France learns to eat humble pie

The Sunday Times ^ | September 26, 2004 | Matthew Campbell

[MadIvan]

Schadenfreude, anyone?

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[Henchman]

"* It might seem trivial, but the French take protocol as seriously as football and food, and the greeting of Barroso represented a dramatic change in the behaviour of a monarchical French leader who until recently displayed every sign of believing that he — not the commission president — was in charge of the European Union. In short, Chirac has realised he must stop antagonising people by behaving as if he were the western world’s senior statesman; and that, in turn, shows how far down the EU pecking order France and its ageing leader have fallen since the enlargement of the European family earlier this year. "

The points enumerated are well taken. The points omitted are even more glaring. France eats "humble pie" for added reasons: a. Their hand was caught in the cookies jar of Oil for Food; b. They were unable to exhibit any leadership at the UN to muster backing to deal with the Syrians use of nonexistant WMD (gas) on the Sudanese.

More reasons can be thought of, however, many in the EU and Olde Europe go along with the French view on those items.

The misspellings in the quoted sections are those of the British, who do not know how to speak English nor spell in it eirter. :D

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..deeper malaise that has been gnawing for some months at the Gallic soul.."

Has a nice ring to it.....!

[Hugin]

Chirac is so Old Europe.

[outlaw5209]

Chirac is paying a high price for his anti-Bush stance at the United Nations over the Iraq war and for the high-handed way in which he told the new members that they should have “shut up” rather than side with America.

About damned time!!!

[gusopol3]

here's a real pie in the face to them... I bought some Spaghetti-O's for the kids today, and the Campbell's company has jettisoned the name "Franco American." They're called "Campbell's Spaghetti-O's." Who's next, Chef Boyardee?

[Publius6961]

and for the high-handed way in which he told the new members that they should have “shut up” rather than side with America.

It was much worse and seriously more gauche than that! If I remember correctly, he told the eastern European members to remember their manners and their "place" and speak only when spoken to (by France, presumably).

[Chode]

[HanBaal Barca]

United West Ping!

With my honoured fellow countrymen Barroso in charge of the EU comission (remember the Azores summit that lead to the iraq war where Barroso stood side by side with bush Blair and Aznar?)...and the prospects of proamerican petit Nicolas to take on chirac the next elections... expect an united west on this war on terror! Iran and NKorea FEAR US coz we're coming for you! :D

[HanBaal Barca]

oops where I wrote "bush" I mean MR. BUSH ... or W for the friends ;)

[Mister Baredog]

Chirac is having to play by new rules and Barroso did not make it any easier for him: on a tour of EU capitals to meet each leader before he assumes office, Barroso visited even tiddler countries such as Luxembourg and Hungary before deigning to drop in on Paris.

What an absolutely delicious article, makes my day.

Payback's a b*tch.

Chirac's head on a stick! LOL.

Thanks Ivan
FReegards
Baredog

[Mister Baredog]

Koko Get this PING

[M Kehoe]

“The French have to realise that Europe will be something different from a big France.”

Good, then maybe they can defend themselves.

5.56mm

[Gorzaloon]

"France learns to eat humble pie"

Why not, they already eat horses and garden pests.

[ozzymandus]

I think the frogs need their ass kicked by the Germans a couple more times. Couldn't hurt, anyway, and might adjust their snotty attitude for good.

[TADSLOS]

He's deeply saddened.

[longtermmemmory]

He wants that constitution ratified DESPERATLY.

He certainly pissed off the Greeks when Greece held the presidency in the lead up to GulfII.

This is about as real as john kerry's latest flip flop.

[JusPasenThru]

Speaking of which, we desperately need them powerful French on our side, they'll send 2 or 3 divisions to Iraq just because Kerry asks them to.

Or not.

[ArmedNReady]

I think that most people do not realize how much France helped us in the Iraq War...who wants French troops fighting along side?