Anti-Bush Graffiti: 25 Countries, Six Continents

Barack Obama recently made headlines with his eight-day tour of Europe and the Middle East.Many analysts here and abroad agree it was a smart political move for the U.S. presidential nominee, but some argue it was just a drop in a substantial bucket of goodwill needed to improve international relations with America.As President George W. Bush nears the end of a mostly disastrous eight-year term, he too should be given credit for public appearances overseas.Traveling by air — er, compressed air, that is — and landing on everything from brick walls to telephone poles to the doors of trash chutes, Bush boasts a presence in just about every last world.

Sofia, Bulgaria
Faded from foot traffic, the sidewalk mugshot reads: Wanted Dead: George W. Bush, for crimes against humanity and the planet.


Berlin, Germany
Bush faces off with Osama bin Laden outside a record store in Berlin. War is terror, the caption reads.
Senator Obama’s tour included a stop in Berlin, where he gave a speech to a crowd of more than 200,000. American blogger Fred Wilson responds: “This kind of worldwide popularity is something we need in the US right now.”


Colonia, Uruguay
This makeshift banner welcomed Bush to Uruguay in March of 2007, when Bush met with President Tabaré Vasquez.
Translated, the greeting reads: Your dead, hungry, unemployed, disappeared [illegally imprisoned], lying cronies salute you.


Durango, Mexico


Wellington, New Zealand
Give Bush an inch, and he’ll bomb a country, one stencil remarks.
Bush’s critics argue he never should have sent troops to battle without Congressional approval. Legally, the power to declare war lies in the hands of the Congress, not the President.

Gullbringusysla, Iceland
Flanked by missiles, could Bush be folding his hands in prayer?

San José, Costa Rica
Translation: Mentally ill in service of capital.

Rome, Italy

Melbourne, Australia

Rosario, Argentina
Joyfully riding a missile — gut protruding, cowboy hat waving — Bush’s embodiment of Texan stereotypes is as much the subject of this artist’s mockery as the President’s flippant attitude toward explosives.


Mito, Japan
Prolific graffiti artist Og Akim shares his rich political artwork at the X-Color exhibit in Japan.


Johannesburg, South Africa
A donkey-eared Bush and his toy tank ponder their next move.

Israel
Bush is pictured here with Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister when this photo was taken in 2006.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine
Bush, a United Methodist, tries on some Devil horns in the city of Jesus’ birth.
On June 10, 2000, the President declared Jesus Day in Texas.

Riga, Latvia

Victoria, BC, Canada
On a brick wall in Victoria, British Columbia, Bush discusses world domination with Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper. (The dialogue references a mid-90s animated television show, Animaniacs, which began airing in Canada late last year.)

What are we going to do tonight, George?
What we do every night, Steve. Try to take over the world.

Belfast, Northern Ireland
Lyrics to the United States national anthem take on a less hopeful meaning.

Wrocław, Poland

Styria, Austria



London, England
Painted on a wall facing East London’s members-only Shoreditch House is this poignant portrait.