Posted on 03/29/2010 9:44:55 PM PDT by Cincinna
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France travels to the United States on Monday for a two-day trip designed to underscore his close cooperation with President Barack Obama on Afghanistan, Iran and other issues, and apparently to make a statement about their personal relationship.
The trip, culminating in a news conference Tuesday and then a private dinner at the White House, comes at a crucial time for both.
Mr. Obama has just scored two major victories — the passage of historic health-care legislation and agreement with Russia on a new strategic arms control treaty — and is heading into a period of heavy international engagement.
Mr. Sarkozy, for his part, has seen his popularity fade and his party suffer stinging defeats in regional elections. At the same time he is preparing for a crucial stint on the world stage as France takes leadership of both the Group of Eight and the Group of Twenty.
As the newspaper Le Parisien put it, “This meeting could not come at a better time” for Mr. Sarkozy.
The closeness of the Sarkozy-Obama relationship — and for that matter, of Mr. Obama with other European leaders — has been questioned, based on issues like Mr. Obama’s decision in February to skip an annual U.S.-European summit meeting.
But in an interview here last week with the International Herald Tribune and three French correspondents, the national security adviser, James L. Jones Jr., repeatedly rejected the notion of any strains.
He called Mr. Sarkozy a “very helpful and steadfast ally” on Iran and “a strong adviser and supporter on the Middle East.” If Mr. Sarkozy sometimes urges the American president to push harder in both areas, said the general, Mr. Obama appreciated the “honest exchange of views.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“Then to hearty applause, he added: “If you come to France and something happens to you, you won’t be asked for your credit card before you’re rushed to the hospital.”
I have something to add to this - if you people in France get threatened by Iranian missiles, don’t call us. We are too poor to take of your collective a$$es now that we have to pay for Obama’s death care. So sorry. Au revoir.
Carla drops in at Julliard...
Michelle drops in for... pizza.
Ain't we got class?
Where is Michelle through all of this?
Thanks Cincinna. I hope French police and armed forces have lots of ammo, they’ll be needing it soon, IMHO.
What’s the deal with O and Sarkozy running on that pic on Drudge?
It looks like a photo shopped pic to me.
gee, you think France would trade “first couples”?
What a wonderful contrast of class & style to the two creeping things occupying the White House.
I agree. There is also a wonderful contrast in substance.
At the speech at Columbia University on Monday, Sarko spoke for over an hour... no notes, and certainly no TelePromTer.
Sarko has been in elected or appointed office since he was in his early twenties. He was never a community organizer. He always held a real job.
Thank you for the nice pictures.
Excellent factual points. America is stuck with a ‘liberal’ media elected, anti-American, humanoid teleprompter, while France has an elected real leader.
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