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 ...
Same here. I thought that this had to be an Onion or Scrappleface article... holy @#$@#% s#%^.
Hell... I get misty eyed every June 6th.
I could have the baby on June 6 this year. It will be my brother’s 45th birthday. I wonder what day of the week that is ...
I don't think he likes anything European either. It seems that he has absolutely no interest or respect for the countries that were primarily responsible for the founders of the USA writing the constitution and other early laws.
Was he ever in Europe before running for President? I don't think so.
This man is bringing has already brought shame on our nation.
Statement is now updated.
"...while Michelle stands around, splaylegged, dressed in the hotel bedspread."
I can't stop laughing!
No, he was never in Europe before running for Prez, but he WAS in Pakistan in 1981.
In addition to seeing his birth certificate, I’d like to see which passport he used to get there, as Americans were not allowed to travel to Pakistan in 1981.
Obama just offended millions of Americans ... but that’s normal for him ....
If I’d been just a fraction sharper, I’d have worked in the belt around the ribcage ;-).
bttt
Yep...I'm just trying to figure how/where the military fits into all of this.
He is not worthy to walk on that hallowed ground.”
My thoughts too. My father was at Normandy, and I wouldn't want Obama defiling the ground my father fought and bled over.
What???!!!
If there is any luck left in America, He'll be answering the articles of impeachment.
That would be awesome!
It seems the only people Obama continually offends are Americans.
I know for a fact there are some big Brass that are boiling.
Humal, I hope he told you of his experiences. So many of that generation said nothing, and much was lost when they passed on.
To me, anyone who survived at Normandy on D-Day was a hero.
Just saw the beginning of “Saving Private Ryan” again on Sunday and as always I marvel at the raw courage of men facing incredicle odds to just do the job they have been trained to do, in the face of death.
Maybe he didn’t want to offend the muslims in Britain or Germany. Maybe he didn’t want to offend the Nazis either...........
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