Video: Bush’s watch stolen while meeting crowd in Albania; Update: U.S. embassy denies; Update: Bush has the watch, says Snow

posted at 8:59 am on June 12, 2007 by Allahpundit

They claimed to be pro-American. But all they wanted was the watch.

Pay close attention between 3:15 and 3:08. Heart-ache.

The United States Embassy in Albania on Tuesday emphatically denied that Bush’s watch was stolen during his visit to the country, where he was acclaimed as a hero…

“What the local media is saying is absolutely not true,” an embassy official, who declined to be named, said…

An Albanian bodyguard who accompanied Bush in the town told The Associated Press he had seen one of his U.S. colleagues close to Bush bend down and pick up the watch.

The Top Channel private TV station showed how one of his bodyguards may have talked to the president and then taken the watch from his hand.

Bush does look down twice after he starts interacting with the crowd, first at 3:12 and then at 3:07.

Update: The watch is secure. Repeat — the watch is secure.

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

Those Albanians love anything with a picture of Micky Mouse on it.

fogw on June 12, 2007 at 9:04 AM

Heh.

Jaibones on June 12, 2007 at 9:05 AM

Bill Clinton still swears that’s what happened to his pants.

saint kansas on June 12, 2007 at 9:12 AM

I’m hoping that watch was a gift from Vicente Fox or something. Wouldn’t that be delicious…

Hoodlumman on June 12, 2007 at 9:13 AM

I bet this is the nut of the story that CNN et al will cover. :)

BJ* on June 12, 2007 at 9:13 AM

Bush had to have noticed–the guy’s hand is struggling with his watch for several seconds. But he didn’t seem to react to the theft at all. I dunno, maybe he didn’t notice until later. There were an awful lot of people grabbing at him in that crowd. Must be weird to go from BDS shunning in the United States and in the rest of Europe to rock-star status in Albania. Now he knows what the Barack Star feels like every day on the campaign trail!

aero on June 12, 2007 at 9:15 AM

Makes no difference, Boosh has no idea the time of day, with or without a wrist watch.

Wade on June 12, 2007 at 9:18 AM

Those Albanians love anything with a picture of Micky Mouse on it.

*snicker*

I wonder how often that happens when he greets large crowds like that.

wilkeson on June 12, 2007 at 9:19 AM

i’d say it takes serious ba…er guts, to steal the POTUS’ watch right off his wrist!

Think we’ll see it on ebay?

flipflopper on June 12, 2007 at 9:23 AM

“I stoled Boosh watch! I stoled Boosh watch!”

JohnW on June 12, 2007 at 9:26 AM

Who noticed that his watch was stolen in this video, by the way? Did you catch it, AP? If so, pretty impressive observation skills!

aero on June 12, 2007 at 9:27 AM

Heart-ache, yes. Funny, sadly, yes.

nailinmyeye on June 12, 2007 at 9:32 AM

Now that will make one hell of an heirloom.

flipflop on June 12, 2007 at 9:39 AM

Okay, that is funny but sad at the same time. What was the Secret Service doing?

Catie96706 on June 12, 2007 at 9:43 AM

Okay, that is funny but sad at the same time. What was the Secret Service doing?

Probably having their sidearms lifted as well!

Dread Pirate Roberts VI on June 12, 2007 at 9:47 AM

Who noticed that his watch was stolen in this video, by the way? Did you catch it, AP? If so, pretty impressive observation skills!

I received it from a 2x Jeopardy Champion who lives in DE and is one of the most intelligent people I know. Where she got it I don’t know, but I would not be surprised it is came through the PJCN (Past Jeopardy Champions Network). I passed it along to HOTAIR, who may have already had a copy in their possession.

Dread Pirate Roberts VI on June 12, 2007 at 9:53 AM

Gypsies! Has it appeared on Ebay yet?

paulsur on June 12, 2007 at 10:02 AM

Wow! Albanian anchors are way hotter than ours.

ronsfi on June 12, 2007 at 10:04 AM

Someone from moveon.org or code pinko must have infiltrated the crowd. I’m surprised they weren’t sniffed out, with their known penchant for body odor.

roninacreage on June 12, 2007 at 10:04 AM

So, if we activate the homing signal embedded in the watch designed to find the president if Air Force One crashes over New York City, then we send in an ex-SpecForces commander to retrieve it, then we can also bring back Earnest Borgnine,……
uh….what’s that?
what movie?
Escape from where?
nope never seen it……

CBarker on June 12, 2007 at 10:05 AM

Wow! Is that really the president? Our president?!

4shoes on June 12, 2007 at 10:08 AM

I’ve seen the Secret Service up close and they are obviously very intimidating. Which leaves me puzzled, like another poster said, at this incident. Who has the guts to actually pull this off??

