever mention that the two scariest doods I ever met in my life were Belgians?
ReplyDeleteMercenaries in SE Asia? Am I remembering right?
Jean Claude Van Damme twice.
ReplyDeleteRené Magritte and Paul Delvaux?
ReplyDeleteJean Claude Van Damme twice.
ReplyDeleteBut there is only one Bolo Yeung.
Has Jonah Goldberg taken a position on Stallone's decision to leave Van Damme out of his recent movie? That would be most helpful.
I didn't, and except for Subby's EXCELLENT lyric, bleh. I guess $Nationality exceptionalism is not so exceptional.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, well, you know, I don't think I've ever known who a Belgian head of state is
ReplyDeleteThe only Belgian heads I'm concerned with are on well-poured ales.
"The Intellectual Conservative"
ReplyDeleteOr, "I can't believe it's not Broder!"
(sorry)
WV has me in thral. That is all.