I'm amazed at the anger and hostility directed toward Mandela manifested on this thread.
For once, I agree with Ted Cruz. Those who condemn him for what he said are true neanderthals.
Nearly keeled over in shock reading that!
But yeah - I agree. Sure, he was a communist and a terrorist -
when he was young. No doubt about that.
People change.
27 years hard labor will change anyone. When he became president of SA he didn't turn it communist, he didn't exact revenge on those who had been in power before, and he insisted on peace. It is a pity he was too old to effectively reign in the ANC, and that the reforms he pushed through effectively but inevitably pushed the presidency to a more ceremonial role. Being president in SA is like being Emperor in Japan or the Queen of England. Theoretically you have a lot of power, practically you have none.
As for the original post - of course the Clinton's and Bush's are going. Both the former Presidents had a long and solid working and personal relationship with Mandela. Since the Worm is taking Air Force 1 there anyway, why shouldn't they hitch a lift on it to pay their respects?
Though one thing might be of interest: A friend of mine posted something on FB. He has a lot of SA friends, plus a lot of UK, Russian and American friends. Not a single one of his SA friends - black or white - has posted anything at all about Mandela.