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DanS
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Kickball Capital of the World
Jan 1970
time: 00:18
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Here Chirac goes again. Pissing on the US and trying to make Blair look like a Bush stooge. This guy would be muzzled, if he weren't the French president. What does he gain by being perpetually disagreeable? Emphasis added to the juicy parts.
quote:
US does not pay back favours, says Chirac
Blair got nothing for support of US in Iraq, says French president
Jon Henley and Amelia Gentleman in Paris and Michael White
Tuesday November 16, 2004
The Guardian
Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac clashed openly last night over the future course of Europe's relationship with the United States as the prime minister insisted they must work together for world peace and the French president suggested it is increasingly pointless.
Mr Chirac, speaking ahead of his state visit to London, said that Britain had gained nothing in return for supporting the US over Iraq and that he did not think "it is in the nature of our American friends today" to pay back favours.
"I'm not sure, the US being what it is today, whether it is possible for anyone, even the British, to play the role of the friendly go-between," he said.
The French president's words came in direct contradiction to Tony Blair, who insisted last night that Europe needed to work with America and could help shape its policies. Mr Blair used a keynote speech in the Guildhall in London to warn Europe to stop "ridiculing American arguments and parodying their political leadership" and to concentrate on persuading Washington that "terrorism won't be beaten by toughness alone".
But Mr Chirac said Britain's special relationship with the US had brought few dividends. "When the divergence of views between France and Britain was at its height, when the English wanted to follow the Americans and we didn't ... I said to Tony Blair, your position should at least serve another purpose," Mr Chirac said.
"You should obtain in exchange for it a new start for the peace process in the Middle East. Because that is vital. Well, Britain gave its support (on Iraq) - but I have not been impressed by the payback."
The clash occurs two days before Mr Chirac visits London to conclude months of celebrations to mark the centenary of the often-stormy Anglo-French entente cordiale.
Speaking coincidentally after the resignation was announced of Colin Powell - his frequent US ally in tactical battles for influence within the Bush administration - Mr Blair urged both sides to stop behaving "arrogantly" towards each other.
US policy was evolving fast, he suggested, and Europe should seize its chance to help shape its policies.
Mr Chirac insisted that profound differences between Paris and London over Iraq had not soured his relations with Mr Blair. [DanS note:  Well, they were probably soured well before that.]
Asked if he would tell the prime minister that he had made a mistake in supporting the US, Mr Chirac said he would not, "firstly because I am polite, and secondly because I do not think he did".
He added in an interview with British correspondents at the Elysee palace: "Mr Blair took the position he thought he had to take in the interest of his country and his convictions.
"The only problem we have ever had was over agriculture, not Iraq. On Iraq, I respect his position. On agriculture one day I got angry, and he did too. We said some disagreeable things to each other at the end of a summit. But we have never crossed words on Iraq."
Mr Chirac denied the meeting between the two leaders would be acrimonious. "When I go to Britain I go happy, I have no desire to argue," he said.
"I arrive, I ask after Leo, someone goes to get Leo, Leo starts saying 'Bonjour Monsieur Chirac' in French, I'm happy, and there we are.
"It's very curious, this vision of permanent confrontation. I have no confrontation with the English in general, or with Blair in particular."
He described the Franco-British relationship as "built on competition, which implies mutual esteem ... It's a kind of violent love affair." |
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Oncle Boris
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Once in a brown moon
Aug 2001
time: 00:18
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quote:
Originally posted by DanS
If you did, you would know that the methodists aren't fundies. Believe it or not, a US president talking about religion is appealing across the religious spectrum. As Oerdin says, what you know about secularism in Europe is worse than useless when looking at the role of religion in the US presidency. Rather, it's most often misleading. |
You've got it, if religion has such a broad appeal then it's because your country is more tolerant to obscurantism.
For most civilized people, a president who has no problem with teaching creationism in school, encouraging abstinence, and imposing his morality on others is a fundie.
If you don't think it's fundamentalism, then you are the ones in trouble.
Last edited by Oncle Boris on 16-11-2004 at 09:54
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JimmyCracksCorn
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Macedonia - Sovereign country north of Greece.
Dec 2002
time: 05:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Oerdin
Exactly what did we get for helping the British in the Falklands? You see friendship and trust are something that is built up and isn't based upon a reward system.
Personally, I'd like to see more. I'd like to see a free trade agreement between the US and UK as such a move would increase trade and help both our countries. Ideally we could have a new NAFTA a North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement but I don't see protectionist & obstructionist France agreeing to such a move. |
We helped them in the Falklands?
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16-11-2004 08:42
Someone has to talk reason to the fundamentalist americans
Might have a point, difficult situation.
Idiot
Here methodists are considered a bit suspicious folks.
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