ABC's choice of story content here reflects the unhealthy culture and atmosphere of the ABC news room. What's notable is the absence of reporting the content of our President's speech. His call for other countries to join him in efforts for freedom for Burma by implementing sanctions. I wonder if its possible for ABC news could shift its perspective from anti-Bush to pro-USA.

I'm sure the "Hate Bush" crowd will knee-jerk a quick hateful response before realizing that it is proper procedure and SOP (standard operating procedure)in speech writing and delivery to ensure good understanding for the people listening. In the global environment a quaint deviation in pronunciation can take on a completly different meaning depending on the nationality of the listener. This is always taken into consideration whenever possible.

Great idea since names in other languages aren't always pronounced likes they look in English. Heck, English words and names often aren't even pronounced the way they look like they should be. This is not an uncommon thing. When the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs songs in other languages, the words to the songs are spelled phonetically on their sheet music.

The President of Columbia University, in his speech denouncing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stumbled over many of the words of his speech.

Nobody is calling him an idiot, now are they?

Well, except for the Iranian Hitler.

Well, the man's no genius. I don't care where he graduated from. But, in his defense, those are words with a lot of consonants. I'm sure many of our fine journalists and news reporters need some pronunciation guides when it comes to names and places. However, he's been in office for a while now. If he can't recognize and pronounce these proper names by this time in his career - perhaps we all had better reconsider who we vote for next time around. Maybe instead of all the mudslinging, there should be a spelling bee? Or some sort of grammar bee?

Can anyone really be surprised that he can't say words properly? Come on. At this point, we should know better! Actually, we should probably be giving him a piece of candy for every word he says right the first time!

Those who are quick to accuse Bush of being an idiot for mispronouncing words...do you consider JFK a "dunce" and "idiot"? Afterall he prononced "Cuba" as "Cuber", and yet I never heard anyone describe him as a dunce. Makes you wonder.

To Toma_Zachary:
There were a couple of problems with your sentences as well.

You said:
"...so many people think it is normal the leader.."

You may have meant:
"...so many people think it is normal for the leader.."

You said:
"...utter illiterate"

You may have meant:
"...utterly illiterate"

Go get an education then come back and criticize others.

God bless him - he's doing his best.

Once again, our Idiot-in-Chief, has shown the world that he is a first-class moron. The next Democratic president, who will be inaugurated in just 484 days, will have a monumental task in restoring the prestige of the United States in the world, as well as daunting tasks of cleaning up the many other DickNBush messes. I wish the best for our next Democratic president.

It's too bad they got the pronunciation of Mauritania wrong. The actual pronunciation is mawr-i-TEY-nee-uh. Idiots guiding an idiot! Is it any wonder the US gets no respect?

Oh really? Come on ABC NEWS, you're better than this! You put two darn reporters on this garbage piece and made me take time out of my life to read something that isn't news worthy! I have a Ph.D in Psychology and speak around the country and sometimes, I have a hard time pronouncing some of the long medical terms so spell them out in a way I could pronounce it without sounding foolish.

I think most people forget how nervous you get when making a speech in front of a group of people. Now add to that, having to pronounce the names of African tribes and countries, French leaders, and places you hardly ever hear of. Now I'm the furthest thing from a Bush supporter, but this is simply a silly and useless story.

**YAWN*** This must have been a slow news day. Where is the terrorist dictator that were were covering yesterday... NOW THAT'S NEWS!

Oh really? Come on ABC NEWS, you're better than this! You put two darn reporters on this garbage piece and made me take time out of my life to read something that isn't news worthy! I have a Ph.D in Psychology and speak around the country and sometimes, I have a hard time pronouncing some of the long medical terms so spell them out in a way I could pronounce it without sounding foolish.

I think most people forget how nervous you get when making a speech in front of a group of people. Now add to that, having to pronounce the names of African tribes and countries, French leaders, and places you hardly ever hear of. Now I'm the furthest thing from a Bush supporter, but this is simply a silly and useless story.

**YAWN*** This must have been a slow news day. Where is the terrorist dictator that were were covering yesterday... NOW THAT'S NEWS!

When 9-11 was happening, I saw videos,pictures of Bush sitting in a Kindergarten Class. My question is, was he a guest speaker, or fellow student?

The Whole World must be THRILLED!

But.......

Bush is still a liar.

Bush is still an embarassment.

Bush is still a disgrace to every American.

Hi, I hope that A-B-C realizes
that this is COMMON practice in speeches.

I understand exactly how all you Bush haters feel. I feel exactly the same way about Bill Clinton. Now HE was embarrassing. I haven't been so ashamed of a president since Jimmy Carter and his brother, Billy, who urinated in public.

I the words of B. Kliban..."The Madonna does not function".

Leave the PRECEDENT alone!!!! sniff...sniff...sniff...you people don't even deserve the work this man does for you....leave the PRECEDENT alone!!!! sniff...sniff...sniff...do you want to see me cry my eyes out for the next 20 years to teach you non grateful losers a lesson...because I will...you just dare me...you are all CREEPS...sired by nixon most likely....LEAVE THE PRECEDENT ALONE....sniff...sniff....sniff....dear hollywood and the networks I am ready to sign up to the best offer...WORD UP

Actually, yes I could (and have) pronounced "Kyrgyzstan" correctly with no prompting.

If I was going to present a speech, I would want to pronounce names correctly. Hats off for the effort...why is this even news?