Bush: Not Clear France Concerned With US Security (More Crow Pie for Chirac)

Dow Jones Newswire ^ | 29 May, 2003

[Happy2BMe]

Bush: Not Clear France Concerned With US Security

Thu May 29,10:15 PM ET

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- President George W. Bush (news - web sites) said Thursday he was ready to move on when it comes to Franco-U.S. ties, but then slammed the French government with one of the most damning indictments of an ally possible by saying it wasn't clear that France cares whether U.S. citizens live in safety and security.

"I have work to do to convince the skeptics in France that the intentions of the United States are positive, and the French leadership has got work to do to convince the American people that they are concerned about the security of our country," Bush said.

Bush made the comment in an interview with a handful of foreign news organizations ahead of his trip to Europe and the Middle East. Bush will go to France during the trip to attend the Group of Eight leading nations summit in Evian, but will cut short his stay and leave the summit a day before it ends.

Bush said that when people in the U.S. watched the escalating diplomatic brawl before the U.S.-led military effort to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), many in the U.S. took a dim view of France's actions.

"Let me be realistic, there is a sense of frustration and disappointment amongst the American people toward the French position," Bush said.

"People didn't understand the decision by the French leadership to thwart America's desire to work on security and freedom: Security for our country and freedom for Iraq (news - web sites)," Bush added.

Despite this, Bush insisted that France's opposition to the invasion of France "wouldn't influence my policies."

Instead, Bush said the U.S. and France will cooperate where it benefits both countries.

"I will have a good discussion with Jacques Chirac," Bush said.

However, when asked directly if he had "forgiven" France, Bush sidestepped the question.

"I look forward to working with France to achieve common objectives," Bush said.

-By Alex Keto, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9256; Alex.Keto@dowjones.com

[VaBthang4]

I feel you where the graphic is concerned but in the end, the "American" thing to do is be there for them if something like that were to happen [if they reach out for us].

It has never been our National nature to be bitter or unforgiving. Though I wouldnt mind seeing the French & Germans get completely slammed by Al Qaeda...I would rather we go ahead and support them after it happens [especially if they look to us for support].

[Happy2BMe]

"A little fact remembered by most Americans and forgotten by the French!"

FRENCH DESECRATION OF BRITISH WWII EMANCIPATION GRAVES

By SIMON HUGHES

SICK French yobs daubed a swastika and vile anti-war slurs at a cemetery for 11,000 British troops.

The showpiece cenotaph at the graveyard in Northern France was smeared in red paint with the words: “Dig up your rubbish. It’s fouling our soil.”

Other slogans at the Etaples cemetery near Boulogne included “Death to the Yankees” and “Saddam Hussein will win and spill your blood.”

And the vandals wrote “Rosbeefs go home” — the French insult for Brits is roast-beefs. Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush were also branded war criminals.

The graffiti was discovered by a shocked gardener and spotted by around 80 visitors. It was cleaned off the same day.

Roy Hemmington — spokesman for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission — said: “We are deeply offended. This is the strongest language and most vile graffiti I have witnessed at a war graves cemetery.

“The suggestion that the bodies of soldiers who died for France should be dug up is particularly foul.”

Most soldiers buried at the cemetery were defending France at the Somme and Ypres during World War I.

Another 122 are troops who died fighting the Nazis in World War II.

Among the dead are a winner of the Victoria Cross, 217 holders of the Military Medal and 69 holders of the Military Cross.

A number had been awarded France’s top military decoration, the Legion d’Honneur.

Roy added: “Almost every British regiment has war dead here. This insults just about the entire British Army.”

Anti-British feeling has been whipped up in France since President Jacques Chirac refused to let the UN back action against Iraq.

Last night Jim Kelleher, chief clerk to the Royal Fusiliers Association, said: “No sane person would do this. It is a disgrace. I have family buried in France and if I could get my hands on whoever did this I’d bury them too.”

Jeremy Lillies, of the Royal British Legion, added: “It is distressing.”

The Sun’s Military Adviser Major-General Perkins said: “It is despicable.”

Appalled local MP Jacques Lang said: “It is an attack on the memory of the British and American soldiers who contributed to the liberation of our soil.”

Police captain Thibault Martin added: “It is sick and cowardly.”

The shocking news comes as a new poll reveals that a third of the French want SADDAM to win the war.

A massive 78 per cent of 1,000 people in the poll by French newspaper Le Monde disapproved of the Allied action.

