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Bush's New Ally: France?
Washington Post ^ | 2/1/06 | David Ignatius

Posted on 02/01/2006 4:50:10 AM PST by paudio

PARIS -- Once every five or six weeks, a French presidential adviser named Maurice Gourdault-Montagne flies to Washington to meet with his American counterpart, national security adviser Stephen Hadley. They spend several hours coordinating strategy on Iran, Syria, Lebanon and other hot spots, and then the Frenchman flies home. In between trips, the two men talk often on the phone, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Welcome to the French Connection. Though the link between the top foreign policy advisers of Presidents Bush and Jacques Chirac is almost unknown to the outside world, it has emerged as an important element of U.S. planning. On a public level, France may still be the butt of jokes among American politicians, but in these private diplomatic contacts, the Elysee Palace has become one of the White House's most important and effective allies.

During a visit here this week, I had a chance to talk with French sources who know some of the closely held details. It's an intriguing story of back channels and secret missions, but it illustrates a larger change in America's approach: Bruised by the war in Iraq, the administration is now working hard to conduct its foreign policy in tandem with international allies and, where possible, through the United Nations.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: allyfrance; bush43; france
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To: paudio

I always had wondered how the US and France coordinated so well and affected the ouster of Syria out of Lebanon without firing a shot.


21 posted on 02/01/2006 6:01:14 AM PST by winner3000
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To: Brian Allen
Who would be surprised by that?

Certainly not me.

After all, the UN was established for that very purpose and its very charter was written by our most impacable enemy.

For the purpose of abetting highly-organized crime.

22 posted on 02/01/2006 6:02:11 AM PST by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are REALLY stupid.)
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To: paudio

Could it be that France is getting nervous due to their large Islamist population???? And the recent riots??? Yes it's great to have an UNCLE SAM.


23 posted on 02/01/2006 6:03:16 AM PST by KenmcG414 (wHAT'ST)
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To: paudio

We are working with France to disarm Iran. If and when it becomes clear that the UN can not/will not stop Iran, then George will go off to bomb the bombs in Iran and then the French appeasers/yappers will throw another hate-America tizzy fit.


24 posted on 02/01/2006 6:10:31 AM PST by Galveston Grl (Getting angry and abandoning power to the Democrats is not a choice.)
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To: paudio

Anybody have a copy of the "Hey, France" poster? ("...we'll defend civilization") Appropriate for this thread.


25 posted on 02/01/2006 6:22:37 AM PST by JimRed ("Hey, hey, Teddy K., how many girls did you drown today?")
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To: ken5050

Remember Charles the Hammer and Charlemagne.


26 posted on 02/01/2006 6:35:26 AM PST by epluribus_2
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To: epluribus_2

I saw that movie......LOL


27 posted on 02/01/2006 6:37:41 AM PST by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to pass on her gene pool....any volunteers?)
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To: paudio

There are some pragmatists in the French government who see first hand the danger the Islamo-nazis pose to western civilization and are not about to let Notre Dame be turned into a mosque by the appeasers. Chirac will not be re-elected and Interior Minister, Nicholas Sarkozy will likely be the next president of France. Look for far closer relations between France and the US in the future.


28 posted on 02/01/2006 6:38:10 AM PST by The Great RJ ("Mir wölle bleiwen wat mir sin" or "We want to remain what we are." ..Luxembourg motto)
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To: Numbers Guy

They're just trying to revitalize their wine making industry. We were their biggest customer and they pissed us off so we started drinking California wine. It beats French wine handsdown anyway.


29 posted on 02/01/2006 6:39:38 AM PST by hiramknight (going to war without France is like going hunting without an accordian...Schwarpskoff)
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To: lefrog

Ping


30 posted on 02/01/2006 6:41:31 AM PST by Kennesaw
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To: paudio
What a maroon...what do they teach at journalism school?

I'd suggest a course on not making a fool of yourself publicly by pushing this garbage. Bush hasn't moved; France has. This relationship is fundamentally different today than it would have been five years ago.

31 posted on 02/01/2006 6:50:14 AM PST by gogeo
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To: Vicomte13

Your take M. ?


32 posted on 02/01/2006 6:57:31 AM PST by investigateworld (Abortion stops a beating heart)
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To: paudio

Yes. and No.


33 posted on 02/01/2006 7:07:51 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: paudio

If France is now our ally, we are winning and they want some of the glory and none of the gory.


34 posted on 02/01/2006 7:10:00 AM PST by usmcobra (In my world after being arrested Cindy is sent to Iraq to assist with finding the mass graves)
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To: Carry_Okie

<< For the purpose of abetting highly-organized crime. >>

Yep.

It's just a great big "Democrat" party.


35 posted on 02/01/2006 7:23:48 AM PST by Brian Allen (How arrogant are we to believe our career political-power-lusting lumpen somehow superior to theirs?)
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To: usmcobra

Was it Patton who said (words to this effect):

"France as an ally in war is as useful as an accordian in combat."


36 posted on 02/01/2006 7:35:54 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: paudio

Changed approach? No. French politicians have just started waking up and realizing welling weapons to despots is not a good reason to piss off the US. The US 'bruised' by the war is nothing compared to the news of kickbacks and arms deals from French companies to Saddam. They have just started paying attention to what side their croissant is buttered on.


37 posted on 02/01/2006 7:38:24 AM PST by TalonDJ
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To: Brian Allen
Only its participation in Iraq prevents Britain - and even then only politically - being tagged a terrorist-harboring state.

Source(s)?

38 posted on 02/01/2006 7:47:34 AM PST by Tennessean4Bush (When you come to a fork in the road, take it.)
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To: Brian Allen

"Only its participation in Iraq prevents Britain - and even then only politically - being tagged a terrorist-harboring state."

Britain is a terrorist harboring state regardless of its participation in Iraq. I would prefer to have an alliance with France than with Britian.

J'aime la France pas Grande-Bretagne!


39 posted on 02/01/2006 8:39:03 AM PST by Gengis Khan
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To: Tennessean4Bush

Brian doesn't do sources, just tiresome and repetetive slurs.


40 posted on 02/01/2006 9:29:32 AM PST by Glyndwr4Cymru
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