The Belarusian Widows (Or, The BAG Takes Some Visual Liberty During A Pause In The News Cycle)

As far as I can tell, there aren't many images of Bush actually talking (as opposed to simply posing head-on) with wounded soldiers, or others who have experienced severe trauma from political cataclysm.  (What we do know, however, is that Laura Bush consistently explains how victims end up consoling the Bushs.)

Maybe "W" has his mind on his upcoming trip to India and Pakistan.  Perhaps the eye contact is a harder to come by because the two women are aggrieved (and/or attractive) and Bush has to carry the conversation.

From a political standpoint, however, the image would be completely trivial if not  for the body language of Assistant Secretary of State Steven Hadley.  Although you need to see it in its original version, this seems like a nice example of the handler-of-the-moment -- regardless how minor the situation -- being reflexively on guard to insure Bush (at least half-way) delivers the content.

(image: Paul Morse/White House. February 27, 2006.  Washington.  whitehouse.gov)

Comments

[laloca]

what in the world is he doing with his hands? it's the oddest "greeting" i've ever seen...

[Esoth]

Brandt in "The Big Lebowski".

[zatopa]

While the watchful Hadley clutches his dossiers, the widows are holding ... swag bags? Wonder what's in 'em.

[marysz]

Bush looks like a boss reprimanding to two low level female employees. He's pointing his fingers at them as if he's hectoring them about something. And he's keeping the women standing--shouldn't he at least ask them to sit down? Neither woman is smiling; they're looking at Bush with skeptical, guarded expressions (that's why it looks like they work for him). The woman on the right is holding a shopping bag. A swag bag, as zatopa suggests? Maybe something from the White House gift shop. Two men stand guard at the door--Hadley and a man whose face we can't see (Card, perhaps?) Hadley clutches what is certainly a leather-bound portfolio (seems like everyone has one at the White House except Gonzalez) with a few loose file folders on top. Those errant file folders suggest disarray--Bush is probably behind schedule. I bet Hadley's waiting for an opportune moment to step forward and hustle the women out the door. Cindy Sheehan complained that Bush gave her the bum's rush. These two widows were probably treated the same.

[Darigato]

I say Bush is looking out the window so as not to glance off of blonde Svetlana's decolletage or the bit of her midsection that is peeking between the bottom of her shortie tee and the top of her low-cut slacks. Guess no one hipped her to the fact that the midriff-baring look is long over.

[rich sodergren]

the guys are making sure he gives them a three minute lecture and no touchy-feely. the ladies realize they have been had and they are talking,no,listening to a souless being in a cheap suit. clinton would have at least made them feel comfortable enough to smile.he would have listened to them and reassured them that he understood their plight. of course it would have mostly bullshit but clinton had enough class to pull it off. bush on the other hand is devode of any human compassion.

[smallrat]

He Is Trying Not To Stare At Their Breasts.

[smallrat]

His Pointing Fingers Look Like A Couple Of Erect Penises. His Closed Fingers Look Like Scrotums.

[readytoblowagasket]

Bush: "Now, which one of you is Irene and which one of you is Sylvana?"

I wouldn't call those erect, smallrat.

[smallrat]

"e ni mini myni mo..."

[SLJ]

The line on the floor connects Hadley and Bush. The puppet masters can never stray far from this puppet.

The woman are detached from one another, politely looking at the (self-)center of attention, whose finger motions erect a further barrier of alienation. Bush is a divider, not a uniter.

Noone in the picture looks particularly happy to be there.

[ummabdulla]

Bush's hands look like another cowboy move, as if each hand just took a revolver out of its holster and twirled it before pointing it at the one he's going to duel. It's a weird gesture to use for greeting those two women.

The two guys by the door seem like they're guarding it.

[hauksdottir]

The ladies appear to be in front of a table or desk: Irina can't back up any further without bruising her butt. With those pointed fingers, they certainly aren't going to venture close enough for a handshake or pat on the shoulder. Bush's body language is accusatory... like blaming a rape victim, he is blaming them for the loss of their husbands? That is not a comfortable scene!

Since they are labeled widows, and 7 years have not passed nor have the bodies been found, are they legally widows? I can't see coming to terms with grief if there isn't real closure. No bodies, no funeral, no consolation.

And how does Bush feel explaining the virtues of rendition to them?

"Well, ma'am, it is all due to the balance of trade with our strong and good partners: we send our troublemakers to oubliettes in Old Europe, and your governments send nogoodniks (chuckle) to this here country. I believe very strongly that in the broader principle of our foreign policy that globalization is a powerful force for the ongoing march of democracy... trade is a critical tool as we focus upon... why just this morning President Uribe of Columbia called to cement our Free Trade Agreement by connecting the dots, and, uh, have you looked for your husbands in Columbia?"

Snark aside, my sympathies are with the ladies. They have obviously wasted their time and they know it. The white bag probably has a signed photo and a box with a flag lapel pin... and that is all they will get from "America".

Carolly