bush says god selected him for presidency

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LONDON, November 4 ) - A new book quoting U.S. President George W. Bush as
saying that God had chosen him to lead the nation was released, raising
expectations to stir up controversy at a time Washington is keen to portray
its "war on terror" as non-religious.

The Faith of George W. Bush, written by Christian author Stephen Mansfield,
details numerous incidents where Bush's faith has been shown to be at the
centre of his political thinking, The Observer reported Sunday, November 2.

In the lead-up to announcing his candidacy for the presidency, Bush told a
Texan evangelist that he had had a premonition of some form of national
disaster happening.

"I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can't explain it, but I
sense my country is going to need me. Something is going to happen... I know
it won't be easy on me or my family, but God wants me to do it," Bush told
James Robinson, according to the British daily.

In another incident, Mansfield recounts how, on Palm Sunday last year, Bush
was flying back from El Salvador aboard the Presidential jet Air Force One
and seemed to be destined to miss church.

But some officials, knowing that Bush hated to miss a service, suggested
they worship in the air. Bush agreed, and soon 40 officials were crammed
into the plane's conference room.

The service was led by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, while the
lesson was read by close Bush aide Karen Hughes, according to the book,
quoted by the paper.

Praying With Iraq Casualty

Among Mansfield's revelations is his insistence that Bush and Tony Blair
have prayed together at a private meeting at Camp David. Blair has
previously denied this.

Mansfield, however, says that, while there were no witnesses, aides were
left in little doubt as to what had happened.

He told The Observer: "There is no question they have shared scripture and
prayed together".

Bush and Blair were staunch supporters making the case for attacking Iraq,
with the former always criticized for putting a religious spin on his
justifications to invade the Arab country.

The author also proves anecdotes about Bush that had previously been
dismissed as false.

Mansfield tracked down witnesses and a hospital chaplain who said that Bush
had prayed with a young soldier who had lost a hand in Iraq, ending by
kissing him on the forehead and telling him he loved him.

Last week, Bush stood before a cheering crowd at a Dallas Christian youth
centre, and told them about being 'born again' as a Christian.

"If you change their heart, then they change their behavior. I know," he
said, referring to his own conversion, which led to him giving up drinking.

"King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords", proclaimed the two banners behind him,
in a move the writer said shows the symbolism of how fervent Christianity
has become deeply entwined with the most powerful man on the planet could
not have been stronger.

As few U.S. Presidents have been as openly religious as Bush, the book is to
give ammunition to critics who say that Bush's administration is heavily
influenced by extremist Christians.

Bush is already under fire for allowing the appointment of General William
Boykin to head the hunt for Osama bin Laden, Washington blamed for the
September 11 attacks.

Boykin, who speaks at evangelical Christian meetings, once said the war on
terror was a fight against Satan, and said the Muslims' God was not a real
god but just an "idol".

Bush has also been accused of a 'creeping Christianisation' of federal
government programmers, according to the Observer.

In September, the government made more than $60 billion available for
religious charitable groups.

Critics say the groups will be able to use the cash to promote their
religion. One group that benefited from previous grants was an Iowa prison
project that entitled inmates to televisions, private bathrooms and
computers - in return for Christian counseling.

In April, Bush came under fire after calls for prayers for a U.S. victory in
the Iraq war that had been earlier branded by the World Council of Churches
(WCC) as immoral and unwise.

Pope John Paul II also censured him, asserting that the American president
assumed a "grave responsibility before God" in deciding that diplomacy to
avoid conflict with Iraq had been exhausted.