Barack Obama sends bust of Winston Churchill back to UK

[FAH1223]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... itain.html

A bust of the former prime minister once voted the greatest Briton in history, which was loaned to George W Bush from the Government's art collection after the September 11 attacks, has now been formally handed back.

The bronze by Sir Jacob Epstein, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds if it were ever sold on the open market, enjoyed pride of place in the Oval Office during President Bush's tenure.

But when British officials offered to let Mr Obama to hang onto the bust for a further four years, the White House said: "Thanks, but no thanks."

Diplomats were at first reluctant to discuss the whereabouts of the Churchill bronze, after its ejection from the seat of American power. But the British Embassy in Washington has now confirmed that it sits in the palatial residence of ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald, just down the road from Vice President Joe Biden's official residence. It is not clear whether the ambassador plans to keep it in Washington or send it back to London.

American politicians have made quoting Churchill, whose mother was American, something of an art form, but not Mr Obama, who prefers to cite the words and works of his hero Abraham Lincoln. Indeed a bust of Mr Lincoln now sits in the Oval Office where Epstein's Churchill once ruled the roost.

Churchill has less happy connotations for Mr Obama than those American politicians who celebrate his wartime leadership. It was during Churchill's second premiership that Britain suppressed Kenya's Mau Mau rebellion. Among Kenyans allegedly tortured by the colonial regime included one Hussein Onyango Obama, the President's grandfather.

The rejection of the bust has left some British officials nervously reading the runes to see how much influence the UK can wield with the new regime in Washington.

Now it is likely that Gordon Brown will offer a alternative symbol of Anglo-American fealty when he visits Washington to meet Mr Obama for the first time since he became President. Diplomats are still working to finalise a date for the visit which is expected in the final week of this month or early in March.

One suggestion, given Mr Obama's interest in the Lincoln era, is that Mr Brown should offer an artefact relating to the career of John Bright, the 19th Century MP and political reformer who became the most prominent British supporter of Lincoln's Union forces during the American Civil War.

A British Embassy spokesman said: "The bust of Sir Winston Churchill by Sir Jacob Epstein was uniquely lent to a foreign head of state, President George W Bush, from the Government Art Collection in the wake of 9/11 as a signal of the strong transatlantic relationship.

"It was lent for the first term of office of President Bush. When the President was elected for his second and final term, the loan was extended until January 2009.

"The new President has decided not to continue this loan and the bust has now been returned. It is on display at the Ambassador's Residence."

[zulaika]

why to go Obama...who'd want the aura of Churchill around unless you're of the same cut..EVIL.

[Basra-]

Really zulaika?? I would think you will appreciate the aura of Churchill given that both of ya suffer from episodic, somewhat chronic depression. Correction Churchill suffered, he longer suffers from depression. He is dead.



Fah

Obama refused the painting not because of the abuse his mau mau kenya relative received in the hands of churchill, but that obama in general is just a racist. He is wayyy pro--black than pro white or as he wants to 'portray' daily----- pro-neutral. The very basis of his support for Lincoln is -- the dead depressed president supported anti slavery. I truly think Obama is just too paranoid at the white folks. He is just too smart, too harvard educated, he can easily coneal his regulated hatred.

[Cawar]

Churchill has less happy connotations for Mr Obama than those American politicians who celebrate his wartime leadership. It was during Churchill's second premiership that Britain suppressed Kenya's Mau Mau rebellion. Among Kenyans allegedly tortured by the colonial regime included one Hussein Onyango Obama, the President's grandfather.

Raggeedii.

[guhad122]

See, many of you here were doubtful about this man during the campaign...Only few like Fah and myself never gave up hope because we knew this guy was the real deal Tell the Britz to take that back and shuffle in their faggggggggy azzezzz

[peace-]

Churchill the greatest briton ever

[Babygirl-]

Really zulaika?? I would think you will appreciate the aura of Churchill given that both of ya suffer from episodic, somewhat chronic depression. Correction Churchill suffered, he longer suffers from depression. He is dead.



Fah

Obama refused the painting not because of the abuse his mau mau kenya relative received in the hands of churchill, but that obama in general is just a racist. He is wayyy pro--black than pro white or as he wants to 'portray' daily----- pro-neutral. The very basis of his support for Lincoln is -- the dead depressed president supported anti slavery. I truly think Obama is just too paranoid at the white folks. He is just too smart, too harvard educated, he can easily coneal his regulated hatred.

Yes we can always depend on you to be Pro-White..

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle,

[Amethyst]

"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it." - Churchill
Well your dead and long gone. History Shall NOT forget you, but it sure wont be so forgiving either.

lol...I found myself reading thru this and thinking....um...What tha Fock is a bust? lol. Btw. Obama is a man of many faces. Saying Thanks but No Thanks, to that thang prolly signifies the end of a Neo-colonial presidential mindset, or whatever...but it wont mean that it'll put a strain on the cross Atlantic relationship to their smaller cousin across the pond!

[Basra-]

Baby

r u actually rebutting my quote? Since when did u grow intelligence cells?



Amethyst -- huh??? butaac waxiiid.

[Amethyst]

Amethyst -- huh??? butaac waxiiid.

Yesss, More cushion for the pushin. ! Fock ii quote-gareene oo iga rabtaa, tho? I don't get it.

[Babygirl-]

Fatty we can agree on one thing, that you really think you are white!!

[Babygirl-]

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/chapp ... 3907642761

[Padishah]

Good riddance to the smirking chimp of a Britisher.

As for the greatest Briton ever; that particular Duke that finally dealt with that Corsican midget with Megalomaniac tendencies.