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The French PR Machine Crashes
Laura's Weekly E-Blast! ^ | 03/03/03 | Laura Ingraham

Posted on 03/03/2003 12:32:57 PM PST by FBD

Laura's Weekly E-Blast! http://www.LauraIngraham.com

The French PR Machine Crashes

(San Francisco, CA) Even out here in peacenik-land, one senses that patience is wearing thin for the French. After watching the French Foreign Minister Dominque De Villepin on ABC’s This Week, one Democrat friend asked: "Was he trying to win us over or insult us?" My brother, who speaks fluent French, and is a self-avowed Francophile, has cancelled his trip there this summer. Suddenly Evian costs the same as Poland Springs in the grocery stores.

As US authorities continue to pick off top al Qaeda operatives, it’s time we really start to focus on another threat to our national security —the French. Maybe that’s a slight overstatement--but not by much. Day by day we are learning more about how little we have in common with the country whose people were liberated by our soldiers almost 60 years ago. De Villepin, in the much-heralded interview with George Stephanopolous, unwittingly exposed this growing divide, and his country’s feckless, hypocritical stance against a brutal, dangerous Iraqi regime.

After this Q & A (which was more like Q & Q since he failed to answer Any of the important questions about Iraq), there should be no dispute About the following:

* France prefers an Iraq with Saddam in power.

* France thinks 1441’s "serious consequences" means permanent inspections.

* France thinks 1441’s "immediate compliance" mandate means Iraq should cooperate when it feels like it.

* France doesn’t regret its past role in helping Iraq build a nuclear reactor.

* France thinks Americans are stupid.

Stephanopolous later said he believed De Villepin was attempting to "go over the heads of the US government and speak directly to the American people." Did De Villepin really believe our citizens would suddenly Find the French position credible when he claimed that Iraq was now cooperating "on process and substance"? (Something even Hans Blix does not claim.)

George might as well have been interviewing Tariq Aziz. "You cannot say that a country should disarm and when a country agrees to disarm…that it’s nothing," De Villepin said of Saddam’s last minute decision to destroy his Al Samoud missiles. "He is, we are in the process of being able to disarm," he insisted. So from the warped French perspective, UN weapons inspectors are not only detectives, they are enablers.

Confirming the worst American stereotypes of France’s appeasement mentality, De Villepin warned of "a burst of terrorism" if force is used "prematurely." This illogical thinking would prevent us from ever Acting preemptively, and keep our country locked into a never-ending defensive crouch. It may be the French way, but it’s not the American way.

As exasperating as De Villepin’s answers were, so was Stephanopolous’ failure to press him on his country’s Iraqi oil interests. No matter How many times De Villepin invoked the "world community," we know that France is only concerned with one thing in this debate—France. Its economic interests, its standing in Europe, its ability to stand up to the world’s cowboy superpower—this is what motivates France’s refusal to force Iraq’s disarmament.

What the French may never fully comprehend is that none of that will ultimately matter in a world where weapons proliferation goes unchecked, where dictators are able to manipulate democratic leaders like marionettes. Memo to Jacques: If you want to be considered as a 21st century authority on the perils of war, why not starting spending some money on your own military? But that’s right, De Villepin reiterated that "France is not a pacifist country."

French eateries in San Francisco conspicuously fly large American flags as if to assure prospective customers that "we’re still with you." Yes we remember that after September 11th, France said "We are all Americans." That was a warm and welcome gesture. But today we need more than gestures, we need action and real commitment.

Word of the Week

Penitent adj. Feeling or expressing remorse for one's misdeeds or sins. As in-- De Villepin wasn't the slightest bit penitent about France's role in helping Iraq build a nuclear reactor before the last Gulf War.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: devillepin; france; french; iraq; saddam; sanfrancisco; steponallofus
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To: tang-soo
"Having to go to war without France is like going hunting without your accordion. Who needs em." -- Donald Rumsfeld

Yeah, I've heard that one, it's good ain't it!
They're just excess baggage.
I didn't know it was Rummy that said it first though...that's great!

FRegards

61 posted on 03/03/2003 5:15:05 PM PST by FBD (French Basher Dude)
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To: Defiant; Mudboy Slim
That's good! I hope you finish it...and post it to "Mudboy Slim"

He'll give it some exposure on his musical parodies and poems - "Black" thread.

