Bush Claims, “This is Intimidation by Barbaric People”

U.S. President George W. Bush on June 22 (local time) condemned the murder of Kim Sun-il, saying, “I would hope that President Roh would understand that the free world cannot be intimidated by the brutal action of these barbaric people.”

The answer came at a press conference in the White House on the same day, following a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, when one of the reporters asked Mr. Bush, “In the wake of the beheading of the South Korean national, what are you doing to ensure that South Korea sticks to its plan to send an additional 3,000 troops to Iraq?”

“We (The United States) cannot be intimidated by these barbaric people because we believe strongly in freedom, liberty, human rights, human dignity, freedom to worship as you see fit, and freedom to speak your mind. And I believe President Roh understands that,” he answered.

“What they`re trying to do is they`re trying to shake our will and our confidence. They`re trying to get us to withdraw from the world so that they can impose their dark vision on people,” Mr. Bush argued.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com