Where did Kiir get his ten-gallon hat?
Former U.S. President George W. Bush hasn’t addressed the U.N. General Assembly in years, but his presence could still be felt at this year’s annual debate. When President Barack Obama declared that the "tide of war is receding" he was trying to mark a break with the Bush era, when the United States opened military ...
Former U.S. President George W. Bush hasn't addressed the U.N. General Assembly in years, but his presence could still be felt at this year's annual debate.
Former U.S. President George W. Bush hasn’t addressed the U.N. General Assembly in years, but his presence could still be felt at this year’s annual debate.
When President Barack Obama declared that the "tide of war is receding" he was trying to mark a break with the Bush era, when the United States opened military fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
But Bush’s presence could also be felt in an unexpected moment.
When Salva Kiir Mayardit, president of the newly independent South Sudan, delivered his country’s first address before the U.N. General Assembly, he wore a giant Texan cowboy hat.
The hat was possibly a gift from Bush, who presented the South Sudanese liberation leader with a large cowboy hat in a 2006 visit to the White House. Apparently, Kiir liked it so much he purchased a couple of his own, according to source close to Kiir. The president’s attachment to the hat, which he often wears at U.N. events, may reflect his gratitude for Bush’s commitment to South Sudan’s independence and his administration’s role in brokering the landmark 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which set the stage for the country’s independence referendum in January.
Or he may just think it looks cool.
During his speech, Kiir expressed his "most sincere and profound gratitude to the entire international community for the warmth with which our state has been welcomed into" the world’s community of nations. "I would like to seize this opportunity once again to salute many of you who have stood with us during our long struggle. We are indebted to many friends in this great hall." And apparently, to some who were not at Turtle Bay this week.
Follow me on Twitter @columlynch
Colum Lynch was a staff writer at Foreign Policy between 2010 and 2022. Twitter: @columlynch
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