The US PresidentGeorge W.Bush claims he receivesinstructions directly from God, both Israeli and separate sources nowconfirm, despite previous public denials from White House officials.In the UK today thefront pages of two national broadsheet newspapers are filled photosof Bush with a glowing disc of light behind his head, like the haloused to represent the holyness of Jesus and the saints in Christianiconography. The WhiteHouse reacted immediately to the news after it broke this morning,admitting that it would be "absurd" for a US President to holdconversations with the creator of the universe.There are only 3possible explanations for a human being who believes that he isreceiving revelations directly from God; he would have to beeither a prophet, amadman, or a liar.
'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq',President told Palestinians. God also talked to him about Middle Eastpeace. George Bush has claimed he was on a mission from God when helaunched the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, according to a seniorPalestinian politician in an interview to be broadcast by the BBClater this month.
Mr Bush revealed the extent of his religiousfervour when he met a Palestinian delegation during theIsraeli-Palestinian summit at the Egpytian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh,four months after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
One of the delegates, Nabil Shaath, who wasPalestinian foreign minister at the time, said: "President Bush saidto all of us: 'I am driven with a mission from God'. God would tellme, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did.And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'.And I did."
Mr Bush went on: "And now, again, I feel God'swords coming to me, 'Go get the Palestinians their state and get theIsraelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East'. And, byGod, I'm gonna do it."
Mr Bush, who became a born-again Christian at 40,is one of the most overtly religious leaders to occupy the WhiteHouse, a fact which brings him much support in middleAmerica.
Soon after, the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretzcarried a Palestinian transcript of the meeting, containing a versionof Mr Bush's remarks. But the Palestinian delegation was reluctantpublicly to acknowledge its authenticity.
The BBC persuaded Mr Shaath to go on the recordfor the first time for a three-part series on Israeli-Palestiniandiplomacy: Elusive Peace, which begins on Monday.
Religion also surfaced as an issue when Mr Bushand Tony Blair were reported to have prayed together in 2002 at hisranch at Crawford, Texas--the summit at which the invasion of Iraqwas agreed in principle. Mr Blair has consistently refused to admitor deny the claim.
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, whowas also part of the delegation at Sharm el-Sheikh, told the BBCprogramme that Mr Bush had said: "I have a moral and religiousobligation. I must get you a Palestinian state. And Iwill."
Mr Shaath's comments came as Mr Bush delivered aspeech yesterday aimed at bolstering US support for the Iraqwar.
He revealed that the US and its partners haddisrupted at least 10 serious al-Qaida plots since September 11, including three planned attacks in the US. "Because of this steadyprogress, the enemy is wounded--but the enemy is still capable ofglobal operations," he said. He added that Islamic radicals had useda series of excuses to justify their attacks, from conflict with theIsraelis to the Crusades 1,000 years ago.
"We're facing a radical ideology with unalterableobjectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world," hesaid.
He conceded that al-Qaida, led in Iraq by AbuMusab al-Zarqawi, and other insurgents had gained ground in Iraq butthe US would not leave until security had been established. "Someobservers also claim that America would be better off by cutting ourlosses and leaving Iraq now. This is a dangerous illusion, refutedwith a simple question: Would the United States and other freenations be more safe, or less safe, with Zarqawi and Bin Laden incontrol of Iraq, its people, and its resources?" Mr Bushasked.
The Guardian, "George Bush: 'God told me to end the tyranny inIraq'", front page, 7 October 2005.
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