IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING:

No back rubs, Bush promises Merkel (Reuters, January 05, 2007)

US President George W. Bush, who raised eyebrows with an impromptu neck massage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel last year, promised today not to repeat it.

"No back rubs," he told her with a smile at the end of a joint news conference after White House talks.

The German chancellor smiled sheepishly in response.