Posted on 01/20/2005 9:45:01 PM PST by Former Military Chick
AMSTERDAM, Jan. 20 -- As foreign governments pondered their reactions to President Bush's inaugural speech Thursday, newspapers around the world reported it with particular emphasis on the religious tone and Bush's 27 references to "freedom" in the United States and abroad.
Bush painted a vision of "an America that propagates freedom, democracy and prosperity around the world," an article on the Web site of the French newspaper Liberation said. "The problem is that with this speech, one has the impression of having heard it a thousand times, and no longer believing it."
It added: "Not all the world strongly wants this 'freedom a l'americaine.' It's only necessary to look at Iraq."
France, which was among the staunchest opponents of the Iraq war, remains critical of the continuing U.S. military presence there despite recent efforts by President Jacques Chirac to mend ties. Chirac is reportedly planning a trip to Washington sometime before Bush makes his next trip to Europe on Feb. 22 -- a trip that will take him to Belgium and Germany, but not France.
The French daily newspaper Le Monde, in its Web site edition, noted that Bush "made several references to God." European leaders normally do not mention religion in their public statements.
In Madrid, the capital of another country opposed to the war, the daily newspaper El Pais used the word "freedom" in English as the first word of its online report and called it "the word most often used by George W. Bush in his inaugural speech."
The newspaper said that Bush "wanted to deliver a conciliatory message to his allies after four years in which the United States' aggressive foreign policy has enjoyed scant support in Europe."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The speech did have religious overtones. That is who Bush is. Let Bush be Bush.
The French don't mind when Arabs chant "Allah" right before they cut off someone's head.
" an article on the Web site of the French newspaper Liberation said. "The problem is that with this speech, one has the impression of having heard it a thousand times, and no longer believing "
Kind of like intellligence that comes our way from the Frogs.
I'm glad the French hated Bush's speech. If they loved it, I'd be worried.
An excellent comment.
And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones who start
To forge the new reality
Closer to the heart.
-Geddy Lee(Rush)197?
Men of courage don't ask permission.
I hope Michael Newdow enjoyed it.
"Men of courage don't ask permission"
I like GWB, but sometimes I wish he were more like Lee (Never Apologize, Never Explain) Iacocca.
You took the words right off my keyboard! ;-)
I hold an image of Newdow reacting to each mention of God as would Dracula to being sprinkled with Holy Water.
I hope so. I wonder if he gets a rush hearing his name being said, cuz that is all that it is worth. All he does is waste the courts time with his stupid suits.
The world should have thought of that before they attacked us.
IMO, Newdow was justing seeking his 15 minutes of fame. He probably couldn't care less about the issue. However, he may be a sincere lefty. Making waves with traditional values is the left's MO.
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