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2005-01-11 Europe
France wants 'a new relationship' with US
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Posted by Fred 2005-01-11 00:00:00|| || Front Page|| [11147 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 I'd say they have two choices to pick from.

1. Subservient boot-licking lackey - They are French after all.

2. Hated Enemy - This is their default choice anyway, unless they start some serious groveling.
Posted by Silentbrick  2005-01-11 12:13:20 AM||   2005-01-11 12:13:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]
Posted by screw the brick TROLL 2005-01-11 12:25:27 AM||   2005-01-11 12:25:27 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 "..The alliance between Europeans and Americans must be balanced.”

Balanced? Try bringing something to the table, Monsieur.
Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-01-11 1:28:20 AM||   2005-01-11 1:28:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 What exactly what does France have to balance with? Nothing? Yes, thats right, nothing.
Why would we negotiate another screwing at the hands of Chirac? No good reason I can think of. I think France will find it's diplomats lack the "culture" to deal with Ms Rice. She is so very far above the station of any French politician or technocrat.
Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-01-11 1:35:10 AM|| [http://www.slhess.com]  2005-01-11 1:35:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 SPOD, it will be interesting to see how they deal with Dr. Rice. I don't think that she accepts much in the way of BS. Unfortunately, the French are all about BS.
Posted by Remoteman 2005-01-11 5:26:03 AM||   2005-01-11 5:26:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 vote time ... all hands raised if you would like the French on your side ...
*watchs tumbleweed go by*
no-one? , come on , there must be someone .. anyone ?
Posted by MacNails  2005-01-11 5:52:48 AM||   2005-01-11 5:52:48 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 "alliance did not mean allegiance."They must have a different glossary of terms than what I use.
Posted by raptor 2005-01-11 8:07:18 AM||   2005-01-11 8:07:18 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 By a new alliance I think he's just saying that he wants us to turn over.
Posted by 2b 2005-01-11 8:29:11 AM||   2005-01-11 8:29:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Barnier wants a "new relationship". I like any relationship with phrawnce that has the prefix "ex".
Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-01-11 8:38:13 AM||   2005-01-11 8:38:13 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 "Lets see if we can fool those stupid americans again into trusting us..."
Posted by CrazyFool 2005-01-11 9:11:50 AM||   2005-01-11 9:11:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 all hands raised if you would like the French on your side

I'd rather they were on my side than behind me.
Posted by Robert Crawford  2005-01-11 9:13:28 AM|| [http://www.kloognome.com/]  2005-01-11 9:13:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 What exactly what does France have to balance with? Nothing? Yes, thats right, nothing.

Au contraire. They do have some 100% organic farm fuel.
Posted by Steve from Relto 2005-01-11 9:26:36 AM||   2005-01-11 9:26:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 RC - I suppose it's possible for them to "be on your side" when they are "not behind you".
Posted by 2b 2005-01-11 9:43:11 AM||   2005-01-11 9:43:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 â€œAmericans must understand that it is in their interest that Europe get organised and have an autonomy..."

It's never been about American opposition to a unified Europe. Focus, please.

Several of these kinds of statements that have come from France post-Iraq have been quite provocative in both tone and language. Can anyone imagine France delivering such a "diplomatic message" to any other country they have relations with? Of course not.

France has yet to take a good introspective look at its actions and words visavis the US and recognize they themselves have to contribute something useful. They apparently haven't figured out that it might be worthwhile (and a much better indicator of their "respect" for an ally) to use language that fosters healing, not language that reopens rifts.
Posted by Jules 187 2005-01-11 10:01:28 AM||   2005-01-11 10:01:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 Europe needs to work out it's own problems with crushing socialism and Islamist threats. They can blame the US all they want to, but to what end? What will that accomplish? The US has simply begun to look West, instead of East for their trade. It's a new century. The world turns on.
Posted by 2b 2005-01-11 10:14:40 AM||   2005-01-11 10:14:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#16 he hoped to visit the United States “every three to four months” to meet with administration officials, members of Congress and others.

