The good news for George W. Bush is that in his first trip abroad since leaving office, he is not likely to be charged with war crimes.
Today, George W. Bush comes to the relatively friendly territory of Calgary, Alberta: Canada's most conservative city, the hub of Canada's oil industry, and a city with no small number of expatriate Texans.
And no war crimes charges, according to the Toronto Star.
"There's no possibility right now to serve him with any papers," said Gail Davidson, a Vancouver lawyer with the international group Lawyers Against the War. "We will next time or the time after that."
http://www.thestar.com/...
Of course, that's not to say Dubya can expect a warm welcome. Plans are afoot to offer him as chilly a reception as possible.
http://www.cbc.ca/...
A coalition calling itself People vs. Bush has planned a week of protest activities, starting Wednesday at noon with a banner display near the downtown Telus Convention Centre, where Bush is set to speak next week "on eight momentous years in the Oval Office" and "the challenges facing the world in the 21st century."
Group spokeswoman Collette Lemieux said the activists will come from as far away as Vancouver and Toronto to participate.
Bush is definitely a toxic brand in Canada, while Obama is probably the best brand there is. The Federal Conservatives saw their poll numbers go up ten points after President Obama came to Ottawa and established a warmer rapport with Prime Minister Stephen Harper than expected.
So it will be interesting to see what business and political leaders turn up for Bush's address. And it will also be interesting to see if they enter the Telus Convention Center with bags over their heads.
A comment entry on the CBC site is telling. Victorysail writes:
This shameful event is partly being organized by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. I am going to join the protest against G.W. Bush tomorrow, and tear up my membership card of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in front of the convention center.