For a man rarely seen out of a sombre suit and tie, it could be seen as an inappropriate gift for Gordon Brown -- and even more so given the political sensitivities in Britain of the invasion of Iraq.But US President George W. Bush gave Brown a present of a fur-trimmed leather bomber -- or aviator -- jacket when the prime minister visited him at his Camp David retreat, north of Washington, Sunday and Monday.
The brown jacket has a name tag with the prime minister's official title -- "Rt Hon (Right Honourable) Gordon Brown" -- on the left breast and a Camp David badge with the presidential seal on the other.
[...]
In return, Brown gave Bush a political biography, according to British broadcasters.
You just know George thought he'd gotten the short end of that stick.
It is the exact same design worn by President Bush when he stood on an aircraft carrier 30 days into the Iraq war to declare "mission accomplished".
What's the message in this particular gift?
Brown rarely goes out in public in anything but a jacket and tie.And friends last night predicted he would 'not be seen dead' in a bomber jacket, even one carrying the presidential seal and the "Rt Hon Gordon Brown" in gold on a patch, and trimmed with a fur collar.
Its value is likely to exceed the 140 pound limit on ministerial gifts, which means Brown must decide whether to buy it, or allow it to be put into storage.
I guess we'll know where the "special relationship" stands if we ever see that jacket on Mr. Brown, eh?
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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