New World Order
May 26th, 2008Prime Minister Stephen Harper brushed off fresh security concerns about his foreign minister’s ex-girlfriend today, insisting he doesn’t take “seriously” questions about the woman with past ties to biker gangs. Amid new reports raising security concerns about Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier and his past relationship with Julie Couillard, Harper issued only a terse response. “I have no intention to comment on a minister’s former girlfriend,” he said at the conclusion of a joint news conference with visiting Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko. “I don’t take this subject seriously.” But Liberal Deputy Leader Michael Ignatieff, citing a report in Le Devoir, renewed calls for Bernier to be fired for compromising national security. Couillard — who had links to the criminal biker underworld as recently as 2005 — is the head of a high-tech firm that has been involved in security at airports, the French daily reported.
US President George W. Bush donned a black leather biker jacket Sunday as he was given honorary membership in the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group which paraded through Washington to honor veterans on Memorial Day. Tens of thousands of members of the biker group joined the parade down the US capital’s main boulevards Sunday in the group’s annual “Ride for Freedom” event to celebrate US soldiers and sailors and press for greater benefits for veterans. Rolling Thunder leaders including National Executive Director Artie Muller met Bush at the White House, where they presented him with the vest in honor of their 21st Memorial Day ride.
Bush called the masses of motorcycles, which he observed from his helicopter just moments before, “a magnificent sight. We just choppered in, Artie, and saw your brothers and sisters cranking up their machines and driving through the nation’s capital — many of them have got the flag on the back,” Bush told them. “And I am just so honored to welcome you back. I want to thank you and all your comrades for being so patriotic and loving our country as much as you do. And our troops appreciate you, the veterans appreciate you and your president appreciates you,” Bush said.
Make up your own mind, dear reader.
(I would like to note that I made very small syntax changes to the article, but nothing significant and no changes to quotes or text. Just deleted spaces so that this post wouldn’t be twenty broken up paragraphs.)