Cut and paste by office intern allows White House to stand proud. Again.

[chuck]

Bush 'sorry'.

Why should he be sorry - get the muppet who proofread the press kit out in front to apologise to Berlusconi.

And anyway - there's truthiness in both of these comments:

It says Mr Berlusconi was said to be "regarded by many as a political dilettante (amateur) who gained his high office only through use of his considerable influence on the national media".

Doesn't Berlusconi own most of the media in Italy?

He was "one of the most controversial leaders" of a country "known for governmental corruption and vice".

And the problem with that statement is what exactly???

I know it's not exactly diplomatic - but it's good for a laugh and I'm sure the journos were yakking it up.

The online version of the Encyclopedia of World Biographies doesn't seem to have Silvio - perhaps they were using a book.

You think they'd just supply a link to wikipedia.

[cacophony]

During Mr Bush's farewell tour of Europe last month, Mr Berlusconi called the US leader "a personal friend of mine and also a great friend of Italy".

To which Mr Bush responded: "You're right. We're good friends."

doesn't that just sum bush up nicely? someone says something eloquent and appropriately intelligent for a national leader, and bush responds with something akin to, "yup."