Chirac snub to Bush

UK Sun ^ | 2/22/05 | UK Sun

[adam_az]

"Pres. Bush's gentlemanly courtesies speak volumes to other 3rd world nations no different in their position, stature, or significance as France. Let there be no doubt in our minds, France is suffering because of its socialist leadership. It will continue to suffer and get much much worse."

Know whats sad?

Chirac is considered center-right!!! Sacre-bleu!

[ArkansasBushfan]

Way to go Red Raiders!!!!!!!!!!

[Yaelle]

And wouldn't you say that it is true that in the back of the EUropean mind, they know that whatever nutty thing they get into, the USA will pull them out in the end? And unfortunately, we would have to.

[bert]

It is my view that W is again being misunderestimated.

Again I say he is not mending fences, a chore well known to a cowboy.

W is giving away rope. Some will take the gift and hang themselves. Chirac will swing.

[RobRoy]

Well, they snub. We snicker.

Steyn has a different take on what happened:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1348144/posts

[Hudobna]

Dear Yaelle,

And wouldn't you say that it is true that in the back of the EUropean mind, they know that whatever nutty thing they get into, the USA will pull them out in the end? And unfortunately, we would have to.

Yes, unfortunately. I try to explain to them that America's great love affair with Europe is over, not just ideologically, but aslo because America is now more Global, more Chinese, South and Central American... less Euro-centric.

But I would be hypocritical not to admit that I too pray for America to keep looking after us. There's no reason why you should after getting kicked in the teeth. But if trends in Europe continue unabated, probably in about 30 years you'll HAVE to for your own internal security... as the Muslim and Christian factions of France, Britain, Sweden, Germany, Spain and Italy engage in civil war.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

Yes, whatever happened to the "post of the day?"

[Yaelle]

America would still be in love with Europe, and of course some still are, but for the attitudes lately. The overall impression for patriots here (even patriots from Asian or other cultures originally) is that Europe is Anti-American. And it's a true impression.

It was already that way when I lived there for 9 years 10 years ago and it is even more so today. Americans are supposed to be naiive, stupid cowboys who want to police and control the world.

Meanwhile, we have never pillaged any country, and any country who has ever been lucky enough to lose a war with us has been richly compensated for their troubles.

We will come bail your butts out again. We will have to. You are right.

BTW, I have been to Anzio and that cemetary is a sight to see. I had just had my first child (he was 18 mos old), and he was with me, and I was amazed to see the crosses (and stars of david) in all directions as far as the eye could see. And the mausoleum with the wall engraved with thousands of names of those who could not be found to bury. All I could think was that each of those represented someone else's precious baby boy.

You probably know that story about our general speaking to De Gaulle when he wanted to get our troops out of France in the 50s? Our general (was it Eisenhower??) replied, "Including the 40,000 underground?" Touche.

[Yaelle]

Yes, whatever happened to the "post of the day?"

I have no idea, but yours was just too perfect.

[Hudobna]

Ciao again Yaelle,

European Anti-Americanism goes back quite far. The powdered wigs considered Americans uncouth barbarians. At best Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were considered - sniff sniff - "charming".

Of course monarchies and blue boods would look down on this land where the hungry and ambitious had to live without luxury. Americans had to be practical, less aesthetically inclined and philosophical and more practical simply to survive.

Somehow that down-to-earthness along with high ideals made it into the constitution. And then through the years the Europeans watched while these savages pulled themselves up higher and higher... in what was to them a horrendous mix of races and cultures.

People went to America to make it. They were ambitious and so to the more staid and grounded Europeans, Americans became crass and materialistic.

Some simple and uncultured people made huge fortunes and when they'd travel to old Europe they were tantamount to today's Russian mafiosos travelling to the Riviera with suitcases instead of wallets.

Nothing seemed impossible to Americans, but to the Europeans that played out as if they lacked a sense of the ridiculous.

In later years, Europeans (still convinced of their superior "class") became enamored of ideologies based on race (Nazism) or class (Communism)... To both America was the big sinner. The mongrel, the plutocrat, the exploiter.

Today's Europe is fat and juicy, lazy and immoral, hedonistic... and here comes this go-get-'em cowboy, talking about Axis of evil, spreading freedom.

It goes back. But of course it's not all negative. Probably the greatest uniting factor of United Europe is each single component country's level of Americaness.

Goodnight Yaelle... I won't even tell you how late it is here... Probably what Europeans envy the most is this sensation that Americans have a discount on the original sin. You know, the dumb, naive Americans who invent shareware (try it and if you like it, please send the money). It's a case of envy for dumb and naive panning out to be smart and clever... while here instead we're just specialized in outsmarting ourselves
Ciao