Amnesty International has called for the arrest of George W. Bush when the former U.S. President visits Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia later this month. The not-for-profit organization believes Bush should be arrested and detained for human rights abuse.

Throughout his eight years as President, Bush authorized the use of waterboarding – which simulates the sensation of drowning – and other interrogation techniques that many human rights groups regard as torture. Matt Pollard, senior legal adviser to Amnesty, said:

“International law requires that there be no safe haven for those responsible for torture; Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia must seize this opportunity to fulfill their obligations and end the impunity George W. Bush has so far enjoyed.”

Bush, who visits the east African nations this week to raise awareness about cancer in Africa, has previously defended the use of waterboarding, saying it is key to avoid a repeat of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

A Bush arrest seems unlikely, however. For the past two years, former British prime minister Tony Blair has avoided arrests by citizens, despite campaigns such as this. The likes of Blair and Bush often travel with a large security escort (many attempted Blair arrests have been brushed off by these bodyguards), and the men are widely seen as untouchable.

The waterboarding debate was recently reignited in the GOP presidential debates, leading politicians across the spectrum (from McCain to Obama) to reinforce their opposition to the practice. Those who disagree waterboarding is torture are welcome to try it for themselves, as one pro-waterboarding radio jock did.

Amnesty International Calls for George W. Bush Arrest in Africa is a post from: The Inquisitr

Back in the day, the band sold 10 million copies of its first four albums, yet went their separate ways in 2002 after a decade together and nine top ten singles in the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

The 45-year-old Rossdale has done plenty of solo work during his Bush interim, and has also become a family man with Stefani (they have two young sons). Yet he says the release of album “The Sea of Memories” last month made him realize that Bush was his future:

“I felt the other stuff was cool. They were brilliant, but it was more default than by design. That whole time I was doing those other things I was thinking, ‘Man, why is it not Bush? This is so crazy.’ [...] Now I’m so pleased because I’ve got my voice back. To be in Bush and to be in the band you’re basically born to be in, it’s like a suit of armor. It’s very exciting.”

Once he decided to reform Bush, Rossdale reached out to original drummer Robin Goodridge and guitarist Chris Traynor, who replaced co-founder Nigel Pulsford in 2002. Bassist Corey Britz was included in place of Dave Parsons.

Pulsford reportedly refused the chance to rejoin the band, with Rossdale admitting Pulsford “doesn’t want to travel anymore; he’s doing his own thing.”

For the new album, Bush left major label Interscope (“Every single person who worked with us at Interscope (Records) had been fired. It was a sinking ship, the worst way to bring out a new record on the planet” says Rossdale) and instead released the record on Zuma Rock Records. And Rossdale says it’s an album for longtime Bush fans:

“This time I thought what I should do is embrace the people who I know like me and really enjoy Bush. That’s what I focused on. I made my audience my muse.”

Gavin Rossdale: Bush Return Felt ‘Inevitable’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

In this video, former Presidents Clinton and Bush are immersed in their diplomatic duties in Haiti following January’s catastrophic earthquake that left hundreds of thousands dead in the impoverished nation.

Clinton and Bush are shaking the hands of Haitian people in the clip, but at one point Bush appears to feel something unpleasant on his hand. He shakes it around for a few seconds before settling on the next logical action: wiping the offending substance on President Clinton’s shirt.

So, is Dubya being a snob or is Clinton just way more used to having questionable substances on his hands?

Bush shakes hands with Haitian, then wipes it on Clinton’s shirt is a post from: The Inquisitr

A billboard that has popped up on I-35 in Wyoming, MN, is getting a lot of national attention today.

The massive ad features a smiling, cocky ex-President Bush and is simply emblazoned with the phrase “miss me yet?” An interesting composition, but what I can’t work out is if it was funded by someone who is for the current president or anti-Obama. While the red state placement and slogan would seem initially to suggest the latter, the pose and relative horror being visited upon Americans due to the mistakes of the previous administration might actually indicate that the sign is the work of the former.

Think about it- wouldn’t someone who is pro-Bush have picked a more stately picture? In the one featured on the “miss me yet?” billboard, the former POTUS looks just like the moron we remember for destroying the fabric of our country over the past eight years. That’s “mission accomplished” Bush. That’s “heckuva job, Brownie” Bush. I’m almost inclined to think that the billboard is actually a reminder to keep focused on how relatively good we have it now.

