President Bush: 'Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter'

[Guest guest]

_http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/2277298/President--Bush-'Good

bye-from-the-world's-biggest-polluter'.html_

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/2277298/President--Bush-'Goodby\

e-from-the-world's-biggest-poll

uter'.html)

Telegraph.Co.UK

President Bush: 'Goodbye from the world's biggest

polluter'

By Winnett, Deputy Political Editor and Urmee Khan

Last updated: 7:52 AM BST 10/07/2008

Bush surprised world leaders with a joke about his poor

record on the environment as he left the G8 summit in Japan.

The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his

presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a

private meeting with the words: " Goodbye from the world's

biggest polluter. "

He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of

those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked

on in shock.

Mr Bush, whose second and final term as President ends at the

end of the year, then left the meeting at the Windsor Hotel in

Hokkaido where the leaders of the world's richest nations had

been discussing new targets to cut carbon emissions.

One official who witnessed the extraordinary scene said

afterwards: " Everyone was very surprised that he was making a

joke about America's record on pollution. "

Mr Bush also faced criticism at the summit after Silvio

Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, was described in the

White House press pack given to journalists as one of the " most

controversial leaders in the history of a country known for

government corruption and vice " .

The White House apologised for what it called " sloppy work " and

said an official had simply lifted the characterisation from

the internet without reading it.

Concluding the three-day event, leaders from the G8 and

developing countries proclaimed a " shared vision " on climate

change. However, they failed to bridge differences between rich

and emerging nations on curbing emissions.

**************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music

scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com!

(http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)