Baphomet on June 12, 2007 at 10:25 AM

He’s clearly hell bent on selling out Europe to Islam (with a new base in “independent Kosovo”) as he is America to any takers. Their stealing his watch is a symbol of things to come.

Drum on June 12, 2007 at 10:28 AM

Bush will probably try to get them into the immigration bill as well.

It might double his approval rating.

WisCon on June 12, 2007 at 10:29 AM

HA HA HA, Bush is cheaper than Clinton! According to Times Online is a $50 Timex!

Ropera on June 12, 2007 at 10:32 AM

Tomas, there’s some nice watches on sale at Target if you need a replacement…

ricer1 on June 12, 2007 at 10:35 AM

I think when he goes into situations where he has to press the flesh with unwashed Ex-Eastern Bloc’ers, he probably don’s clothes and accessories than he can afford to have sullied, or in this case, lifted.

Mindcrime on June 12, 2007 at 10:36 AM

Someone might want to check Sandy Buglers underwear.

Wade on June 12, 2007 at 10:39 AM

The Albanians can keep him.

Bad Candy on June 12, 2007 at 10:40 AM

Don’t tell anyone but there was a Micro-SD card in the watch. Bush really an MI7 plant by Tony Blair and this is all part of the grand plan to depants the queen.

- The Cat

MirCat on June 12, 2007 at 10:44 AM

HA HA HA, Bush is cheaper than Clinton! According to Times Online is a $50 Timex!

I don’t know, and I’m not holding my breath, but could that cheap watch could be a sign of foresight and wisdom and an understanding of who he’s dealing with; a sign of maturity in statesmanship and political wisdom?

Naaaah!

Drum on June 12, 2007 at 10:46 AM

Whoever did it, we need to recruit that guy for the CIA… that takes guts ! LOL !

Maxx on June 12, 2007 at 10:48 AM

You know, that was a smooth maneuver. Has David Blaine been traveling with the Prez?

Drum on June 12, 2007 at 10:49 AM

A cheap watch will likely won’t be stolen if he is kidnapped, and a digital watch like a Timex can easily hold a tracking microchip inside. I know, I’ve watched too many Bond movies…

Ropera on June 12, 2007 at 10:53 AM

Bush “can take a lickin and keep on ticken”
unfortunately on the shamnesty bill ;:- (

well someone had to use this obvious TV quote from the past

abinitioadinfinitum on June 12, 2007 at 10:58 AM

Shows what they think of him.

One more sucker.

(They must have been reading his immigration bill… “Hey, you get to rob them, and they reward you?!?! What a crazy country!”)

And W’s dumb enough to wear a watch that doesn’t slip over your wrist.

Schmuck.

profitsbeard on June 12, 2007 at 11:00 AM

HA HA HA, Bush is cheaper than Clinton! According to Times Online is a $50 Timex!

Timex makes a watch over $15?

Well they already have the thievery that accompanies prosperity in a free market! Their on their way.

Shouldn’t he loose his hand? According to Islam!

Drtuddle on June 12, 2007 at 11:09 AM

U.S. embassy denies

The government is so predictable, always telling the little people not to believe their own eyes.

Maxx on June 12, 2007 at 11:22 AM

Okay, I think the watch did fall. Someone may have been trying to take it off him–there’s a hand that holds his wrist for several seconds, seemingly grabbing at the watch–but it does look like it fell. The first time Bush looks down is the moment the watch disappears from his wrist.

aero on June 12, 2007 at 11:26 AM

He’s lucky the watch was all he lost. What a stupid stunt! Lucky he wasn’t stabbed or injured….

soulsirkus on June 12, 2007 at 11:30 AM

YOu guys are pathetic…you make me ill.

tomas on June 12, 2007 at 11:32 AM

Yikes! Tough crowd in here today. Surely we can all think of something Bush did that we like. The Albanians seem to think he’s okay.

jdpaz on June 12, 2007 at 11:32 AM

Hey Putin stole Kraft’s 4.94-carat, diamond-encrusted 2005 Super Bowl ring. At least Bush only lost what looks like a cheap plastic watch.

TheBigOldDog on June 12, 2007 at 11:46 AM

Checking E-bay in 3…2…1…

Mazztek on June 12, 2007 at 11:55 AM

Bush “can take a lickin and keep on ticken”

I have to watch that again… was someone licking Bush?

Mazztek on June 12, 2007 at 11:56 AM

“Bush does look down twice after he starts interacting with the crowd, first at 3:12 and then at 3:07.”

Yeah — he was checking to see if they were also stealing his pants and shoes.

Drum on June 12, 2007 at 12:06 PM

Yeah — he was checking to see if they were also stealing his pants and shoes.

Drum on June 12, 2007 at 12:06 PM

Come on now, let’s not be smearing the Albania people just because of one crook in the crowd. Who cares about the stupid watch anyway ?