But 16 per cent “really wish for” a Coalition victory — while 37 per cent said they would prefer one.

[Happy2BMe]

Chirac Is A Worm!

France has inspired Canada . .

Hotels feel pinch [Lose millions as U.S. biz cancels]

Viva La France - French Military History in a Nutshell (Including *WAR ON TERRORISM*)

---

[elephantlips]

It would be a question of who surrenders first.

[from occupied ga]

A little fact remembered by most Americans and forgotten by the French!

My point exactly. Don't expect any gratitude from the French, and to be honest, I'm kind of out of gratitude for their admittedly very valuable help during the revolution. You also forgot to mention the many WWI Americans buried there too. As a matter of fact I was reading that the cemetaries of American war dead were being vandalized by the French (who have a large arab fraction now- coincidence?)

[from occupied ga]

The Arabs expect revenge for something that happened 6,000 years ago.

I'm not an Arab*. Are you? It's unrealistic to expect any gratitude from the French for anything that happened last week let along before most of them were born

*Although you might be onto something, don't the French have a large immigrant Arab population?

[VRWC_minion]

It's unrealistic to expect any gratitude from the French for anything that happened last week let along before most of them were born

I'm gratefull to my mother who gave birth to me 49 years ago. I'm gratefull to the scientists that discovered penicillin or I would not be alive today. I'm gratefull to the folks who fought in all the wars of our past because I would not be free today. I'm gratefull for the brave souls who settled this country or I would be living in Europe. I'm gratefull for lots of things that have happened longer ago than last week.

Only the most immature and selfish folks are as short sighted as you expect of the French. They apparently are that selfish and shortsighted or they wouldn't have acted as they did.

[CaptSkip]

"Despite this, Bush insisted that France's opposition to the invasion of France "wouldn't influence my policies."

How cool would THAT be!

All your cheese belong US!

[from occupied ga]

I'm gratefull to my mother who gave ...

You're just full of gratitude, you must not be French.

They apparently are that selfish and shortsighted

What you said - the human condition. Gratitude is not high on what motivates people. Look at the Democrats/bureaucrats/welfare recipients in this country. Are they gratefull for the money they plundered from you? No - they just want more.

[Redbob]

"Rap is crap!

I think that was the point...

[WoofDog123]

"You expect gratitude from the french for something that happened almost 60 years ago?"

I see lots of gratitude for french military assitance during the revolutionary war. Without french help, we would still have the queen on our money in some form, and the greatest experiment in history in personal freedom and limited government would not have begun.

[from occupied ga]

I see lots of gratitude for french military assitance during the revolutionary war

You do?

[hobbes1]

LOL....Glad to see it only took 28 replies for someone toget to it.

Despite this, Bush insisted that France's opposition to the invasion of France "wouldn't influence my policies."

Immediately upon reading the Dow Jones account of Bush's press conference, French President Chirac called President Bush to surrender.

[NeoCaveman]

Immediately upon reading the Dow Jones account of Bush's press conference, French President Chirac called President Bush to surrender.

Take no prisoners. Really what could be worse than taking care of 30 million surrending frogs.

[hobbes1]

OH, I am sure they would be useful.

They have a long and storied history, of Fetching Drinks, Wenches, and pointing the way to the Munitions Factory....

Our guys will just have to get used to being called Mein Herr....

Nous nous rendons!!!!, peut je vous montre la façon à l'usine de munitions; Mein Herr.....?
(We Surrender!!!! May I show you the way to the munitions factory, Mein Herr?)

[biblewonk]

Does anyone here care about the security of the French? Why should they care about us?

Ever heard of a little noise called WWII?

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! I got a kick outta the invasion of France slip by the author !!

Now, about that Crow . . .

[from occupied ga]

Try reading the rest of the thread jackass

[WoofDog123]

"You do?"

ROFL, I should use sarcasm tag I see.

Of course, I don't know how big an issue removing france from german occupation as a european theater goal for fdr was, as opposed to, say, defeating germany, or helping britain. It may have just been incidental, as he certainly sold eastern europe into the hands of a ruler "as bad or worse..."

France, of course, was interested in hurting great britain (who only a few years before, with colonial militia help, thrown them out of the 'midwest' in the french and indian war"), and couldn't care a fig about the US colonies. The colonies still couldn't have done it without them

[biblewonk]

Try reading the rest of the thread jackass

Try FOAD