Bush In Hungary
President Bush spoke in Hungary and from the report I am reading it looks as if he gave a pretty good speech. One of the regular commenters here is from Hungary, so I look forward to his take on it.
The United States had failed in 1956 to come to the aid of Hungary's 12-day uprising against communist tyranny but Bush said in a speech to Hungarians on a hill over the Danube River: "America honors your courage. We have learned from your example and we resolve that when people stand up for their freedom, America will stand with them."
Soviet troops "crushed the Hungarian uprising but not the Hungarian people's thirst for freedom," Bush told a crowd of 400, including the country's president and prime minister, against a picture-perfect view of Budapest, dominated by the large dome of parliament.
Bush said the new Iraqi government "is committed to the democratic ideals that also inspired Hungarian patriots in 1956 and 1989," when the communist regime fell in Hungary.
"Iraq's young democracy still faces determined enemies, people who will use violence and brutality to stop the march of freedom," he said.
"Defeating these enemies will require sacrifice and continued patience, the kind of patience the good people of Hungary displayed after 1956.
"We will help them rebuild a country destroyed by a tyrant …
"We will continue to help the Iraqi government establish free institutions" so that it can take its "rightful place alongside America and Hungary as beacons of liberty in our world," Bush said.
He said that new Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki "is committed to the democratic ideals that also inspired Hungarian patriots in 1956 and 1989."
"The lesson of the Hungarian experience is clear. Liberty can be delayed but it cannot be denied," Bush said.
I don't think he said the catch phrases that Roland feared he would.
UPDATE: Roland has left a couple of comments that are well worth reading.
World news | Gaius June 22, 2006
By Roland Hesz, June 23, 2006 @ 2:10 am
Yes he was not bluntly pointing out the similarities – but then, he had to bring in Iraq.
Everyone knows that I don’t agree with this whole Iraq thing, but even when the first hungarian soldier died, and a lot of people wanted to bring the troops back, I said, we are in an alliance, and that means we have obligations. The soldiers have volunteered, they did know what it is about – most of them were in Kosovo and Africa, and such places, so they were not ignorant of the dangers -, and we have a responsibility.
Yes, he was playing on our feelings about ‘56, pointing out how similar ideals and goals we have to the iraqi people, which is a clever thing – hey, I don’t neccessarily like it, but a speech has a goal, and it was a good shot
Yes, he was coming a bit more clear about the role of the US in ‘56.
An interesting part was : “we have learned from your example, and now America stands beside those, who are asking for freedom” – not the exact words, I just translated it from hungarian.
Not exactly admitting that the president at the time used the “we will help the hungarian revolution” as an election season trick with the central europeans – which promise was heard here through Free Europe Radio, giving people a bit more enthusiasm to carry through that hopeless struggle -, but still, it is more than anything we have heard from that part of the world about the events
Now the effect was spoiled a bit by the fact, that no one had the chance to see him, that the capitol was blocked by the request of US security, and unfortunately the people will remember about the traffic jam which turn a usually 10 minute travel to home into a one and a half hours long, which is a pity.
Of course, as Hungary has no issues with the US, only some symbolic ones – like a building that was in the property of the US since 1948, and now G. W. Bush gave it back -, and of course the question of visa, which is a moot point, that will stay, but still, they dance around it every time – and our politicians are praised as “very brave and straightforward” for bringing up the issue, which they like a lot, and so they will bring it up every time to get a pat on their heads.
The rest was just small talk, and dodging of questions about human rights and such – Gitmo is not a thing Bush would talk about, even if asked -, and the hungarian media was forbidden to pose questions, which is ridiculous, but whatever.
All in all, he flew in, gave a speech which was not heard by the people, ’cause they were trying to get home, and the he left the country.
Oh, and the First Lady drew a kitty for a kindergarden.
It’s about sums it up.
So. maybe it was a really important and positive diplomatic event, but here, it was taken as you would expect – about 2 million people inconvenienced for one day and an afternoon, for nothing, being annoyed as they would see it, the feelings you can guess I think.
Also, I would say that the place he choose to give his speech was a rather unlucky one. Yes, it is the highes point over Budapest.
But given that it was built by the Habsburgs when they were taking control of the country, so as an “invading force” they could supervise the hungarian capitol, then used as a german headquarter during WWII, it did not gave the best message.
But, I don’t think its history is well known abroad – or even here.
And the scenery is nice.
A short something on the Citadella
By Roland Hesz, June 23, 2006 @ 2:11 am
Jeez, it turned out a bit long I think… sorry, you asked for my opinion
DD
By Roland Hesz, June 23, 2006 @ 2:21 am
One more thing
“Bush was visiting four months ahead of the official celebration of the Hungarian uprising, as his schedule does not allow for a visit in October.”
In fact, the celebration on the 23rd of October officially is not the celebration of the revolution of ‘56.
It was expressed clearly in ‘89, that it is the day of the Republic, the change of the country from a socialist country to a democratic one.
And it was decided, that the highly controversial events of ‘56 will be left out of the whole thing. Later however, it was brought in, and now it is all about ‘56, used for political purposes, twisting a story a bit every time. And that is disgusting in my opinion.
Problem is, the people who took a part in that thing – on either side – are still alive, with passion, feelings, memories, and grudge to hold.
It’s one of the saddest thing in our political life, that ‘56 is used blatantly and unscrupulously for everyday political goals.
By Roland Hesz, June 23, 2006 @ 4:50 am
If you are interested, some photos of his visit,click on the pic to see the gallery.
By Roland Hesz, June 23, 2006 @ 6:03 am
The first finished reviews are published in the hungarian media.
What is the sad thing, that there is a common theme in all of them:
“Journalists were forbidden to pose questions to either the First Lady or the President.”
So, all we know is what was publicly said between Mr. Bush and Mr. Sólyom, and that’s not too much.
Visa, gay rights, human rights.
All important stuff, but without any real answers, performed by two politicians.
With a media question, the given answer is not the only thing we receive, I like to watch face, the posture – it is funny to see when politician sneers at the journalist, then gives a nice, friendly answer, all the while holding his body like he were threatened.
But alas, there was nothing like that this time.
By Shawn, June 23, 2006 @ 7:19 am
Roland, thanks for your perspective and for the photos. Though if the Kossacks view picture #23 they’ll start a “Bush is boozing again” conspiracy.
Your Parliment building is stunning, as is the view behind Bush when he was speaking. Great pics!
By Roland Hesz, June 23, 2006 @ 8:24 am
Well, it goes for the photo-journalist
Yeah, I know my city is the most beautiful in the world