POLL: Bush and those Albanians

Remove all ads!

Bush went to Albania just recently, where he 'hugged the crowds' in a nice photo op. Foreign policy must be good for something I reckon.

Now Albania is the sort of place where I wouldn't even like to be buried (which in Albania, can be arranged), even though my view is probably unfair and does injustice to some nice mediterranean landscape -- but then, I could go to Croatia, where the people are civilised and, unlike the Albanians, they have abandoned the practice of vendetta.
To make it short, Albanians have sort of a bad reputation, founded in the perception that primary Albanian exports are the Albanian Mafia, and Albanian pickpockets. Followed by textiles and shoes. That explains a lot about what follows.

I just watched this little clip about Georgies visit to Albania and it appears to me that while he was enjoying the group hugs, some crafty Albanian stole his watch from his arm, under the eyes of the Secret Service. Watch the watch, and take care of all the arms that touch Bush's arm. It really looks like it.

While Tony Snow was quick to comment that Bush put the watch into his pocked, I find that implausible after watching the clip. This article sais that the watch fell off and a bodyguard picked it up. So maybe a failed attempt of theft? I wouldn't discount that.

But all this conrtradicting information confuses me, and probably the truth is already a state secret. I want clear results. To find out the truth, let's POLL!

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 8 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Bush and those Albanians (8 votes.)

Was Bush's watch lifted or not? (Choose 1)
* Yes, it was lifted. - 50% (4)
* No, it just fell off Bush's arm. - 13% (1)
* It was tried to lift the watch, but the attempt failed. - 38% (3)

 

If they'd caught the man, there would probably have been some kind of fuss. Since they're wasn't, I suppose it was lifted and they're trying to sweep it under the carpet...

 

Judging by the description of the video the poster claims it has been proven that he took it off and put it in his pocket. I personally would like to think that it was lifted, as that would be a fantastic story. Almost worthy of Ocean's 14

 

Well atleast somewhere Bush is liked, and to be fair Albania has progressed a lot, considering what it was ten years ago or so. There might still be hope for that country.

 

It's gone.

As 0:51 his watch is still on the left wrist, then a group of hands wrap around all over his forearm, and though he lowers his arm for a moment, out of shot behind all the hand-shakers/huggers, it goes nowhere near his pants. By 1:03, his left wrist is bare.

And so what? Somebody got a cool souvenir; good for them. If presented the same opportunity, I'd be hard pressed to say I'd do anything differently. One of the most powerful people in the world, and you get to shake hands with him and grasp his arm - are you NOT going to try to get a keepsake?

An eon ago, when Prince Charles and Princess Di visited, my mother and some of her friends met some of the crew of the Royal Yacht; somehow she managed to persuade/cajole/trick one of them into giving her his uniform cap - she's still got the momento.

If I were Bush, I'd be admitting it and laughing it off - it's a TRIVIAL thing to lose during a 'pressing the flesh' exercise; almost a due expense of it.

To cover this up shows how insecure the Administration is; they cannot show any weakness or foible of their puppet.

EDIT: Oh, and Rags? Ya ain't gonna get the TRUTH by asking a poll of people who weren't directly involved in the event - just opinions!

 

jaded, you sure?

 

Saw the video a few days ago and lmao. This video has some better quality though, and now I can see that he still has the watch after those 'critical' frames. It looks like he felt 300+ Albanians trying to make a grab for his watch (which would be genetical ), he quickly pockets it and walks on.

Bush learned something again, when hundreds of Europeans are cheering for you and want to touch you, they just want your valuables.

 

Yeah, I saw it (actually, my boss showed it to me), and it seems that his watch did get stolen. BTW, the Albanian authorities said that it was later found and given to Laura Bush before the couple left.

From what I know, it was a normal Timex, which makes sense in a way - you don't want to carry too much valuables if you are meeting a crowd like that . However, it had an inscription on the back with the date Bush entered into office, so it would be one heck of a souvenir. It's a pity they had to give it back - if they did, that is, and it's not the Albanian government trying to downplay the situation.

Mind you, I am more worried about what Bush was saying while in Albania than what he left there...

 

I saw the clip on Colbert's show, and it looked to me as if you can clearly see an Albanian hand working the watch off Bush's wrist.

 

It would be greatly embarrasing for the Albanian government if Bush went public about this. So from a diplomatical point of view it's probably better for everyone to keep this down, if the watch was stolen that is.

 

This reminded me of this movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/

"Albania is hard to rhyme."

 

Um....which of the several things I opined about do I need to be sure of again?!?

Well, after re-reviewing it, I'm torn between "someone lifted the watch successfully" or "he felt someone start to lift the watch, pulled his hand back, and it fell on the ground on his side of the barrier". I'm sure Bush doesn't have his hand close enough to any pocket nor for enough time to place the watch in one.

And to drift on a tangent like I always do I'm actually surprised he came back from that 'scrum' with all ten fingers - accomplished pickpockets (of any ethnicity!) can pilfer things in the blink of an eye - a pro would've passed up on the watch and instead made off with Bush's FINGERNAILS! (c'mon - a fortune on eBay! )

 

Apparantly it was stolen: some expert commented that you can see the movement on sec. 57. And the best thing is, the newspapers said that it will be sold at E-bay

Is this a fad among US politicians now? When McCain went to Iraq, someone from his group bought carpets for 20 dollars, now Bush leaves his watch... Is this some form of undercover development aid or what ?

 

"Bush learned something again, when hundreds of Europeans are cheering for you and want to touch you, they just want your valuables."

It could happens in my neighbourhood as well.
Same thing happens to a famous(local) Argentinian Football trainer in the near Republic of Paraguay.
It almost a copycat of the Bush incident.