FRegards

62 posted on 03/03/2003 5:21:20 PM PST by FBD (French Basher Dude)
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To: majordivit
Q: What do you call a Frenchman with a sheep under each arm?

A: A pimp.

63 posted on 03/03/2003 5:24:30 PM PST by nonliberal (Taglines? We don't need no stinkin' taglines!)
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To: Heartlander
"French military victories"...

LOL! That's a goodun!

64 posted on 03/03/2003 5:26:47 PM PST by FBD (French Basher Dude)
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To: gridlock
Pictures of Saddam and Chirac...none of Laura Ingraham. What's wrong with this picture?
65 posted on 03/03/2003 5:27:18 PM PST by Wavyhill
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To: FBD

66 posted on 03/03/2003 5:31:03 PM PST by FBD (French Basher Dude)
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To: Dems_R_Losers
Italy and Britain are our friends, we need to support them and screw the French.

Hooo Yahhhh!

67 posted on 03/03/2003 5:31:18 PM PST by humblegunner
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To: FBD
My brother, who speaks fluent French, and is a self-avowed Francophile

So the parents are counting on you for grandchildren, then, right?

68 posted on 03/03/2003 5:33:47 PM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets
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To: Wavyhill; gridlock
Pictures of Saddam and Chirac...none of Laura Ingraham. What's wrong with this picture? "

A very serious transgression, FRiend...one which is NOW rectified! Mercy buckets.


69 posted on 03/03/2003 5:36:48 PM PST by FBD (French Basher Dude)
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To: SunStar
Then I'll boycott Evian...you can have my share...
70 posted on 03/03/2003 5:37:27 PM PST by CarmelValleyite
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To: FBD
I despised the French when visiting Paris in '72; then more bad experiences in Provence in '98. Obviously, nothing has changed.
71 posted on 03/03/2003 5:39:28 PM PST by CarmelValleyite
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To: FBD

72 posted on 03/03/2003 5:42:38 PM PST by drq
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To: FBD
Great Post!
73 posted on 03/03/2003 5:43:19 PM PST by sultan88 (Bomb Saddam and do it soon)
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To: FBD
* France prefers an Iraq with Saddam in power.

* France thinks 1441’s "serious consequences" means permanent inspections.

* France thinks 1441’s "immediate compliance" mandate means Iraq should cooperate when it feels like it.

* France doesn’t regret its past role in helping Iraq build a nuclear reactor.

* France thinks Americans are stupid.

"Plus ca change, Plus ca meme chose"...

Or maybe..."Fromage mangeant le singe de reddition "?

74 posted on 03/03/2003 5:43:29 PM PST by Itzlzha
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
Laura Ingraham: "My brother, who speaks fluent French, and is a self-avowed Francophile...

Lonesone:"So the parents are counting on you for grandchildren, then, right?"

That would be affirmative, Lonesome!

Laura Ingraham's brother is gay, I believe. She has mentioned him on her radio talk show.

FRegards!

75 posted on 03/03/2003 5:44:10 PM PST by FBD (French Basher Dude)
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To: sultan88
Thanks, Sultan!
Please note, I will always post Laura's pic in the future,
to you, when I get a Lovely Laura E-mail Blast!

FRegards
76 posted on 03/03/2003 5:48:06 PM PST by FBD (French Basher Dude)
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To: FBD
To further friendly relations with the French and France (yes, ya'all got some minority populations that could cause big trouble), I will not insult the French today.

5.56mm

77 posted on 03/03/2003 6:01:00 PM PST by M Kehoe
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To: afraidfortherepublic
GOOD for your sales manager...he/she has convictions! My mother's 19-year-old cousin died on the beaches of Normandy...and the French make me sick. My favorite drink WAS Perrier...no more.
78 posted on 03/03/2003 6:05:53 PM PST by cowgirlcutie
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To: Gorzaloon; FBD
Bon jour monsieur: "Barn door manure"
79 posted on 03/03/2003 6:12:09 PM PST by sultan88 (Bomb Saddam and do it soon)
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To: Gorzaloon
My fav was "mercy buckups madamwoisal", however the spelling is made-up.
80 posted on 03/03/2003 6:12:35 PM PST by X-FID
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