French Neocons? Mon Dieu!

Family Security Matters ^ | 12/5/6 | Cinnamonstillwell

[SmithL]

Among American conservative and hawkish political circles, it’s an article of faith that much of Western Europe is anti-American. Whether it be dislike for President Bush, opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq, the American refusal to be governed by international institutions, the growing Eurabian alliance or simple resentment of U.S. military and economic superiority, many of our Western European allies seem often to be more like enemies. None more so than France, with whom our country has developed a shared hostility in the post-9/11 world.

 

So it was with great surprise that I found myself in the company last weekend of French people who are fervently pro-American. It was a dinner party held in the San Francisco Bay Area and given in honor of Philippe Manteau, the French founder and president of a think tank called the Euro-American Liberty Institute (EALI). 

 

Based in New York City and affiliated with the French organization Liberté Chérie, EALI is comprised of French and other European expatriates, as well as European residents and American citizens of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. All are united in the pursuit of classical liberalism and the strengthening of the Trans-Atlantic alliance or, as stated at the EALI website, “their belief and faith in the eternal values of Liberty, Freedom and Democracy and in the absolute necessity for the United States and Europe to work together to face the challenges of our times.” 

 

In the United States, this means forging ties with likeminded supporters. In France, it takes the form of large counter-demonstrations to the frequent labor strikes that have a stranglehold on the nation, as well as the newly formed political party Alternative Liberale. The only French political party with a website translated into English, Alternative Liberale...

[SmithL]

There is hope. FSM Contributing Editor Cinnamon Stillwell found it in a think tank called the Euro-American Liberty Institute. Read Cinn’s fascinating account of a dinner party meeting in honor of its founder, Frenchman Philippe Manteau, who prefers to describe himself as a Westerner and who believes in the importance of altering France’s political landscape. Could this be our generation’s new “French resistance”?

[SmithL]

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[avacado]

Good article! Thanks!

[cripplecreek]

The media does their best to hide it but conservatism is pretty common world wide.

When our friend Tatyana moved here from Russia, she told us to ignore anti war protests in Moscow because Moscow is a bubble. It didn't take long for her to learn the term "Flyover country". As she says, "The guy out tending his fields or running his small business isn't thinking about an evil America. If he thinks about America at all he's thinking about new technologies and freedoms".

[MadIvan]

This is not new - we've long known about Sabine Herold and Alain Madelin.

Regards, Ivan

[GoLightly]

I find it interesting to see the basis for the new party mentioned is a recognition that the modern left is no longer liberal.

[ocr1]

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