Whose idea was the “miss me yet?” billboard? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Outgoing US President George W. Bush has issued commutations for two former U.S. Border Patrol agents convicted in 2006 of shooting an illegal alien who was smuggling drugs.

Ramos and Compean were sentenced to 11 and 12 years respectively for shooting Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks while he was trying to flee along the Texas border. Davila admitted smuggling several hundred pounds of marijuana on the day he was shot and pleaded guilty last year to drug charges related to other smuggling attempts.

The prison sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean will now end on March 20.

“The president has reviewed the circumstances of this case as a whole and the conditions of confinement and believes the sentences they received are too harsh and that they, and their families, have suffered enough for their crimes,” said a senior administration official reported CNN.

The announcement gained bipartisan support.

Bush Issues Commutations For Ex-border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean is a post from: The Inquisitr

“Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?” January 2000 campaign event in South Carolina.

“I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.” September 2000 on Energy Policy.

“Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people.” – July 2008

“There’s no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail.” October 2001

And so, in my State of the — my State of the Union — or state — my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation — I asked Americans to give 4,000 years — 4,000 hours over the next-the rest of your life –of service to America. That’s what I asked — 4,000 hours.” -State of the Union Address: April 2002

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” August 2004.

and for good measure: “And they have no disregard for human life.” July 2008.

“Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die.” December 2006.

“It was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship. After all, 60 years we were at war 60 years ago we were at war.” June 29, 2006, to the Japanese Prime Minister.

“These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved.” June 2007

“Mr Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit.” APEC Summit: September 2007.

“I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office.” June 2008.

“Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.” September 2004.

“The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there’s jobs at the machine-making place.” May 2008

“This thaw – took a while to thaw, it’s going to take a while to unthaw.” October 2008.

There’s an old saying in Tennessee – I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee – that says, fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.” September 2002.

Farewell 43: George W Bush Quotes is a post from: The Inquisitr

What a difference two terms can make. This classic clip from the 2000 Presidential debates features George Bush castigating Al Gore over among other things “nation building” foreign policy, with Bush referring to his focus on the United States remaining humble to earn respect.

It’s actually staggering listening to it. Can’t say I disagree with him back then though

(via Donklephant)

George Bush Foreign Policy 2000: Amazing is a post from: The Inquisitr

I can’t help but agree with Peter Wells, in some ways we’ll miss George W Bush.

Letterman’s Top Ten George Bush Moments is a post from: The Inquisitr

One of the more bizarre allegations from Republicans during this years Presidential Election campaign was that a hand bump between President Elect Obama and wife Michelle was a “terrorist fist jab.”

I guess the terrorists did win then if President Bush and Santa are partaking in the same actions

Seasons Greetings from the Whitehouse c/- Wonkette.

President Bush, Santa do the “Terrorist Fist Jab” is a post from: The Inquisitr

SockAndAwe.com, which was created by the people behind a soon-to-launch comedy site called PopJam, was bought by British Web services company Fubra on Friday — just four days after the site debuted.

Incidentally, the guy who created Sock and Awe is the same one who made headlines for setting up the Million Dollar Homepage in 2005. Alex Tew made a name for himself by making a million dollars off selling individual pixels of the page for $1 each.

As for Sock and Awe, Tew tells Reuters the site was overwhelmed with traffic from the get-go.

“We’ve spent the last three days trying to keep the servers alive and we’re meant to be working on our other main startup PopJam. So we whacked it on eBay,” he says.

Tew says he’ll use the money made from the sale to further his new project.

Bush Shoe Throwing Game Site Sold For $7,818 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sock and Awe: The Bush Shoe-Throwing Game

The game — called “Sock and Awe!” — was developed by soon-to-launch comedy site PopJam. It lets you test your shoe-throwing skills as a Flash-based Bush jumps around the screen.

Thus far, the U.S. is leading the game’s scoreboard, followed by France and Australia.

UPDATE: The site has been sold, just four days after its launch! And not for too small of a pricetag, either. Details here.

Bush Shoe Video Goes Viral

So just how much of a phenomenon is the Bush shoe throwing video? A pretty massive one, according to some newly released stats. Online video analysis firm Visible Measures found the clip had attracted more than 5.5 million views and 48,000 comments as of Monday — just over 24 hours after its Internet debut.

