Posted on 05/07/2007 12:39:04 PM PDT by SmithL
PARIS, France (AP) -- To the world, President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy sends this message: France is back. Sarkozy said in his victory speech that his France will stand up against tyranny, dictators and fundamentalist Muslim oppression of women — a global vision more in line with President Bush than Jacques Chirac, who defied Washington over Iraq and has been criticized for cozy ties with authoritarian rulers.
By urging the United States to take the lead on fighting global warming, Sarkozy also signaled that an invigorated friendship with Washington would not mean subservience. His speech Sunday provided comfort to a populace worried that France's global voice is fading.
"The message was, 'Don't take me for granted,'" said Francois Heisbourg, a leading expert on French strategic and foreign policy. "This was wise in terms of domestic policies but also in terms of the overall relationship. He was saying, 'I'm not going to be a poodle.'"
Sarkozy has won the label "Sarko the American" for openly admiring the get-up-and-go spirit in the United States, and indicated that he would toe a less-accommodating line toward the Arab world than his predecessors — whose close ties to the Middle East were rooted in France's past as a colonial power in the region.
Overall, though, his campaign gave short shrift to foreign policy, and his limited international experience has left many wondering how he will steer France in global affairs.
Sarkozy sought to quell that uncertainty in a speech barely 30 minutes after his electoral triumph.
France, he said, will stand alongside "all those persecuted by tyranny, by dictatorships." He reached out to "all those in the world who believe in the values of tolerance, freedom, democracy and humanism."
"France will not abandon women who are condemned to the burqa,"...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Sounds good to me. This guy looks like he has promise. Sure, he has to say things to quell the leftists, but the proof will undoubtedly be in the pudding. He seems a far cry better than Chirac.
"I would like to say one thing, in what is my conception of the Republic, security is the responsibility of the State, I am against militias, I am against the private ownership of firearms, and I’m trying to make you think about that. If you are assaulted by an armed burglar, he’ll use his weapon more effectively than you anyway so you’re risking your life. If the criminal is not armed and you are and you shoot, your life will be ruined, because killing someone over a theft is not in line with the republican values that are mine. The private ownership of firearms is dangerous. I understand your exasperation for having been burglarized two times, I understand the fear that your wife and daughter may have but the answer is in the efficiency of the police and the efficiency of the judiciary process, the answer is not in having guns at home." --A quote from French Conservative presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy on RTL radio, 22 September 2006
Good for him, I hope he stands by his convictions. He shouldn’t automaticallty cave into us, but at the same time, I hope he is true to his word about the terrorists(Muslims are terrirists in my opinion).
Sounds like the French are getting uppity.
You sir, have our undivided attention.
Perhaps it will take a (non) poodle to awaken the English bulldog and the American ... what?
Terrier?
P.S. .. do we even have a dog?
The Beagle?
No one is asking him to be a “poodle”, but just stop crapping on our lawn!
His country is on fire - at least all the vehicles are, riots in the streets, moslems everywhere he looks - and what does he say - that he wants the US to do better about so called global warming. No word on stepping up france’s help in the WOT - no, just chiding the US about something that doesn’t exist. Typical french.
Funniest title ever. Too bad he didn't actually say it.
Sarkozy sought to quell that uncertainty in a speech barely 30 minutes after his electoral triumph.
France, he said, will stand alongside "all those persecuted by tyranny, by dictatorships." He reached out to "all those in the world who believe in the values of tolerance, freedom, democracy and humanism."
IOW he's not too sophisticated or overeducated to be above right and wrong in matters foreign policy. Best of luck to you, Monsieur Présidente!
Snoopy?
Anything is better than Chirac.
Methinks we may be the Mastiff.
Yep (or is it yap) THAT is our poodle.
Still shaking from laughing so hard !!
Notice how none of the media is reporting that he is against Islamic fundamentalism?
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