Bush Calls Shots, Then Retreats

NEPTUN, Romania — Are we done here?

President Bush apparently thought so when he ended a news conference yesterday with his host, President Basescu of Romania.

"Thank you. Thank you very much," Mr. Bush told reporters, a phrase meaning, "That's it, folks." Typically, as a matter of courtesy and protocol, the host decides when such an event is over. But Mr. Bush has been known to ignore that practice.

In Colombia in 2004, he sought to end a session with reporters even when President Uribe was ready to take more questions. In Belgium in 2005, he tried to cut off a news conference before his host, NATO Secretary-General Scheffer, was finished.

Then there was yesterday's abrupt moment in Romania, when Mr. Bush figured the question-and-answer session was done. He strolled over to Mr. Basescu and asked if he was ready to take a walk by the water.

"Just a moment," Mr. Basescu interjected politely.

Oh.

"He's not through," Mr. Bush observed. Mr. Bush headed back to his podium, on the beach of the Black Sea at Mr. Basescu's picturesque retreat.

The Romanian president took a few moments to comment about an important issue in his country, the availability of visas for people to visit America.

Then — finished for real this time — the two leaders took their stroll by the water.