Posted on 09/18/2006 6:01:42 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Chirac hits at Sarkozy over pro-US stance
By Martin Arnold in Paris
Published: September 18 2006 18:14 | Last updated:
September 18 2006 18:14
Jacques Chirac, France’s president, on Monday exposed deep ideological divisions at the top of the French government by rebuking Nicolas Sarkozy, his rebellious interior minister and likely successor, for toeing an overly pro-US line.
Mr Chirac also set up another possible clash with the US over the Middle East by urging the UN Security Council to scale down its threat of sanctions against Iran, ahead of Tuesday’s General Assembly meeting in New York.
The French president, widely expected to step down next year, is thought to be furious about Mr Sarkozy’s speech in Washington last week, when the interior minister criticised France’s “arrogance” in its relations with the US.
Mr Sarkozy struck at the heart of Mr Chirac’s foreign policy legacy by suggesting Paris went too far in 2003 by threatening to use its UN veto to block a US-led invasion of Iraq.
In a rare radio interview, the French president distanced himself from his interior minister, saying: “We have relations [with the US] that can only be between equals, which cannot be a relationship of submission.”
The 73-year-old Mr Chirac defended his opposition to the war in Iraq. “When I look at the situation, I do not feel I have committed an error,” he told Europe 1, before flying to New York for today’s UN meeting, where he will meet US President George W. Bush.
In a private conversation with aides, Mr Chirac went further, slamming Mr Sarkozy’s speech as “irresponsible” and a “lamentable . . . error” that was “a danger for France”, according to yesterday’s Libération newspaper.
The president sees France as a natural counter-weight to US hegemony. But Mr Sarkozy wants closer relations, declaring last week: “We must rebuild the transatlantic relationship on the basis of trust and shared responsibility. I don’t want to see an arrogant France with a diminished presence.”
Mr Sarkozy’s pro-US stance has drawn flak from leftwing opponents. Laurent Fabius, former Socialist premier and presidential hopeful, described Mr Sarkozy as “Mr Bush’s future poodle”.
The animosity between Mr Chirac and Mr Sarkozy could influence next April’s election. Mr Chirac still has not ruled out standing for a record third term, hinting yesterday he would wait until March before announcing his decision.
Only in the dream of Chirac and de Villepin
Ping!
I really think they don't understand that most of the U.S. views France as a hostile nation, not as an ally. It won't get any better for at least a generation, if at that.
If an Iranian nuclear device detonates in Paris, Chirac will be eating crow with his frog.
Is france is still relevant?
TRANSLATION: " Beware France, or the evil W will brand his initial into Sarkozy's forehead--- just like he did Tony Blair's."
Sarkozy is and has been my choice. We'll see if the French would rather continue following Chirac off a cliff, or not.
BTW, Sarkozy is the guy that actually wanted to take the hard line against the Muslim coup a few months back and was restrained. the Islamofascists hate him. A good thing in my opinion, though not Chirac's I would guess.
Most French are truly self-centered when they relate to other countries. That is how they display their pride. Such a behavior is encouraged, not discouraged. Too much of foreign policy revolves around French pride.
We'll see if the French would rather continue following Chirac off a cliff....
IMHO, there are 50% chances that it will happen.
BTW, Sarkozy is the guy that actually wanted to take the hard line against the Muslim coup a few months back and was restrained.
I remember reading a FR thread on this subject.
Chirac is saving France's "submission" for Islam.
Chiraq is again admitting that he sees France as "counter" or in opposition to the United States.
Move the UN to Paris, they deserve each other.
Notice how Chirac is always telling people to "shut up". He did it with some of the Eastern European countries in his famous "they missed a great opportunity to shut up" speech and now he is doing it again.
He basically confesses that he needs to be against us to seem equal, and that's more important to him than whether the issue is right or wrong. It's the mentality of the second-rater.
If Chirac DARES run again, he will get trounced.
The right DESPISES him, and the left villifies him.
Let him run. Sarko will still win...
Gee, Chirac has such a reasoned foreign policy -- how about deciding on policy matters on their own merits, not on whether the US is for it and therefore France has to be against it. Chirac is not calling for a relationship between equals with the US, he is calling for a relationship where France is permanently opposed to the US no matter what the US does. That is not rational, it is not reasonable, and reflects very badly on M. Chirac and most of the French establishment.
For many years, the French have perceived "equality" with the US to be demonstrated by systematic disagreement with American policies. The neo Fascists, like Le Pen and Chirac, hate the US, and only the Socialist, Mitterrand, has EVER been a decent ally. The Communists were even better allies than the Gaullists during WWII.
Still waiting for the French to get rid of this guy. He's another Pierre Laval.
He's delusional if he thinks France is a counter-weight to anything, let alone the US. France is a has been, soon to be taken over by their own islamofascists.
All they can do is play dog in the manger. Compared with many states of the Union, France is an economic lightweight. One of the things we can thank Colin Powell for is his leading us into the French playpen in the Security Council.
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