‘God Bless America’: George W. Bush Will Soon ‘Walk on Our Soil’

With President Bush expected to step off Air Force one in the obscure West African nation of Benin, the people of the country are prepared to shower him with almost unprecedented praise. It will be the first visit of an American head of state in that nation’s history. In the gushing words of this op-ed article from Benin’s Fraternite newspaper, ‘To state it plainly, the boss of the White House will share with us his American virtues. God Bless America. Hopefully the divine blessing enjoyed by the heirs of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson will descend on a nation singing of a New Dawn.’

Sulpice O. Gbaguidi

Translated By Kate Davis

February 15, 2008

Benin – Fraternite – Original Article (French)
The main event of mid-February is, undoubtedly the visit to Benin by American President George W. Bush. The leader of the global superpower should be walking on our nation’s soil tomorrow, Saturday. Or, to state it plainly, the boss of the White House will share with us his American virtues. God Bless America. Hopefully the divine blessing enjoyed by the heirs of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson will descend on a nation singing of a New Dawn.

According to the Foreign Ministry statement, “the visit is part of an African tour the American president will make lead to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia.” History tells us that the last tour of Africa by George W. Bush was in July 2003. And at that time, he went to Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and Nigeria. It’s clearly a privilege and an honor to welcome an American president. Not since we achieved independence in 1960 has an American president landed at the Cotonou Airport; from John Kennedy (who was in power in 1960) to Clinton, and including Lyndon Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush’s father. Benin’s list of honors is short and meager. The arrival of Bush Junior means therefore that he has an appointment with history.

Even though the visit by the head of the White House will be nothing more than a three hour stop at Cotonou Airport, he will breathe the fresh air of change. On the road to development, Benin is willing to expose itself to the contagion of economic development. Boni Yayi [President of Benin ] should drink in the advice of the most powerful man in the world. The president can boast of having removed a cruel weight of history by attracting the leader of the greatest army on the planet to Benin.

Bush Junior couldn’t resist our efforts to consolidate democracy and social development in our country. This visit, which is a diplomatic victory for Yayi’s team, looks like a bonus brought about by democracy and a barometer of change for the regime. …

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing African press coverage of President Bush’s tour.