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Blair's call to accept Bush scorned by Chirac
The Guardian ^ | 6 Nov, 2004 | David Gow

Posted on 11/06/2004 8:37:42 AM PST by kupia_kummi

Jacques Chirac, the French president, yesterday threatened to reopen transatlantic rifts between the EU and the US over the war in Iraq by ignoring Tony Blair's plea for Europeans to "face up to the reality" of George Bush's resounding re-election as American president.

Mr Chirac compounded his opposition to appeals for closer cooperation between the US and Europe in Mr Bush's second term by snubbing an EU summit lunch for Ayad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister, and urging Europe to act as a counterweight to American hegemony "in a world that's more multi-polar than ever".

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antiamerican; antisemites; blair; bush; chirac; collaborators; cowards; dirty; freakingfrenchies; french; guardian; smelly; surrender; unbathed; vichy
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To: kupia_kummi

lol, it's only multi-polar because of this clown.


21 posted on 11/06/2004 9:02:39 AM PST by HawaiianGecko (Just try to reason a man out of a position he wasn't reasoned into to begin with...)
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To: TennTuxedo

depressed French economy? It's already severely depressed and with unemployment running about 11%.


22 posted on 11/06/2004 9:03:55 AM PST by HawaiianGecko (Just try to reason a man out of a position he wasn't reasoned into to begin with...)
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To: skinkinthegrass
 
  Turns out that the coalition of the bribed was being headed by Chirac, not President Bush.

 

23 posted on 11/06/2004 9:06:23 AM PST by HawaiianGecko (Just try to reason a man out of a position he wasn't reasoned into to begin with...)
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To: All
All I can say is:

Oil for food investigation.

Pound that drum. Follow the money and that weasel Chirac will be there, stuffing his pockets with American funds.

No wonder he is p***ed off that we went in.
24 posted on 11/06/2004 9:06:35 AM PST by AJS
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To: We Happy Few
Bush should name Arlen Specter the U.S. Ambassador to France.

NO!...then the 'RAT gov. will appoint a 'RAT to replace him. ...I know, he's a RINO, but he'll support us on things (his one saving grace) other than the Judges (move him out of that committee.).

25 posted on 11/06/2004 9:06:38 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: kupia_kummi

I want ChIraq to keep on pushing himself, France, Germany and the vaunted EU further and further away from the good ol' USA.

GO, Jackie, GO! Keep on spouting! Please don't stop!


26 posted on 11/06/2004 9:07:36 AM PST by El Gran Salseron (My wife just won the "Inmate of the Month" Award! :-))
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To: zygoat
"It seems as though Chirac either knows or suspects that we have found something in Iraq that is so damning to them...

Recent-manufacture French arms caches have been found in Iraq. That's common knowledge. I hope Bush doesn't need to declare war on France. It's such a hopeless country. Iraq's people-OTOH have hope for their country and want us to stick around.

27 posted on 11/06/2004 9:07:51 AM PST by BobS
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To: My Favorite Headache

agreed. even worse, let's send a girl scout troop to beat their butt, then make them all bathe...


28 posted on 11/06/2004 9:07:52 AM PST by badmrbunny (delicious results . 4 more....)
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To: kupia_kummi
It's time to publicly isolate France, as a matter of policy.

Whoever replaces Powell should be in favor of and able to carry out this mission, IMHO.

29 posted on 11/06/2004 9:09:38 AM PST by NewLand (God Bless America and God Bless President Bush!)
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To: HawaiianGecko

...so GWB has been correct again.


30 posted on 11/06/2004 9:11:25 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: kupia_kummi

Who is Jacques Chirac?


31 posted on 11/06/2004 9:17:00 AM PST by schaketo (http://www.gp.org/ Convince progressives to join the Green Party – Divide and conquer)
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To: kupia_kummi


32 posted on 11/06/2004 9:33:31 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Chode
Jacques Chirac, the French president, yesterday threatened to reopen transatlantic rifts between the EU and the US over the war in Iraq by ignoring Tony Blair's plea for Europeans to "face up to the reality" of George Bush's resounding re-election as American president.

Mr Chirac compounded his opposition to appeals for closer cooperation between the US and Europe in Mr Bush's second term by snubbing an EU summit lunch for Ayad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister, and urging Europe to act as a counterweight to American hegemony "in a world that's more multi-polar than ever".

