Sweet Picks One Up On Her Radar

Sweet sent in this news item. Why would these foreigners send gifts to Bush? They certainly aren't looking for a tax cut. Maybe it's more of a "please don't blow up our country" type of gift. Thanks Sweet.


Bush Received Weapons Cache From Jordan
Collectibles, DVDs, bling highlight foreign leader gift list

President George W. Bush received a $10,000 sniper's rifle, six jars of fertilizer, 11 antique handguns, ten pounds of dates, and a DVD of "Singin' in the Rain" from various foreign leaders, according to a report filed today by the U.S. Department of State.

Included in Bush's haul (which gets sent to a government archive) were assorted Dallas Cowboys merchandise from Saudi Arabia's Prince Bandar, a $125 braided leather whip from the Hungarian prime minister, and a copy of "The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook" from the Sultan of Brunei. The Asian leader also gave Bush DVDs of "Singin' in the Rain" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Jordan's King Abdullah gave Bush $12,000 worth of antique weapons, including a pistol dating to 1780, and a $10,000 Dakota Arms sniper's rifle. He also provided the president with six jars of "various fertilizers" valued at $60.

The Tunisian president gave Bush $60 worth of dates. First Lady Laura Bush received an $1150 Chanel purse from the French president's wife and a $12,500 Mounier & Bouvard clutch from the King of Morocco. Vice President Dick Cheney scored a $400 set of white gold cufflinks "with Arabic lettering symbolizing good fortune and health" from the Jordanian king, while former Secretary of State Colin Powell received a Bulgari necklace set from Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal. At $24,500, the gold and diamond jewelry was the most valuable gift from a foreign official. While Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld received some nice bottles of wine, his most unique gift came from Jordan's King and Queen, who gave Rummy a $380 aromatherapy gift set.

For the entire list, go to The Smoking Gun's site.