Posted on 10/25/2004 9:24:51 PM PDT by crushelits
The French government said yesterday that it would seek a "new alliance" with whomever won the US presidential election next week.
A diplomatic chill has characterised exchanges between Paris and Washington over the past two years as a result of French opposition to the war in Iraq. But the French foreign minister, Michel Barnier, said that the two countries needed to forge a new alliance. This alliance "must be based on mutual respect, which is not allegiance", he said.
Mr Barnier declined to express a preference between President George W Bush and his Democrat rival, Senator John Kerry. His brief remarks on French television indicated both the importance Paris attached to building a better understanding with America, and the likely limitations of any immediate improvement.
Relations between President Jacques Chirac and Mr Bush in particular have been described as beyond repair. A book by two French journalists, published earlier this month, claimed that the French president's telephone calls were regularly bugged by the CIA.
The Left-wing newspaper Libération yesterday said that victory for Mr Bush would maintain America as an arrogant, imperialistic super-power guided by "a handful of ideologues hungry for adventure but deaf to the planet". Putting Mr Kerry in the White House would "perhaps" mean a more multilateral approach.
A Kerry win would be overwhelmingly welcomed in France, even though he often seems at pains to play down his French connections: fluency in the language, family links and memories of childhood summers in France.
Screw the French.
Any allegiance with France either cost us dearly in lives or currency. They are an ungrateful nation.
DeGaulle was DeGaulle. The allies played along with his massive ego, and let him be the hero of France. But the guy had France at the top of his priority list for the remainder of his life, after WW 2. The relationship with the US chilled quickly in the early 50s and by early 60s...we were the bad guys in the French heart (the Republican 50s might have had a hand in this bad relationship, and of course Ike).
When you look at the current round of problems....its more of a comic story. Chirac apparently had terrific relations with George 1. And when GW walked into the White House...Chirac actually called George Sr, and wanted him to be the middle guy between Chirac and GW. GW got ballastic when this occurred and told France to get real. Chirac couldn't understand this view...and then in the first real meeting between the two...he kept mentioning George 1 in the conversation....and GW told him to eventually "shut up"...which Chirac finally took a negative view of the administration. Personality-wise...GW doesn't mix well with any world leader....he's the kinda guy you'd want as a neighbor (have a beer with and watch football). Most of us appreciate that simple personality and prefer a guy like GW in charge of things.
Didn't she become a Brit to avoid the confiscatory French taxes?
You misposted, right?
Dear France,
NUTS!
France always betrays her allies. Every. Single. Time.
I would be safer to have France against us than "supporting" our flank.
See Cato's The Laetitia Casta Model (for Tax Revolts)
http://www.cato.org/research/articles/derugy-011112a.html
Dear Monsieur,
We do NOT "respect" your despicably cowardly country, nor will we ever...
By all means choke on it.
I say we just continue the boycott of French products.
The "Vichy French" are seeking to align with our leader
I wish we could spare a few tactical nukes to detonate in Paris unfortunately they are all in Korea!
No thanks, we've had enough French whine.
French foreign minister, Michel Barnier...
Va te faire foutre!
I very much disgree with you on that statement.
No alliance until there is a regime change in France!
Ok- so maybe you found one for us that's shaven, BUT how do we know she's not smelly!
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