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^
Not sure about that!
Seen in Malta
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2007/05/158.jpg
Nicolas Sarkozy jogging with a NYPD T-shirt (unless it was a NYFD one)…
https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif
And it’s rumored that French carriers are off the coast of Iran!:D
^ in your dream, Boon, if you think that France Foreigner Policy is going to change that much with the new midget at the top
France doesn't have to help us restore order in Iraq or disarm Iran. It just has to abandon its Chiraquien foreign policy line of total obstructionism to any US proposal. Sarko's early statements suggest that he is prepared to make this shift.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly
I think Sarko will be more pro-US but I doubt he will waste too much time cozying up to the walking corpse that is the Bush administration.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon MeeFrance doesn't have to help us restore order in Iraq or disarm Iran. It just has to abandon its Chiraquien foreign policy line of total obstructionism to any US proposal. Sarko's early statements suggest that he is prepared to make this shift.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly
not really, it's a tradition since DeGaulles, and it has been strengthened under MitterandQuote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
If you didn't treat your allies like shit and try to screw them at every chance, maybe there wouldn't be a need for a Chirac foreigner policy
The French Generals, which Sarko will need for his own security at the Palace, are very Anti-American and follow a long DeGaulles tradition of independence. He will do as they will tell him to do, because if he doesn't, it will break their line of cooperation, something you don't want to do as President and Commander in Chief.Quote:
Originally Posted by mad_dog
^
Well, de Gauille did it with his Algerian Generals and got away with it...
and almost got him killed, and eventually had to go :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
and he was a General, not a midget civilian (and young) telling the old Generals what to do
PS: and it's DeGaulles
The French can be bloody awkward, thats for sure, and have an independent line in their foreign policy rather than a 'Bloc' mentality.That don't mean they can't be right however.
I remember classic Gallic/ De Gaulle obstructionism when Britain wanted to enter the Common market. We got there in the end, but it took a few years and basically on French terms- meaning the UK had to fund substantially more than it's fair share of the EC budget for a number of years.Also, a trade fight involving Japanese electronic imports, which the French banned, or heavily tariffed, for a while. They were ordered to open up their market by the WTO. In a classic piece of Gallic obfuscation they complied with the ruling- but decree'd all imports of Japanese electronics had to enter the country through the smallish town of Poitiers! Needless to say, the backlogs were enormous.:)
yeah remember that one, in the mid 80s. Even the French were mad because they couldn't buy cheap VCR anymore. The problem was currency control as the FF was weak, and more imports with Japanese dumping techniques were putting too much pressure on the inflation (already high) and the weak currencyQuote:
Originally Posted by sabang
I don't think so. Sarko has clearly declared on his election speech that France is a friend of USA but friends don't have to agree on every issue or political decision. I think France will never go on board with US invasions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
On the other hand I think that the street will never allow the french government to send their army in an unjustified war, don't forget that opposition in France have a strong power and democracy there is not the same as in USA.
Say it ain't so, Sarko!
Nicolas Sarkozy has met with Hubert Védrine and is said to be considering the former foreign minister (praised for his anti-Americanism) for the foreign affairs post again!
Well, I suppose it was too much to hope for...:confused:
He is a socialist and a great guy. Very articulate. This would be great news. Could be also a PM candidate in a latter election. Excellent choice. Maybe Sarko is not so bad after all.
Oh, what a sophisticated way of telling the yanks "Fuck off, there won't be any change in our foreign policy" :)
I think I'll open that bottle of black Renault now..
What's often forgotten, is that a change of government rarely is followed by radical changes on all fronts, it's basically still the same people in parliament doing the debating and voting, and they are still representing France.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
A wise move IMO.
Much Better!
After toying with the (atrocious) idea of Hubert Védrine in the foreign minister's seat (hopefully only as a political ploy to show an opening to the left), Sarkozy now seems to be considering Bernard Kouchner at the Quai d'Orsay…:D
Hehe, another socialist and known for his violent anti-American rants in the past.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
He is a former head of Medecins sans Frontieres
:D
^
Well, Sarko's biggest obstacle is the French government bureaucracy. This is his way of tricking that group of paper-pushing utopian elitists to engage itself. And, possibly self-destruct (we hope). I wonder if he has read Machiavelli's The Prince? Bet he has...:)
On a related note: Al Qaeda’s European wing, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, is promising “a bloody jihadist campaign” in France, for electing “Zionist Sarkozy.”
Not sure it will improve with him at the top. The socialists previously did much a better job for a smaller bureaucracy, only to have it reversed by the most recent government with Sarko at the top. Expect Sarko to make things worse in that department in the name of "security".Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
Adieu...and don't come back.
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2007/05/209.jpg
But here's a good choice if things work out that way:
"French chattering classes are increasingly agitated by the possibility of Bernard Kouchner being named Minister of Foreign Affairs because of his reputation of being the architect of the policy known as le droit d'ingérance (which is really just a way of saying "pre-emptive strike" with alot of fancy "human rights" notions thrown in so the UN will swallow it) and his early support of the war in Iraq. Oh, and he's a longtime Socialist and 1968er and he's getting ready to jump ship.."
Heh.:cool:
note the word EARLY, he is very much against the disaster that has become Iraq.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
And DeVillepin was pretty good, he just shot himself in the foot by trying to shoot down Sarko before the election by setting up some special op ala Watergate on Sarko (ClearstreamGate). He would have been elected President. Not sure if Sarko set him up for this, but wouldn't be surprised if he did.
Sarkozy has appointed Bernard Kouchner to be his foreign minister. This is good news in the sense that it means the anti-American hack Hubert Vedrine will not be the foreign minister.
Michael Ledeendescribes Kouchner as a socialist mugged by reality. It will be interesting to see if he gets mugged again, this time by the reality of being France's foreign minister dealing with Condi!:)
^ The other socialist wouldn't be able to accept the post anway, too controversial. Probably another dirty trick by Sarko to "play" the Socialists.
Kouchner is a bit of a pussy though and is known for his tamper when pushed too hard. He should be fine. Still better than the other guys from Sarko UMP
The new PM however is a real wanker. Expect a lot of unrest this fall. He will be the new Juppe of Sarko. I can see already the band rolls with his name on it.
Here’s a portrait of Bernard Kouchner.
"He's motivated by an anti-totalitarian drive whether he sees injustice from the left or the right," Holbrooke said. "It will be very positive for U.S.-French relations because he does not come with a visceral anger towards the American 'hyperpower.' "
Note the lack of 'visceral anger'?
If anything else, we're off to a better start than expected...;)
^ he doesn't have the anger yet, because he hasn't be fucked yet.
A few rounds with your typical Bush administration officials will fix him rapidly. He will be swearing against americans in a very colorful fashion in no time