The issue is that Barack Obama has been snubbing the (relatively) conservative & pro-American Sarkozy since his election, but has nonetheless somehow found the time to lavishly laud Sarkozy's predecessor Chirac & convey his hopes that "I am certain that we will be able to work together, in the coming four years, in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world. "
In other words, since his election, Barack Obama has been pointedly loathe to give Sarkozy the time of day, but somehow has carved out of his schedule the time to extend this hearts-and-flowers courtesy to the out-of-power Saddam-loving President who was such a thorn in the side of the United States. Sarkozy, the very man who does America a huge favor at great political risk to himself by putting France back up for full-membership with NATO and thereby lessening America's obligations to that organization, is inexplicably given a diplomatic slap in the face by this administration.
That's why people who follow French politics are clucking: Not because they think Obama doesn't know who the French President is (clearly he does), but because this seems to have been a calculated slight to Sarkozy. It's as if the next PM of Great Britain were, after his election, to ostentatiously ignore Obama & then write an effusive note to George W. Bush expressing his fondest hopes that they can work well together for the duration of his term.
Diplomatically, it's just bizarrely gratuitous insult. And Obama knew full well he was writing to the former President. Indeed, Obama's full awareness of that fact was required for him to properly convey this contrived insult to Sarkozy.
RIGHT !
From France i can tell that it will be indeed an affront since SARKOZY always wanted to appear as clearly different from CHIRAC.
CHIRAC considered himself as a stupid heir of the pathetic De GauLle’s doctrine of a french neutrality seen as a sign of “independancy” during the cold war in the 60’s.
That’s why De GAULLE decided to withdraw France from NATO...
SARKOZY relentlessly told that he wanted to break with that old french “dogma” and recently decided to come back into NATO.I give credit to SARKOZY for that even if i disagree with him on many issues as he is not a conservative.
In conclusion this is not only a mistake for OHMAMA but a pathetic FAULT !
HOBAMA sees himself as the leader of the world speaking magical words which realize what they mean(as GOD’s words).
He decides who should be the President or PM of others free countries...He thinks that peace will come with IRAN when he says “PEACE” and speaks kind words.
This guy IS a MISTAKE