France's US envoy slams "racist campaign" against French over Iraq war

AFP ^ | Thu, Apr 15, 2004 | AFP

[Eurotwit]

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) - France's ambassador to the United States denounced what he called a "racist campaign" against the French waged by US media and fueled by the Pentagon (news - web sites) since the start of war in Iraq (news - web sites).

Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, told staff, students and diplomats at the University of California at Los Angeles that Fox News and the New York Post, media baron Rupert Murdoch's properties, led the onslaught with a daily barrage of insults.

"It was a racist campaign," he said in a speech to the university's School of Public Policy and Social Research. "We were insulted just because we were French and it was unfair and dangerous."

He said such a campaign would never have been tolerated in the United States if had it been directed against blacks or Jews.

The envoy said the campaign of disinformation included "lies from the Pentagon," but said it ended quickly after he lodged a complaint with US Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) last year.

He cited a Washington Times report in May -- the substance of which he said originated from the US Department of Defense (news - web sites) -- that falsely stated France had supplied passports to top officials from Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime to allow them to flee Iraq following the US-led occupation.

The wave of insults and disinformation spurred by France's opposition to the US invasion of Iraq has since been halted and relations between the two countries and their peoples were strong, he said.

"We went through a real diplomatic hurricane. It is now time to de-escalate," he said, adding that a planned June 5 summit between US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and French President Jacques Chirac and other top-level meetings would help that process.

[Thane_Banquo]

[Numbers Guy]

"It was a racist campaign,"

And here I thought the Frogs were Caucasians.

[VRW Conspirator]

"It was a racist campaign"

Racist? You mean nationalist, n'est pas? To say racist is to imply that largely caucasian USA is making racist remarks about largely caucasian France. What?

[Atlantic Friend]

Levitte has some good points, though, if you care to use the AFP link...

[WinOne4TheGipper]

No. You were insulted because your country is nothing but a bunch of white flag waving surrender monkeys.

[Redcoat LI]

"The wave of insults and disinformation spurred by France's opposition to the US invasion of Iraq has since been halted and relations between the two countries and their peoples were strong, he said."

It has,and they are?

Lay off the Wine(and whine),Froggy.

[WestTexasWend]

He's just frustrated because France is (surprise!) losing this battle and can't find a way to surrender...

[WinOne4TheGipper]

That's funny because I'd just posted and called them white flag waving surrender monkeys, sight unseen of this post...

[brbethke]

[alpha-8-25-02]

you are with us or against us!
pick
it sure seems the italians did not cave

[Maceman]

I was not aware that being French actually rose to the level of being its own race.

[glock rocks]

It isn't just Murdoch, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte... there are FReepers calling for an air drop of soap over Paris! The humanity!

[glock rocks]

[jtminton]

"Genius In France"
by Weird Al

I'm not the brightest crayon in the box
Everyone says I'm dumber than a bag of rocks
I barely even know how to put on my own pants
But I'm a genius in France (yeah), genius in France, genius in France

Hoom chaka laka
Hoom chaka laka
Hoom chaka

I may not be the sharpest hunk of cheese
I got a negative number on my SATs
I'm not good looking and I don't know how to dance
But nevertheless and in spite of the evidence I am still widely considered to be
A genius in France, a genius in France, a genius in France

People say I'm a geek, a moronic little freak
An annoying pipsqueak with an unfortunate physique
If I was any dumber, they'd have to water me twice a week

But when the Mademoiselles see me, they all swoon and shriek
They dig my mystique, they say I'm c'est magnifique
When I'm in Par-ee, I'm the chic-est of the chic

They love my body odor and my bad toupee
They love my stripey shirt and my stupid beret
And when I'm sipping on a Perrier
In some cafe town in St. Tropez

It's hard to keep the fans at bay
They say, "Sign my poodle, s'il vous plait"
"Sign my poodle, s'il vous plait"

Hemenene humenene
himenene homenene
Poodle... poodle...

Folks in my hometown think I'm a fool
Got too much chlorine in my gene pool

A few peas short of a casserole
A few buttons missing on my remote control
A few fries short of a happy meal
I couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel

Instructions on the heel
Instructions on the heel

But when I'm in Provence, I get free croissants
Yeah, I'm the guy every French lady wants
And if you ask 'em why, you're bound to get this response
(He's a genius in France! Genius in France!)

