Posted on 04/06/2009 4:20:18 PM PDT by CitizenM
Barack Obama, concerned about offending Britain and Germany, rebuffed strenuous attempts by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France to persuade the new American president to make a trip to Normandy this week.
White House officials travelled to France at the start of March to discuss a visit by Mr Obama to Omaha Beach, the site of the American Cemetery, established in 1944 just after D-Day and where 9,387 American personnel are buried. Among them is Theodore Roosevelt Jr the eldest son of the 26th US President.
French officials and senior American military officers walked with White House staff through the cemetery discussing how the two presidents might follow the same route. But even before their trip, the White House had decided that Mr Obama would not travel there this week.
"It wasn't going to happen," said an American official in Washington. "We went through the motions to placate President Sarkozy but giving special treatment to France was not on our agenda.
"During this trip, we wanted to maintain a balance between the British, German and France". A White House spokesman in London declined to comment. Last month, White House officials briefed that a Normandy visit had been considered but it had not been logistically possible.
Mr Sarkozy is said by French officials to be piqued that Gordon Brown became the first European leader to meet Mr Obama and was then lavished with praise by him at a 50-minute joint press conference in London on Wednesday.
----snip----
According to French reports, Mr Obama was to visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-mer, just north of Omaha Beach. The pair were apparently to have dined at the nearby chateau de Bénouville in Caen.
The White House rejected the offer....(see rest of story)
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The Sensitive President.
The President who does not want to offend anyone except for the United States, the United States Armed Forces, Israel, Conservatives, the Christian Faith and white America.
Agreed. I am glad he didn’t go.
I did not admit it in my post,but I got a little “misty” that day. I have traveled to a lot of the european countrys,and while there are people that hate America,there are just as many that feel guilty and embaressed by the treatment our country receives from the America haters.
Doesn’t each President place a wreath at the cemetery in Normandy each year on D-Day? What will BO do on June 6th? Will an unexpected emergency occur that will make it impossible for him to be there that day?
Perhaps Zero is afraid of ghosts . . .
Dear Admin Moderator:
Is there a special hall of fame repository for great posts? I would like to nominate Ms. Tax Chick at the following thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2223678/posts?page=5#5
I refer to Post #5...:)
Sincerely,
rlmorel
Oh, you’re too kind!
No, really.
That just got me and made me grin. In this environment we are in, a genuinely funny post is worth its weight in gold!
So, take a bow. That post was as good as any by pissant, dead or martin fierro.
Never mind. If this is the case, then Obama is unworthy to sully the land with the soles of his shoes. Some things border on desecration. Those dear war dead, beloved mothers’ sons, deserve a better man from all indications so far.
Obama’s message to the famlies of all the White Americans who died at Normandy: “Get over it!”
I participated in a memorial service in St Avold, France. Many French citizens thanked me, because my nations soldiers died for their freedom. While assigned in Germany, many older German citizens apologized to me for their nations actions over 50 years ago.
When I first noticed this article, I thought it was John Semmons or Scrapple Face.
He has no interest in seeing the cost that was paid to enble him to be where he is today, and not speaking "Austrian."
Everyday I think I can't despise Obama more...then tomorrow comes.
High praise!
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