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Barack Obama rejects Normandy trip to avoid offending Germany
Telegraph.co.uk ^ | April 2, 2009 | Toby Harnden, US Editor, and Henry Samuel in Paris

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; antimilitary; disgrace; military; normandy; obama; obamagaffes; veterans
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To: iopscusa

Same here. I thought that this had to be an Onion or Scrappleface article... holy @#$@#% s#%^.


141 posted on 04/06/2009 6:48:36 PM PDT by manapua
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To: Steel Bill

Hell... I get misty eyed every June 6th.


142 posted on 04/06/2009 6:48:37 PM PDT by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier)
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To: Northern Yankee

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 ...


143 posted on 04/06/2009 6:51:21 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance." ~Sam Brown)
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To: exit82
this President does not like or appreciate anything American.

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.

144 posted on 04/06/2009 6:53:59 PM PDT by Freee-dame
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Comment #145 Removed by Moderator

To: a fool in paradise
This man is bringing shame on our nation.

This man is bringing has already brought shame on our nation.

Statement is now updated.

146 posted on 04/06/2009 6:59:11 PM PDT by NewLand (What does 0bama know and when did he know it?)
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To: Tax-chick
You nailed it!

"...while Michelle stands around, splaylegged, dressed in the hotel bedspread."

I can't stop laughing!

147 posted on 04/06/2009 7:26:35 PM PDT by Zman516 (socialists & muslims -- satan's useful idiots.)
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To: Freee-dame

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.


148 posted on 04/06/2009 7:34:27 PM PDT by exit82 (The Obama Cabinet: There was more brainpower on Gilligan's Island.)
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To: Northern Yankee

Obama just offended millions of Americans ... but that’s normal for him ....


149 posted on 04/06/2009 7:49:08 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Zman516

If I’d been just a fraction sharper, I’d have worked in the belt around the ribcage ;-).


150 posted on 04/06/2009 8:12:47 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance." ~Sam Brown)
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To: CitizenM

bttt


151 posted on 04/06/2009 8:29:04 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: numberonepal
There’s somethin’ stirrin’.

Yep...I'm just trying to figure how/where the military fits into all of this.

152 posted on 04/06/2009 9:04:22 PM PDT by Pipe Dog
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To: exit82
“IMHO, I am glad he did not go, That would have been a sacrilege.

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.

153 posted on 04/06/2009 9:36:17 PM PDT by Humal
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To: CitizenM

What???!!!

154 posted on 04/06/2009 9:56:14 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: Dallas59
=
155 posted on 04/06/2009 10:02:46 PM PDT by CJ Wolf
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To: SonOfPyrodex
Doesn’t each President place a wreath at the cemetery in Normandy each year on D-Day? What will BO do on June 6th?

If there is any luck left in America, He'll be answering the articles of impeachment.

That would be awesome!

156 posted on 04/06/2009 10:40:39 PM PDT by uncitizen
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To: CitizenM

It seems the only people Obama continually offends are Americans.


157 posted on 04/07/2009 3:44:23 AM PDT by Beckwith (A "natural born citizen" -- two American citizen parents and born in the USA.)
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To: Pipe Dog
Yep...I'm just trying to figure how/where the military fits into all of this.

I know for a fact there are some big Brass that are boiling.

158 posted on 04/07/2009 4:34:00 AM PDT by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: Humal

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.


159 posted on 04/07/2009 4:36:21 AM PDT by exit82 (The Obama Cabinet: There was more brainpower on Gilligan's Island.)
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To: raybbr; Tax-chick

Maybe he didn’t want to offend the muslims in Britain or Germany. Maybe he didn’t want to offend the Nazis either...........


160 posted on 04/07/2009 5:13:24 AM PDT by combat_boots (The answer to 1984 is 1776)
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