Posted on 05/28/2006 9:31:19 AM PDT by Atlantic Bridge
Philippe Douste-Blazy 53, the new foreign minister of France set the French ambassadors into alert. Since a fairly long time is the studied physician and former minister of health and culture escorted by high ranking officials to prevent him from awkward embarrassments. The cause for that were a series of appearances where he astonished his conversational partners with gaps in his knowledge. The former major of Lourdes mixed repeated Thailand with Taiwan and Croatia with Kosovo. During a vistit in the Shoah-museum in Jerusalem he asked why no jews were deported from the United Kingdom. Problematic is also that "Douste-BlahBlah" how he is called among his officials does not speak any foreign languages. When Condolezza Rice wanted to speak with her French colleague a few months ago she was rebuffed. It was friday evening and Douste-Blazy was already in his electoral district where no interpreter was available. According to diplomats and the French newspaper "Le Monde" he putted over to the consternated secretary of state that she can call after the weekend.
A positive side-effect: The trans-atlantic relation would change to the better for sure.
:-)
ROFL!!
Please, will someone please photoshop him into a bobble head toy.
Do not apply for his job, for you will catch the French Disease.
Have you seen the new French Foreign Minister?
This guy is par for the course in European politicians. The only qualifications required are a healthy hatred for democracy and a belief that all the world's problems are the fault of the Jews and the USA. This is only a story because the French government was slow to recognize that this guy needs to be constantly escorted by handlers and should only read carefully scripted statements in front of the media (just like Hillary).
He looks like Mr. Bean. BTW, why is his head on crooked?
Why, Edward I deported the Jews in 1291, IIRC, but at the time it was not yet called "United Kingdom". The minister was off by merely 650 years. Among his many cares such confusion is understandable.
Actually, to be exact, the jokes on us as much as him. Jews WERE deported from the UK to the death camps.
Its a real life undisputed swept under the carpet fact.
Is this a Pee Wee Herman type dude, or what? My apologies to Pee Wee.
I thought this was interesting expression on the Secretary of State's face...
From the channel islands under Nazi control...
Unless one is using the language reasonably frequently, proficiency tends to decline. I have known a few polyglots, and all of them were actively practicing. I am not sure what to make of Rice's alleged language proficiency. There have been claims that it is exaggerated.
Have any links?
Aside from the unfortunate residents of the Channel Islands, I wasn't aware that there was German control over the UK territory during WWII.
Please, will someone please photoshop him into a bobble head toy.
&&
OMW! I thought "bobble head", as well, as soon as I laid eyes on that photo!
I heard that Jews who tried to escape Germany by ship for England and the US were sometimes turned back (like we sometimes send Cubans now back to Cuba). Are you talking about that?
Are you sure you are not posting a picture of Rowan Atkinson by accident? ;-)
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