conspiracy theories

David Edwards
Raw Story
May 14, 2008

The Politico’s Mike Allen talked with President Bush about why he gave up golf. Bush said, “I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died see the Commander in Chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be as — to be in solidarity as best as I can with them, and I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”

The US president traced his decision to the August 19, 2003 bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed the world body’s top official in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

“I remember when de Mello, who was at the UN, got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man’s life. And I was playing golf — I think I was in central Texas — and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, it’s just not worth it anymore to do,” said Bush.

Bush’s last round of golf as president dates back to October 13, 2003, according to meticulous records kept by CBS news.

On the day of the bombing two months earlier, he had cut short his golf game at the 12th hole and returned to his ranch in tiny Crawford, Texas.

CNN pundit Jamal Simmons commented on Bush’s gesture. Simmons said, “If the President wants to show solidarity and respect for the families he should start by coming up with a plan for how we end the war in Iraq. He could have started by having a plan for going into Iraq and securing the country so we wouldn’t be in a situation we would be in today. Stopping playing golf is a nice gesture but I think people want to see something more substantive.”

This video is from CNN’s American Morning, broadcast May 14, 2008.