Posted on 12/03/2006 5:14:21 PM PST by MadIvan
Ségolène Royal, the French presidential candidate, was embroiled in a damaging row on a visit to the Middle East yesterday after appearing to condone a Hezbollah MP who denounced US “insanity” and compared Israel to the Nazis.
Ms Royal, the first woman with a realistic chance of winning the French presidency, was struggling to extricate herself from the controversy sparked by a meeting in Beirut with MPs, including Ali Ammar of Hezbollah.
In a 20-minute tirade Mr Ammar attacked “unlimited American insanity” for sending troops into Afghanistan and Iraq. He then said that Israeli “Nazism” was no better than Hitler’s Third Reich.
Ms Royal, who is on her first overseas trip since winning the Socialist Party primary, replied: “Thank you for being so frank. I agree with a lot of the things you have said, notably your analysis of the US.”
Her remark provoked a furore in France, where Philippe Douste-Blazy, the Foreign Minister, said that she had a simplistic vision of the Middle East. François Goulard, the Research Minister, said: “Ségolène Royal obviously doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Ms Royal was trying to limit the damage last night. She said that her interpreter had failed to translate Mr Ammar’s comparison between Israel and the Nazis. If he had, she would have walked out, she said.
Ms Royal went on to claim that she had not meant to attack Americans in general for insanity but only the Bush Administration over the war in Iraq.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Every time I think I might be going a little hard on the French...
If there's one other nation besides Germany that may want to avoid talking about nazis, it's france.
Regards, Ivan
Sounds like she has the youth vote sewn up.
I wish US libs were as honest.
She said that her interpreter had failed to translate Mr Ammar’s comparison between Israel and the Nazis.
OPTIMIST:Yeah, it's kinda like messing up the punch line of a a joke....
Right, Mr. Kerry?
I have to doubt that her interpreter was incompetent (or dishonest) as she suggests. Therefore, I think she's lying.
In addition, I don't think being anti-Jew is an electoral handicap in france. Only the appearance of it is a political liability. She probably won't lose a single vote over this.
Recall Hillary Clinton's embrace of Suha Arafat, right after Suha made the "blood libel" accusations against the Israeli Jews. In New York, a state crawling with Jews, none of that hurt her a bit in her Senate campaign.
Ribbit...ribbit...ribbit...
These guys vascillate between saying Hitler was a very bad guy and claiming the Holocaust never happened. .....whatever suits their rhetoric at the time.
Nor did the numerous allegations (from reputable folks) of her making anti-Semitic statements throughout her life. Hillary could do everything but lead a neo-Nazi parade and leftist Jews would vote for her.
I'm sure Ms Royal won't take it personally, if I make a connection between French & retreat in her attempted backpedal.
If Israel is the same as nazi Germany, why haven't the Israelis invaded France?
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Come on, honey, tell the truth. John Kerry's been advising you, hasn't he?
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
hilaryclinton kissing suhaarafat redux.
Peace, love, dove...
hilaryrodham was an early supporter of the PLO.....long before Arafat became acceptable in polite LIBERAL society.
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