'Tens of thousands' lined Hanoi streets during Bush visit

The fact that President Bush was photographed with a bust of Ho Chi Minh during his trip to the Communist-controlled Vietnam isn't as important as the "tens of thousands' who lined the Hanoi streets while he was there, according to a spokesman.

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President Bush appears with bust of Ho Chi Minh during visit to Vietnam

The photographs have raised concerns from several quarters in the days since Bush was in Vietnam for visits with officials of the one-party, Communist government there.

Among those expressing concern was Anne Jacoby, whose husband is an Army officer who served in Vietnam. She wrote to the Washington Post that she was horrified to see the president smiling in front of the carving.

At Monday's press briefing at the White House, Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent there, asked presidential spokesman Tony Snow, about the circumstances.

Jacoby noted that the photo was "disrespectful of those Americans who served so bravely against hideous atrocities sanctioned by Ho Chi Minh."

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"And my question … where were the president's advisors when he was allowed to be seen in that photo op?" Kinsolving asked Snow.

"I don't want to pick a fight with Ms. Jacboy, so I will not. But the president was meeting with the elected leaders in Vietnam in their chambers, each of which featured some statuary that involved Ho Chi Minh," Snow said.

"The other thing I would point to Ms. Jacoby is she would have been moved by the fact that tens of thousands in Saigon, and maybe hundreds of thousands in Saigon, and at least tens of thousands in Hanoi lined the streets when the president came," Snow said. "This is a country that loves Americans, that is eager for free markets, and for closer contacts with the United States of America.

"And in a sense, if you take a look at the battle between communism and free markets, you're going to find that the desire for freedom and entrepreneurship is very strong in Vietnam," he said.

Vietnam is where America lost a 20-year fight against communism a generation ago. Bush said he was hopeful the two nations have reconciled after the military battles.

He sat under a bronze bust of the Communist leader during his meeting with Communist Party leader Nong Duc Manh as well as Vietnam's president, Nguyen Minh Triet, officials said.

In response to WND's second question, Snow, however, said he didn't believe Bush has spent much time considering the problem of the United State's lack of control over its borders, and the potential threat posed by that uncontrolled access.

"WorldNetDaily quotes two Republicans, Colorado Republican Tom Tancredo, as saying, the president of the United States is an internationalist who believes that America is an idea, not an actual place defined by borders. I mean, this is where this guy is going! And another re-elected Republican, Ron Paul, of Texas, denounced plans for the proposed NAFTA super highway. And my question, what is the president's comment on these two statements by re-elected Republicans?" said Kinsolving.

"This is not the sort of thing – let me see, what has the president been doing? Oh, yes, he's been spending a lot of time thinking about the war in Iraq. He has completed two significant foreign trips. I'm not sure he's had time to review the in-box. And, frankly, I don't know if either forwarded their thoughts to the White House, but I will assume on the basis of your question, they have been forwarded herewith."

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