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Europe
Chirac slams U.S. policy again
2004-06-30
CNN loves these Bush bashing news items.
French President Jacques Chirac, clashing with U.S. foreign policy for a second day, says the isolation of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat would hinder Middle East peacemaking.
This is what's known as the "counterintuitive" approach. He's simply not big on empirical observation...
Chirac said the U.S. policy was "not very prudent or compatible with a strategy of restoring peace" in the region.
How do you restore what hasn't been?
"People can have whatever opinion they like of President Arafat or any other president," Chirac said on the sidelines of the NATO summit. "But legitimacy cannot be contested if a different legitimacy is not proposed." He said it was normal for France to have contacts with the Palestinian leader who was "probably the only person who could impose compromise on the Palestinian people."
Mad cow disease hits the French.
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier left the NATO summit in Istanbul Tuesday for the Palestinian territories. He was scheduled to meet Arafat in his compound in Ramallah, where the veteran leader has been cowering holed up for around two years. Israel says Arafat is free to leave but would risk not being allowed back if he did so. "We have reiterated our policy that basically meeting Chairman Arafat is counterproductive as he continues to be an obstacle, a part of the problem and not part of the solution," an Israeli Foreign Ministry official told Reuters. "We recommend not to meet him, and most European foreign ministers have basically respected Israel’s policy. But every country is free and entitled to act as it sees fit," said the official. Barnier had been due to visit Israel after meeting Arafat but Israel scheduled a separate visit by the French minister for September instead.
They shot up Jordan, shot up Lebanon, tried to shoot up Tunisia, and now they're on their second round of shooting up Israel up close and personal. And that's the best hope for peace?
Senior Palestinian official Yasser Abed Rabbo said Barnier’s visit reflected the view in Europe that the key to peace was driving the Joooos into the Sea an Israeli-Palestinian partnership -- not security measures. "The Israelis use the issue of Arafat and accuse him of being an obstacle (to peace) as a pretext to impose their unilateral solutions. The whole world understands this and the French foreign minister’s visit is a clear message to Israel," he said.
Posted by:Mark Espinola

#22  Yep Shipman, The clock turns and youth must be served. I think great drama this year. I hope Lance can take it to the the end. But it's not going to be a coronation. No, it will, I hope, be a total, all out, bodies by the side of the road, complete chaos, mayhem, vomit, Agincourt blood bath.

Remember when you were thirty? The young punks, who do they think they ar', hey wait up!
Posted by: Lucky   2004-07-01 12:49:24 AM  

#21  Keep it up, Jake.
Oh, well. Looks like another loooooong summer for the French tourist industry.
Posted by: tu3031   2004-06-30 8:55:35 PM  

#20  Ulrich is suppose to be in shape, He won the Tour de Suise and thats a tough climb warm up to the Tour. But he's from the last century and he can't beat Lance. If you've ever been a cyclist, it's tough to overcome the pain you feel when everytime you've tried to match someone you get beat, ala Lance.

Ulrich is a complete monster when he's in shape.
What does from the last century mean? He's what... 30?

The last para! Hey! Never been a cyclist, I will be watching that aspect very damn close. I bought a DVD burner just for the tour.

I get the idea you're looking for someone fresh out of the blocks!?
Posted by: Shipman   2004-06-30 1:37:15 PM  

#19  He said it was normal for France to have contacts with the Palestinian leader who was "probably the only person who could impose compromise on the Palestinian people."

The operative word here is "could". The fact is, Arafart hasn't, and there's no reason to think that he ever will.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-06-30 1:02:52 PM  

#18  Hey Shipman, Our long haired friend inspired me as I'm easily lead.

Ulrich is suppose to be in shape, He won the Tour de Suise and thats a tough climb warm up to the Tour. But he's from the last century and he can't beat Lance. If you've ever been a cyclist, it's tough to overcome the pain you feel when everytime you've tried to match someone you get beat, ala Lance.

No, the new young guys are the thing. If Cunago (Saeco) rides the Tour, with Simone as his LT, he may be the guy. He sure looked the part in the Giro. But Lance is a giant lung with two legs attached. I'm frothing for it to begin and I hope for complete chaos.

Posted by: Lucky   2004-06-30 12:52:52 PM  

#17  Happily, Bush had the last word (le mot dernier) over Jacques!
While ChIRAQ is bellicose and obstructionist to Bush in public (to keep the Socialist voters back home happy), in private the reality's a different story:
Schroeder Says Germany, France to Back Turkish EU Bid
One thing Schroeder has learned is that it doesn't pay to bash Bush!
Posted by: Jen   2004-06-30 11:17:20 AM  

#16  Chiracs really on a roll this last couple of weeks. I wonder what reaction in UK and Germany is? TGA? Howard? Bulldog?
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-06-30 11:03:47 AM  

#15  LOL Lucky!
Is that original?