The kicker to it all: The last time a video grew that quickly, the company says, was when President-Elect Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech. The Obama video pulled in 5 million views and 200 placements in its first 24 hours. The Bush shoe dodge video was up to 4.4 million views and 650 placements in that same timespan.

Throwing Shoes at Bush: The Video Game is a post from: The Inquisitr

It wouldn’t surprise anyone who has ever watched his show that Keith Olbermann took great delight this week at the Bush Iraq Shoe incident, but thankfully for us, he served another purpose as well: a great wrap of all the Bush Shoe animations, gifs and games that have sprung up online since the incident took place.

Here’s Keith Olbermann talking Bush shoes, including footage of the best online piss-takes.

Best Bush Shoe Animations and Gifs care of Keith Olbermann is a post from: The Inquisitr

The First Dog, Barney has made his final appearance on Barney Cam, the White House’s corny and occasionally funny annual Christmas video.

The latest instalment, and the last with President Bush in his last days of office, sees guest appearances from Olympic gold medalists Michael Phelps and Nastia Liukin, along with Bush; first lady Laura Bush; first daughters Barbara and Jenna; and Jenna’s new husband, Henry Hager.

The theme this year is a red, white and blue Christmas, but unfortunately it doesn’t hit the spot like many of its predecessors, trying to hard yet not really delivering. A bit like the President some might say.

We’ve taken the video from The Washington Post; even in 2008, the Barney Cam video isn’t offered as an embed from the White House.

Barney Cam 7: The Final Outing is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wanted Terrorist: Suspected supplier of shoes in the Presidential shoeing.

Wanted Terrorist is a post from: The Inquisitr

US President George W Bush had an interesting reception at a press conference in Iraq Sunday when a journalist decided to throw his shoes at him.

Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi hurled two shoes at President Bush while shouting “It is the farewell kiss, you dog.”

President Bush, not always known for his quickness with words showed skill during the attack, managing to duck as both shoes were thrown.

The soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. President Bush laughed off the incident, saying: “It doesn’t bother me. If you want the facts, it was a size 10 shoe that he threw”.

Here’s the Bush Shoe video:

Man Throws Shoes at Bush (video) is a post from: The Inquisitr

The American auto industry may be on the edge of collapse with the US Senate set to reject the proposed $14 billion auto bailout, the last opportunity to approve the bailout until the new year.

The formal vote is still to be had, and Democrats said that they would present it anyway, but talks with minority Republicans failed to find support.

The White House said in a statement that it would evaluate its options, but declined to say what those options may be. Democrats have previously asked that some of the $700 billion bailout package approved in October be used to prop up the auto industry, an approach President Bush has so far rejected.

Oh well, they can always sell their corporate jets, that might cover GM and Chrysler for a day of two until they file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Senate to Auto Industry: No Bailout for You is a post from: The Inquisitr

As the Bush family prepares to pack their bags and head back to Texas, some of the retrospectives have been looking at both George W Bush and wife Laura Bush’s pasts, and some media reports and an episode of The Family Guy mentioned the fact that Laura Bush killed a guy.

It’s a sad story, but also completely true: First Lady Laura Bush did kill a guy, although a very long time ago.

In 1963 when then 17, Laura Bush ran a stop sign in a crash that killed a friend in another car. Some reports say it was her then boyfriend in the other car. The police report was released in 2000, and noted that Laura wasn’t charged with a crime for the death.

“It was a terrible, terrible thing,” she said. “I know this as an adult, and even more as a parent, it was crushing … for the family involved and for me as well.”

The big question though is why she wasn’t charged way back then. Perhaps the rich got even better treatment in Texas back in 63.

Update: here’s the clip from The Family Guy

Fact Check: Laura Bush killed a guy is a post from: The Inquisitr

In one of the more strange American traditions, US President George W Bush has pardoned his last Thanksgiving Turkey.

The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation ceremony (yes, it has an official title) takes place at the White House every year. The President is presented with a live turkey to Pardon from being eaten, and the Turkey gets an all expenses paid trip to Disneyland to head the Disney Thanksgiving Day parade then retire as President Bush put it to spend the “rest of their days in The Happiest Place on Earth.”

This years lucky birds were Pumpkin and “a backup bird” called Pecan. “In keeping with a longstanding tradition, Pumpkin and Pecan are hereby granted a full and unconditional presidential pardon” said the President.

Footage from MSNBC as follows.

President Bush pardons his last Thanksgiving Turkey is a post from: The Inquisitr