President Rewards Like-Minded World Leaders With State Visits

U.S. President George W. Bush has used his Texas ranch for many world leaders' state visits. Now he has even had Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sit in on his highly classified morning intelligence briefing on global affairs and terrorist activities and given President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines special treatment as well. Japan has recently launched its first spy satellite to focus intensively on North Korea, and the Philippines is closely cooperating with the U.S. in fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia. Leaders of Australia, Britain, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Spain have all been the American President's ranch. These personal visits are designed to ensure a strong coalition in the war on terrorism and on cooperation in Middle Eastern affairs, says the author of this article. – YaleGlobal