| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Europe | |
| Chirac: Friendship With U.S. Will Prevail | |
| 2003-09-23 | |
| Like hell. EFL. The friendship between France and the United States will always prevail over the countries’ political differences, French President Jacques Chirac said Monday. Chirac’s comments, made during a visit to inaugurate a French school in New York, came as the two nations try to avoid another political showdown at the United Nations over Iraq. Bush doesn’t look like he’ll back down so it’s up to you Jacques to avoid a showdown. While Chirac never mentioned Iraq, it clearly was on his mind. Of course -- he needs the money! ``Events over the past few months have led to tension in relations between our countries. I want to share my personal conviction with all of you, however, that the friendship between France and the United States is deeply rooted in our history,’’ he told several hundred parents, teachers, and French and American dignitaries. ``This friendship between our people will always prevail over our differences.’’ We’re still not buying your whine. Chirac spoke ahead of a Tuesday meeting with President Bush after Bush addresses the U.N. General Assembly. During Monday’s school tour, Chirac called the Lycee Francais of New York a symbol of the deep bonds uniting the two countries. Children from 44 countries are represented at the prestigious private school on the Upper East Side. As he arrived, the school’s choir sang ``We speak French. All over New York, they speak French,’’ from the song entitled,
"Then I went home and forgot all about it!" Chirac noted that France was president of the Security Council when it authorized the use of force in Afghanistan. "But that did not cost us anything!" There is much at stake for U.S.-French relations. Bush is trying to win U.N. backing for a resolution that would bring much-needed foreign reinforcements for U.S. troops in Iraq and give the U.N. more authority in rebuilding the country. France, which led opposition to the war in Iraq, wants What exactly will the French bring to the party if we do it their way? A brigade of peacekeepers? Ten billion euros in reconstruction aid? They don’t have anything to contribute. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #13 As far as I'm concerned, Froggistan under Chiraq is an enemy nation ruled by bigots, Vichyite dhimmis, and arrogant nationalist psychopaths. In the UK and Ireland, at least, the anti-American racism and bigotry are limited to the chattering classes and their bourgeois sycophants. In Frog-land, Arab money has bought out the whole whorehouse. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2003-9-23 7:03:44 PM |
| #12 I doubt "that" lycee, http://www.info-france-usa.org/atoz/bio/bio_villepin.asp although it has been in NYC since 1935, operating in various locations, most recently spread out between 6 buildings--the new building consolidates them. |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-9-23 6:10:28 PM |
| #11 Vell, no El Qaeeeda or Baatheest evair called me... Froggy. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-9-23 4:14:48 PM |
| #10 The thoroughly unoffical, grass-roots boycott of french goods and vacations has already dropped their yearly take by some 17% (IIRC). Time to make it official? Put them on the Axis of Evil list, stop all trade and lock up any accounts in the US. Smile (nastily). "Care to try again?" |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-9-23 3:54:00 PM |
| #9 I travelled extensively in Europe during my four tours there with the Air Force. The ONLY place I was made to feel unwelcome was Paris. The people of Normandy are wonderful. I've never had any problems visiting Nancy or Strasbourg. Paris, however, is like another universe. The "France" of Jacques Chirac is the "France" of Paris. I hope that the rest of the nation wises up and dumps this one-man disaster before it poisons the rest of the world even more against the French people. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-9-23 12:20:24 PM |
| #8 Very uncertain, but french army is allegedly planning for troops deployment in Irak, "in the scale of the GWI division Daguet" (that would be 10-12 000 men, which seems awfully high). That would indicate that, yes, Chirac has surrendered and is willing to participate, in order to get a slice of the iraqi pie. The UN would make a good cover for a U-turn, at least for public opinion, as the USA "crawling back" to the UN is presented here as a major blow to unilateralism, and the acknowlegment of the US failure in Iraq. An another great victory for France, for internal consumption only. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-9-23 12:15:29 PM |
| #7 The Frogs are completely useless! Even in Korea, which was approved by the UN and the Frogs! All they sent to fight was a single Infantry Battalion! |
| Posted by: Greg 2003-9-23 11:42:49 AM |
| #6 Dear American friends I hope one day France and the USA can be friends again. But that will not happen until Chirac an Villepin are hanged from the nearest tree. |
| Posted by: JFM 2003-9-23 11:33:10 AM |
| #5 The friendship between France and the United States will always prevail over the countries’ political differences, French President Jacques Chirac said Monday. Friendship has to exist before it can prevail. If the political classes and the snobby French elite are counted out of the equation, then yes, it will. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-9-23 11:15:24 AM |
| #4 Chirac is the biggest threat there is to the European Union. I think quite a few people in Europe are beginning to be aware of that fact. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-9-23 10:22:42 AM |
| #3 Ben - i think they already have. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-9-23 9:43:01 AM |
| #2 Tom Freidman was saying that Iraq has become France's proxy war with the US. On the plus side, we should expect France to do what it always does in wartime, surrender. |
| Posted by: Ben 2003-9-23 5:52:58 AM |
| #1 I've have always considered anyone who chooses willful ignorance to be beneath contempt. Reality just IS - each individual's ability to accept it and deal with it as it exists is his measure. The intensity of a desire or belief has absolutely no effect upon reality. Simplified summary: He not dealing with reality is, by definition, dealing in phantasy. This is Chirac whistling past the graveyard. Lousy tune - and repetitious. Phuck off, boyz. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-9-23 5:16:00 AM |