THE BUSH SNUB

By Jason Moore IN many other countries European leaders go out of their way to try and not get photographed with President George Bush. While group photos are always the exception many leaders try to look the other-way or walk on at speed when Bush is about because as we all know the U.S. President is not exactly popular in Europe. Years ago having a U.S. President to visit was a great honour, but with Bush in the White House it is the complete reverse! But the outgoing President shouldn´t be too concerned because in Spain the fact that he didn´t meet Spanish Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapatero has become a major issue. Some newspapers were even saying that Bush had snubbed Zapatero and didn´t want to talk to him (other European leaders would probably love to be in this position!). President Bush is not popular in Spain and the alleged snub from the President was probably a victory for Zapatero. Relations between the White House and Madrid have not been good since Zapatero came to power; the first thing he did was to withdraw Spanish troops who were based in Iraq. However, Bush did telephone him to congratulate him on his second term of office until the NATO summit relations did appear to be improving. One thing for sure I doubt that Zapatero is too concerned about the Bush situation. He is probably looking ahead to the U.S. elections.