Maxx on June 12, 2007 at 12:12 PM

T-shirt slogan

The President of the United States came to Albania and all I got was his stupid watch.

Canadian Infidel on June 12, 2007 at 12:30 PM

I don’t know. At 3:03 it looks like it’s still there. But the image isn’t so great.

Attila (Pillage Idiot) on June 12, 2007 at 12:43 PM

Bush is being taken for more than his watch.

Albanians love the US in that special way that is particularly popular in the middle east: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Let’s not all get suckered.

IrishEi on June 12, 2007 at 12:45 PM

He was pretty fortunate…remember what happened the last time an Albanian was allowed near a world leader?

James on June 12, 2007 at 12:47 PM

The still photo on foxnews.com shows another guy with his finger under Bush’s wedding ring! Hell another 10 minutes and he might have lost is virginity as well!

Dread Pirate Roberts VI on June 12, 2007 at 1:07 PM

Courtesy of Derb at The Corner on NRO:

This story offers an excellent opportunity to recycle a Soviet-era joke.

Stalin and Khrushchev are taking a tour of their Eastern European satellites in Stalin’s special train.

Khrushchev [who is the clueless unworldly peasant in all jokes of this genre]: “I can’t keep track of these damn countries. Where are we now?”

Stalin: “What time is it?”

Khrushchev [looking at watch]: “Ten o’clock.”

Stalin: “Well, then, this must be Czechoslovakia.”

[Somewhat later] Khrushchev: “I’m lost again. What country are we in now?”

Stalin: “What time is it?”

Khrushchev [looking at watch]: “Two thirty.”

Stalin: “Well, then, this must be Hungary.”

[Somewhat later] Khrushchev: “Sorry, I’m lost yet again. What country are we in now?”

Stalin: “What time is it?”

Khrushchev [lifts wrist to look at watch]: “Hey! My watch! It’s gone!”

Stalin: “Ah, this must be Romania.”

Brat on June 12, 2007 at 1:23 PM

Regardless, I thought that was a great scene.

mesablue on June 12, 2007 at 1:48 PM

We must have a full investigation!

Drtuddle on June 12, 2007 at 2:04 PM

Don’t you know? Anyone who has that watch has a immigrate to the US free card.

Bush is sending 12-20 million of them to Mexico….

Tim Burton on June 12, 2007 at 2:32 PM

At 2:13 the watch is still there.

Next time driving through L.A., be sure and have your arm out the window with a Rolex watch on. They are professional at riding on bikes down the middle lanes stealing nice watches.

That bastard Karl Rove.

right2bright on June 12, 2007 at 3:01 PM

the fact that the watch wasn’t stolen kind of ruins a lot of what people were saying on here…

but I was thinking about this

Bush is thinking: (in best southern drawl) Heck ya! I’m moving here when my 2nd term is up! People actually like me here!

j_ehman on June 12, 2007 at 3:11 PM

How about taking up a collection and getting him a gold watch as an….early retirement gift!

Dread Pirate Roberts VI on June 12, 2007 at 3:16 PM

I wish it was stolen. Now they will say Bush put it in his pocket because he didn’t trust those people not to take it. The games we play…oh my.

tomas on June 12, 2007 at 3:51 PM

fogw on June 12, 2007 at 9:04 AM

Bush wears this watch.

csdeven on June 12, 2007 at 4:16 PM

T-shirt slogan

The President of the United States came to Albania and all I got was his stupid watch.

Canadian Infidel on June 12, 2007 at 12:30 PM

Me likey.

- The Cat

P.S. What was Bush thinking; shaking hands like that. Hasn’t he seen the season 2 ending of 24?

MirCat on June 12, 2007 at 4:18 PM

Bush wears this watch.

csdeven on June 12, 2007 at 4:16 PM

Hey, I have one of those, really!

Brat on June 12, 2007 at 4:21 PM

“Watch out Mr. President, they might take your watch”. “Wach ya saying? Waaa”

This, if true, w/b normal over there. It’s the comm*nist indoctrination for so many years “what’s yours is mine”. If we don’t watch out, it’s coming over here, slowly but surely. Be very allert in 2008.

Entelechy on June 12, 2007 at 4:40 PM

Slow news day, yup, slooow news day.

bmac on June 12, 2007 at 4:41 PM

This is news — why?

amerpundit on June 12, 2007 at 4:50 PM

BUSH ZHYTET MES TURMES

RightWinged on June 12, 2007 at 4:54 PM

I told you those Albanians were not to be trusted!

AdrianG on June 12, 2007 at 6:11 PM

John Cameron Swayze would be proud.

Buck Turgidson on June 12, 2007 at 7:11 PM

It was clear to me. I saw the hand grab the watch and when Bush moved and shook others hands the watch was gone.