BTW is it gonna finally be Ulrich?
How's his team?
Posted by: Shipman   2004-06-30 10:56:17 AM  

#14  "People can have whatever opinion they like of President Arafat or any other president," Chirac said on the sidelines of the NATO summit. "But legitimacy cannot be contested if a different legitimacy is not proposed."

Hence, Chirac's justification for supporting Saddam's "Little Shop of Tortures" regime. For Chirac, even a "leader" like Saddam, a mass-murdering psychopath responsible for the deaths of 100s of 1000s of innocents, is ok to do business with, as long as France gets the revenue.
Posted by: jules 187   2004-06-30 9:53:28 AM  

#13  Ask him about Haiti ...Phffft! Ask him about Rwanda.
Posted by: Dragon Fly   2004-06-30 9:17:55 AM  

#12  I have Good news and Bad news folks.

Bad News: Chirac was re-elected in 2002.

Good News: In Sept, 2000, the French Constitution was amended to shorten the Persident's term from 7 to 5 years.

We won't be rid of this assclown until 2007.
Posted by: .com   2004-06-30 9:14:45 AM  

#11  This is just fucking sad (great rant LHR!).

Will no one rid us of this meddlesome asshole?
Posted by: Spot   2004-06-30 9:07:49 AM  

#10  Verlaine - Thx :)

Chirac's babble on legitimacy, his only remaining gossamer attachment to / fantasy of "power", is classic - and I notice no one answered the question about when his trial will begin - I'll try to find out. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I am very surprised and pleased by the Iraeli policy (I jus' loves no-nonsense folks!) to not allow entry to anyone who visits Arafish. Sweeet, heh.
Posted by: .com   2004-06-30 8:50:57 AM  

#9  Lucky -
I look forward to your book, and showing the title off proudly and doing a loud and boisterous read out at a pinko commie tree hugging druid book store near me!!
Posted by: Long Hair Republican   2004-06-30 8:38:56 AM  

#8  Has anybody seen the roses? Let chaos reign !
Posted by: Anonymous55238   2004-06-30 7:32:42 AM  

#7  Cut Chirac some slack. He's just following French instinct; it's an almost reflex reaction: when a little smelly guy who loves killing Jews comes along, the French just have to snuggle up to him.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2004-06-30 7:21:38 AM  

#6  Long Haired Rep. You'll be recieveing a signed copy of my book, "No Fucking Shit", for your pithy, on the mark comments.

Don't forget folks, name and town, name and town!
Posted by: Lucky   2004-06-30 3:46:17 AM  

#5  With Chirac, I am mindful of General Patton's treatment of grabbing his nose and kicking him in the ass.
Posted by: Capt America   2004-06-30 2:24:58 AM  

#4  .com, this is sublime:

"They are bankrupt in every applicable way and Fishy is fried."

This, meanwhile, is typically ridiculous (Rabbo):

"The Israelis use the issue of Arafat and accuse him of being an obstacle (to peace) as a pretext to impose their unilateral solutions."

No, fuckwit, the Israelis use the obviously real issue of Palestinian barbarism and murder of Israelis as a perfectly good reason to impose interim security measures such as the barrier. Have fun with your French guest. Ask him about Haiti, another place he must know -- he might be able to give you some idea of what to expect in the way of economic and social development if you morons stay on your present course. Enjoy!
Posted by: Verlaine   2004-06-30 1:59:55 AM  

#3  The French have never been interested in solving the palestinian "problem." It is one of the most valuable weapons they have to keep Europe and the Middle East virulently anti-American. Economic concessions from Middle Eastern oil producing countries is their aim. Playing, "we feel your pain" game, is one way to realize their dream of being economical and political power brokers in this region of the world.
Posted by: Anonymous4617   2004-06-30 12:44:36 AM  

#2  You should watch CNN International., You would toss your TV out the window.
Were do the Euro's get off saying anything about what goes on in the Middle East? They fucked it up and continue to fuck it up. We would be better off if they would just shut the fuck up.

What an idiot Chiraq is, remember this is the guy that said "History never repeats itself". The Gaul's are useless, they are an environmental hazard that should be part of Kyoto for elimination for wasting the world resources or whatever the hell it is that makes Algore get all hot and bothered...
Posted by: Long Hair Republican   2004-06-30 12:32:16 AM  

#1  Lessee, when will Mssr Chirac's Presidency end? And his trial begin? Just wondering - all this finger-wagging is becoming tiresome.

And whatever Chirc (plus whichever EU gov'ts agree with his continuing pandering to Arafish) has to say regards the "Palestinian" issue is of no consequence because they won't do anything, just talk. They don't have the cash, the will, or troops to spare. They are bankrupt in every applicable way and Fishy is fried.
Posted by: .com   2004-06-30 12:27:45 AM  

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