The French president, Europe's leading opponent of last year's US-led invasion of Iraq, held talks early yesterday with Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, and Spain's prime minister, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to draw up a tripartite challenge to US global dominance by strengthening the EU's common security and foreign policy.

But there were clear signs that the new trio driving European unity, who are to hold joint rallies in France and Spain during next year's referendums on the new EU constitution, were themselves divided over Mr Bush's apparent desire to heal divisions caused by Iraq.

Mr Schröder, initially enraged by Mr Allawi's untimely comments on "spectators" of the war, welcomed the Iraqi premier's public expressions of "respect" for the EU's help in rebuilding his country, notably by providing funds and experts to ensure January's interim elections run smoothly, help train its police force and develop its criminal justice system.

The German chancellor, who reiterated his strong opposition to the war in private, said he had rung Mr Bush yesterday to offer his congratulations - "and we were both of the view that we must look forward".

He repeatedly made plain that Germany wanted to put past differences aside.

Even Mr Zapatero, who pulled Spanish troops out of Iraq immediately on taking office, ignored an obvious snub when Mr Bush refused to take his congratulatory call personally and publicly called for an "increased transatlantic dialogue and respect for each other's position".

A day dominated by Mr Bush's re-election, unwelcome to most Europeans, began with Mr Blair's blunt message that some Europeans were in "denial" and had failed to come to terms with the events of the last few months. He urged the EU to work with "a new reality" and both the US and rest of the world to "listen to each other".

Mr Chirac, who left early to attend the funeral of the ruling sheikh in the United Arab Emirates, brutally crushed questions about Mr Blair's comments.

"It is clear that Europe, now more than ever, has the need, the necessity, to strengthen its dynamism and unity when faced with this great world power," he said.

He added: "That's the goal of the constitution in a world that's more multi-polar than ever ... We must reinforce Europe politically and economically and make sure European cohesion is seen as an international reality."

The French president, who said he had invited Iraqi president Ghazi Yawar to Paris and would do the same for Mr Allawi, issued sharp criticism of the Bush administration's decision to let the US dollar slide on the foreign exchanges, saying this damaged EU exports and would require political intervention with the aid of the European Central Bank.

Jack Straw, foreign secretary, said: "I respect President Chirac. I don't always agree with him; he has an interesting point of view." He added: "We always need a stronger Europe but Europe is much stronger when it works with the US."

Mr Allawi told EU leaders: "Today my government is trying to build a new Iraq and we need your help."

He said the two sides, including opponents of the war, had turned the page, thanked the EU for the €330m in aid over the past two years and urged it to use its influence in Iran and Syria to stop the fuelling of violence in his country.

33 posted on 11/06/2004 9:36:14 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: schaketo

France has not been a friend of the US for some time now, and I no longer think they can qualify as an ally either.

Those arrogant dinks have every intention of setting themselves and Europe up as an opposing force to us. They don't want to work with us, but against us.

I don't know, but maybe I can understand. The rest of the world is used to being oppressed when their neighbor becomes too powerful. I think it's fear (and plain old envy) that causes them to want to keep us in check.

Is there any reason why the world should fear a strong America? Are we susceptable to abusing our great powers like others have in the past? Would our system or our people allow such a thing?


34 posted on 11/06/2004 9:41:14 AM PST by Miztiki (Living in Hoooston and getting lost on a regular basis!)
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To: skinkinthegrass

Relax, it was just a joke. Chirac, Specter--birds of a feather. Get it?


35 posted on 11/06/2004 12:56:58 PM PST by We Happy Few ("we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother;")
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To: My Favorite Headache
"... boom Paree, more room for you, more room for me."
36 posted on 11/06/2004 12:57:39 PM PST by Born to Conserve
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To: We Happy Few
Chirac, Specter--birds of a feather. Get it?

..I didn't want you to get carried away, thats all. :))

37 posted on 11/06/2004 1:35:52 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: Chode

ooooooooooooo!


38 posted on 11/06/2004 2:01:52 PM PST by King Prout ("We've found more WMDs in Iraq than we've found disenfranchised blacks in Florida." - Ann Coulter)
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