He better be bringing pizza or Chinese takeout if he comes over that often. Hell, I don't think the Brits and Aussies come over that often, and they're our allies.
Posted by Desert Blondie 2005-01-11 11:05:12 AM||   2005-01-11 11:05:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#17 Don't let 'im kiss ya, Condi! You don't know where those lips have been...
Posted by mojo  2005-01-11 11:26:02 AM||   2005-01-11 11:26:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#18 Once again, The Jaquer tries to outsmart Batman.
Posted by Anonymoose 2005-01-11 11:39:03 AM||   2005-01-11 11:39:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#19 ChIraq want New Europe to kiss France's spotty behind, and thinks it's inevitable that they will succeed in peeling the emerging East Europe democracies away from US influence. He's telling us "this is how it's gonna be, so bend over and like it." Typical French potty mouth. Mr ChIraq, meet Ms Condi Rice, she'll be your new Governess. You'll address her as "Sir" and speak only when spoken to. Now, go to your crate.
Posted by Rex Mundi 2005-01-11 11:41:01 AM||   2005-01-11 11:41:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#20 Condi should let him sit out in the lobby until hell freezes over. He can lecture the receptionist until closing time.
Posted by Tom 2005-01-11 11:49:38 AM||   2005-01-11 11:49:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#21 I wonder, will ChIraq be like Achenar who wakes up and smells the blood or Sirrus who never does?
Posted by Steve from Relto 2005-01-11 12:01:35 PM||   2005-01-11 12:01:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#22 A spoiled relationship is like spoiled milk. It isn't gonna get any better and it only will stink up your refridgerator. Or something.

Posted by spiffo 2005-01-11 12:04:12 PM||   2005-01-11 12:04:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#23 Is the DeGaulle on its way to the Indian Ocean yet? Do we have adequate search and rescue assets tracking its progress?
Posted by Matt 2005-01-11 1:18:27 PM||   2005-01-11 1:18:27 PM|| Front Page Top

#24 France comes from the Roman approach to law: revolution as opposed to evolution. That is, as in their political history, clear the ground and start over with a new, complete system. The U.S. comes from the English evolutionary tradition: even drastic change (the ending of slavery, giving women the vote) builds on what has gone before. We simply don't do 'new relationships' -- and the French will never be able to grasp that.
Posted by trailing wife 2005-01-11 1:54:10 PM||   2005-01-11 1:54:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#25 Is this "one milk shake, two straws" material?
Posted by Captain America  2005-01-11 6:43:26 PM||   2005-01-11 6:43:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#26 Lots of talk and inference of European 'inevitability'. Nothing is inevitable - try this one on for size. President Bush formally declares that as a recognition of the coalition of the willing, he says that each country who sent troops to Iraq can join NAFTA (perhaps in an affiliate way initially).

If he says that now, before our election comes along (probably going to be in May), Blair will shit himself (good). The UK Independence Party will have a field day and the Conservatives might be able to rally themselves too. The Europhiles will go apopleptic of course. The 'New Europe' will have access to even bigger markets than they were promised on EU entry (with a lot less regulation) As for what 'Old Europe' will think - who cares?

Not going to happen of course, GW wouldn't do that to Blair - but it does show what kind of weapons are at his disposal (and that's without the HAARP and Roswell stuff!).
Posted by Tony (UK)  2005-01-11 6:56:57 PM||   2005-01-11 6:56:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#27 Perhaps I'm missing it Tony. Why would allowing Britain, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, et al into NAFTA cause Blair problems?
Posted by Frank G  2005-01-11 7:18:47 PM||   2005-01-11 7:18:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#28 Short Answer: No!
Long Answer: No! Phuque Phrawnse!
Posted by AJackson 2005-01-11 7:52:14 PM||   2005-01-11 7:52:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#29 Steve from Relto

I don't even HAVE Myst 4 yet. Why did you spoil it for me?
Posted by Korora  2005-01-11 7:58:55 PM|| [http://basementburrow.blogspot.com]  2005-01-11 7:58:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#30 The US policy towards France should be the same as the policy towards North Korea, malign neglect. Although, the Duke of Exeter said it better in Henry V: "Scorn and defiance; slight regard, contempt,
And any thing that may not misbecome
The mighty sender, doth he prize you at."
Posted by RWV 2005-01-11 10:24:25 PM||   2005-01-11 10:24:25 PM|| Front Page Top

#31 Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]
Posted by screw the brick 2005-01-11 12:25:27 AM||   2005-01-11 12:25:27 AM|| Front Page Top

00:25 screw the brick
00:00 RWV
23:57 anonymous2u
23:34 Zenster
23:25 Zenster
23:22 Verlaine
22:50 Angash Elminelet3775
22:43 anymouse
22:39 RWV
22:35 RWV
22:28 Captain Pedantic
22:24 RWV
22:00 Stephen
21:56 Anonymous4724
21:53 Sock Puppet of Doom
21:42 Sock Puppet of Doom
21:36 Sock Puppet of Doom
21:05 RWV
21:02 RWV
21:01 Tom
20:50 Glereger Criter5999
20:47 Frank G
20:44 Dave D.
20:37 Frank G









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