And His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa's formal greeting, was the first for any US President... This evening in Manama, they will discuss many important issues on the agenda...
-Read outline: Bahraini Monarch & President Bush in Talks
UPDATE: They focused on bilateral relations, ways of developing them, Mideast Developments and regional global developments of common concern.
At the outset of the meeting, HM The King gave a speech in which he expressed delight and honor to welcome the President - Describing the meeting as very constructive and important. Full story
Incredible videos of Bahrain & Financial Harbor...
The King's World-class waterfront development in center of Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain; and leadership which has brought modern roads, int'l airport, telecommunications, public services, medical facilities & schools, considered among the best in M. East, if not world.
From Earlier AP Article
"Posing for pictures in Bahrain with the king, Bush said, "I know you've been concerned about Iraq and the politics of Iraq." Bush went on to talk about the action in Iraq's parliament..."I come with an upbeat message, a hopeful message - a message that will prevail here in the Middle East," Bush said.
"I'm not making excuses for a government, but to go from a tyranny to a democracy overnight is virtually impossible," Bush said. "And so when you say, `Am I pleased with the progress?' -what they have gone through and where they are today I think is good progress.NOTE: Nervous about Iran's military might and rising influence, Gulf leaders also are anxious about last week's confrontation between U.S. and Iranian naval vessels off their shore.
Have they done enough? No. Are we going to continue to work with them to do more? Absolutely. Absolutely." Read more
Arab allies want assurances that Bush is not interested in starting a war that could threaten military bases on their soil or the lucrative oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
But they also want security commitments from the president... Read more
