December 12, 2004

OUR MEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Great line from Iraq the Model's Omar, currently in Washington with his brother Mohammed:

Yesterday I came to your country. Today, I met the President.

Jeff Jarvis, a tireless and incredibly generous promoter of Middle Eastern bloggers, has more on the Bush/blogger summit:

Mohammed said the President understood what blogs are and their importance and they found the staff in the White House views reading blogs as part of their jobs now. The brothers said they were in the White House not just as Iraqi citizens but as representatives of the blogosphere.

There's yet more here; please read. Meanwhile, Omar and Mohammed's Washington visit hasn't received much mainstream coverage (aside from a radio appearance arranged by the resourceful Jarvis), despite screamingly obvious human interest angles. Perhaps the weeklies will run something. Of course, Australian readers got to know our Iraqi friends months ago ...

Posted by Tim Blair at December 12, 2004 05:55 PM
Comments

I love these guys. I'm happy that President George W Bush has invited them to the White House, if anyone deserve it, it's them.

Or maybe I'm just happy that I've had my fill of oysters and Chardonnay.I can't tell anymore, hycuup.

I have oyster recipes, better than my Brusell Sprout recipe.
Any shred of credibility I had is gone.
Will I push button...........................

Posted by: gubbaboy at December 12, 2004 at 06:45 PM

Good to see that Mohammed and Omar get the recognition that they deserve!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at December 12, 2004 at 06:57 PM

Of course, these guys didn't want their photos taken (understandably), and the MSM cannot be so discrete as to rely upon their wishes, so the radio appearance was probably the best that could be hoped for.

I like that the President asked the dentist (Omar?) to do a filling for him -- I'm sure the mere suggestion freaked out his Secret Service detail, and it wasn't going to happen -- but cool ne'rtheless.

Still, the idea that these guys got to go into the Oval Office to meet with the President of the United States is so damned cool -- I once got a tour of the West Wing, and the Oval Office has to be one of the most awe-inspiring rooms you will ever see (we got to stick our head in past a velvet rope, we couldn't go in) -- it excudes power and grace, and literally brought tears to my eyes -- and that was me, a cynical 20 year old and relatively well connected American kid. The notion that ordinary Iraqis who two years ago labored under the constant threat of death (or worse), could go visit that room is simply incredible.

Posted by: Andrew at December 12, 2004 at 07:19 PM

President Bush meeting with Mohammed and Omar is another instance of his doing the right thing, for which the MSM is so reluctant to give him credit. I gather in this case Mohammed and Omar prefer it that way so the MSM gets it right for a change but for all the wrong reasons.

Posted by: Retread at December 12, 2004 at 09:34 PM

I wish I would have known they were coming to America for I would have LOVED to simply shake their hands. But I guess I'll have to wait until next time. Of course, I've lived here all of my 34 years and have NEVER met the President - so I guess I know who rates and who doesn't. I'm so happy for them and can't wait to read what they have to say about America. I hope they have a great time.

Posted by: Kathleen A at December 12, 2004 at 11:59 PM

"...the staff in the White House views reading blogs as part of their jobs now. ..."

This makes me indescribably happy!

Posted by: Mary in LA at December 14, 2004 at 06:06 AM

Oh god. That makes me indescribably worried.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at December 14, 2004 at 10:30 PM