That's right
(He's a genius in France, genius in France)
You know it
(He's a genius in France, genius in France, genius in France)

I'm not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree
But the folks in France, they don't seem to agree
They say, "Bonjour, Monsieur would you take ze picture with me?"

I say, "Oui, oui"
That's right, I say, "Oui, oui"
"Oui, oui"
He says, "Oui, oui"

I'm dumber than a box of hair
But those Frenchies don't seem to care
Don't know why, mon frere
But they love me there

I'm a genius in France
Yeah, I'm a genius in France

Gonna make a big splash when I show up in Cannes
Gonna make those Frenchies scream
"You ze man! You ze man! You ze man!"

Like a fine Renoir (waa), I've got that je ne c'est quoi (quoi!)
Like a fine Renoir (ooh la la), I've got that je ne c'est ...
Quoi quoi quoi quoi quoi, oo-we-oo
Quoi quoi quoi quoi quoi, oo-we-oo

Bow diddy bow di bow di bow bow diddy
Bow diddy bow di bow di bow bow diddy
Bow

[snort]

I'm a taco short of a combo plate
But by some twist of fate, all the Frogs think I'm great
Oh, the men all faint and the women scream
They like me more than heavy cream

When I'm in Versailles, I'm a popular guy
My oh my, I'm as French as apple pie (apple pie)
They think I'm awfully witty, a riot and a half
When I tell a stupid joke, they laugh (haw haw haw haw haw)
And laugh (haw haw haw haw haw haw)

People in France have lots of attitude
They're snotty and rude, they like disgusting food
But when they see me, they just come unglued
They think that I am one happening dude

Bowm ba ba bowm ba bowm ba bowm
I'm about as sharp as a bowling ball
But they like me better than Charles de Gaulle

Entre nous, it's very true
The room temperature's higher than my IQ
But they love me more than Gerard Depardieu
How did this happen; I don't have a clue

Well, I'm not the quickest tractor on the farm
I don't have any skills or grace or charm
And most people look at me like I'm all covered with ants
But I'm a genius in France (yeah), genius in France, genius in France

And I'm never goin' back, I'm never goin' back
I'm never never never never goin' back home again
I'm tearin' up my return flight ticket
Gonna tell the folks back here where they can stick it

'Cause I'm never goin' back
I'm never goin' back
I'm never goin' back

The girls back home never gave me a chance
But I sho' 'nuff got them Frogs in some kinda trance
And I'm aware that it's a most improbable circumstance
But "Great Googily Moogily!", I'm a genius in France

Every Frenchie that I meet
Just can't wait to kiss my feet
Get in line, pucker up! Tout Suite!

Bowm diddy bowm diddy bowm diddy

I'm gettin' even more famous by the hour
I'm stuffed with pastries and drunk with power
Now they're puttin' up my statue by the Eiffel Tower

A little more to the left, boys, a little more to the left
A little more to the left, boys, a little more to the left

I'm the biggest dork there is alive
My mom picked out my clothes for me 'till I was 35
And I forgot to mention
I'm not even welcome at the Star Trek convention

But the Frenchies think
That my poop don't stink
I'm a genius in France

Say, would you pass the Grey Poupon?
Merci beaucoup

[Eva]

So now the French are a separate race? Or, is this guy claiming racism because France has so many Middle Easterners?

Anyway, respect is a two way street. There would be no need for political correctness, if the left would just remember that key word --- RESPECT.

[Guillermo]

Sung to the tune of?

[jtminton]

It's an original tune by him.

[McGavin999]

The wave of insults and disinformation spurred by France's opposition to the US invasion of Iraq has since been halted and relations between the two countries and their peoples were strong, he said.

No they're not. The American people aren't about to forget what the french did in the lead up to the war. It takes an awful lot to make Americans really angry, but the french have finally gone over the line. The fact that they don't realize it is almost funny.

[steve8714]

They prefer to be called "people of odor", rather than "cheese-eating surrender monkeys".