What Bush Did on his Summer Vacation

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush has no better partner in Latin America than the leader of Colombia so it's not surprising that Alvaro Uribe was invited to see the Texas ranch where Bush likes to conduct homespun diplomacy.

For Bush, Uribe's visit on Thursday is a way to bolster the leader of a nation that is fighting terrorists and drug lords and working to build better trade relations with the United States.

For Uribe, the trek to Texas comes at a critical moment in Colombia where rebels, funded by narcotics trade, kidnapping and extortion, have been struggling topple the government and establish a Marxist-style state. Outlawed right-wing paramilitary forces also have been battling the rebels. The 40-year-old conflict kills more than 3,000 people every year, mostly civilians, with allegations that human rights abuses are being committed on all sides.

Uribe is meeting with Bush after recently signing the "justice and peace" law, which aims to dismantle paramilitary forces that also are heavily involved in drug trafficking and reintegrate them into the legal side of Colombian society. Critics say the new law goes too easy on criminals.

If official visits are evidence of the closeness of U.S.-Colombia relations, then it's clear the two nations are fast friends. Bush visited Colombia in November 2004, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Bogota in April, the department's third-ranking official was in Colombia last week and now Uribe's visit.

Uribe is hoping the United States will continue sending money to help train and equip Colombian police and armed forces to fight guerillas and paramilitary groups.

Take note Bush-bashers:

Yesterday, the President delivered a speech to the American Legislative Exchange Council during its 32nd annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas. The ALEC brings together over 2,400 state legislators from all fifty states.

In his address, Bush spoke about his second term accomplishments and priorities, including the necessity to press forward in the War on Terror.

Now today, Bush is meeting with Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe. The President is hosting the Latin American ally at his ranch. It's the latest in a series of "official visits" that U.S. and Colombian leaders have had.

Got that, libs?

Bush delivered a speech yesterday and is holding meetings with a foreign leader today.

It's August. The President is currently on what's been called the "longest presidential retreat in at least 36 years."

As Bush takes heat from the Dems, the lib media, and assorted nuts on the Left for being away from Washington for so long, it's interesting to note what the President is REALLY doing on his summer vacation.