Article

2003-04-15 Europe

Bush and Chirac in first call since February

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Posted by Tadderly 2003-04-15 01:27 pm|| || Front Page|| [14 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Sorry â I had to take a page out of FormerLiberalâs book -

In other fake news today: U.S. Secretary Defense Donald Rumsfeld apologized today for referring to France and Germany as an "Axis of Weasels." "I'm sorry about that Axis of Weasels remark," said Mr. Rumsfeld. "I didn't mean to dredge up the history France and Germany share of pathetic compliance with ruthless dictators. " The Defense Secretary said he was "way out of bounds" with the comments. "I should have known better than to remind people that these two nations--which live in freedom Thanks only to the righteous might of America, Britain and their allies--that these nations are morally and politically bankrupt, and have failed to learn the lessons of history," he said. "It really was an inappropriate thing to say--you know, the Axis of Weasels thing. I really should not have called them the Axis of Weasels. I think it's the 'Weasels' part that was most offensive ... you know, when I said that France and Germany form an Axis of Weasels. Of course, I'm so sorry." The Defense Secretary continued, "I want it to be known that no other man holds the weasel in as high a regard as I do, and I'll be the first to point out the crucial role this noble creature plays in our ecosystem. I went way over the line comparing the weasel to a bunch of rude, unwashed, leftist Euroweenie surrender monkeys who change their underwear once a month whether they need to or not. And I just did it again, didn't I? I just insulted the monkeys. I'm quitting while I'm ahead."

Posted by Tadderly 2003-04-15 13:30:03|| 2003-04-15 13:30:03|| Front Page Top

#2 Hey! - Your fake access is better than my fake access! I might have to start telling bigger lies in order to maintain what little access I have now.

Posted by FormerLiberal 2003-04-15 13:32:42|| 2003-04-15 13:32:42|| Front Page Top

#3 Er, shouldn't Scott Ott at ScrappleFace be cited for his original work on the Axis of Weasels?

http://www.scrappleface.com/MT/archives/000608.html

Posted by John Phares 2003-04-15 13:56:13|| 2003-04-15 13:56:13|| Front Page Top

#4 Tadderly: LOL!

Posted by KP 2003-04-15 13:57:22|| 2003-04-15 13:57:22|| Front Page Top

#5 John: YES! Thank you for correcting my negligence. I didn't mean to bogey the credit - thanks for the link and cite.

Posted by Tadderly 2003-04-15 13:57:27|| 2003-04-15 13:57:27|| Front Page Top

#6 Isn't it comical how the Euro trash have to refer to the idiots that oppose Bush as 'Well-Educated.' The inference is that only the dimwits support the U.S. (Bush). These guys are as bad as the Arabs when it comes to reporting.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2003-04-15 15:34:50|| 2003-04-15 15:34:50|| Front Page Top

#7 You can watch Bush's approval rating go through the floor if he allows France to act like our friends again. If it's 70% now it'll be 7% a month from now.

Posted by g wiz 2003-04-15 15:43:08|| 2003-04-15 15:43:08|| Front Page Top

#8 What strikes me is that the Frenchies get their version of things out first. Our side of the event waits on Ari's performances.

"...he had a "pragmatic" telephone conversation with Colin Powell."

"The 20-minute telephone call about the war in Iraq had been "positive", said a spokeswoman for M Chirac."

Y'know, when there are translators involved, a 20 minute conversation is probably less than 5 sentences each. Yet it is reported as if something significant occurred. Ari didn't use the word "positive" - but he didn't saw we had declared war, either - so NOT significant.

I think g wiz is right: even the appearance of dealing with France or showing anything but disdain and dismissal is a colossal mistake... even AFTER they publicly choke down a few shit sandwiches. Even then, I'd stiff 'em.

Posted by PD 2003-04-15 16:11:51|| 2003-04-15 16:11:51|| Front Page Top

#9 They would of course be holding Saddam's dick.

Posted by Wills 2003-04-15 16:50:12|| 2003-04-15 16:50:12|| Front Page Top

#10 Re: The Phone Call (TM). France is making this a BFD. They will put more of a positive spin on this than a SNECMA gas turbine. "I called and everything is on the mend." Bush has always been a gentleman, and has taken heaps of abuse from the French and other Weasels, the press, and all the ships at sea. But it will not change the fact of the utter duplicity and backstabbing of Chiraq and Co. Bush will not forget this, and his actions will speak volumes. Based upon previous history, I believe that this will be so with TFC. France will be shut out, no matter how the press digests and ruminates this story. Watch the hands and not the mouth.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2003-04-15 17:02:05|| 2003-04-15 17:02:05|| Front Page Top

#11 Later, President Bush called back, asked if they had Prince Albert in a can, told them to "let him out before he suffocates" and then hung up after laughing maniacally...

Posted by Anonymous 2003-04-15 17:38:59|| 2003-04-15 17:38:59|| Front Page Top

#12 "History of pathetic compliance with dictators"

Batista (Cuba)
Somoza (Nicaragua)
Noriega (Panama, now Miami jail)
Pinochet (Chile)
Trujillo (Dominican Republic)
Rios Montt (Guatemala)
Reza Pahlavi (Shah of Iran)
Saddam (Itaq, until 1990)
Stroessner (Paraguay)
Banzer (Bolivia)
Obiang (Equatorial Guinea)

In all friendship, isn't the pot calling the kettle black here?

Posted by True German Ally 2003-04-15 17:56:18|| 2003-04-15 17:56:18|| Front Page Top

#13 I lament that so many Americans have just an academic hatred of France. Screwing us over in NATO under de Gaulle, trying to take control of Europe 3 times, selling arms to Iraq and their brilliant handling of Vietnam. Those are all purely academic complaints. Our distaste for their regime should be much deeper and more vigorous.

Posted by Brian 2003-04-15 18:04:46|| 2003-04-15 18:04:46|| Front Page Top

#14 Bush: "Hello! Is this the President's residence. I'd like to cancel my order of Frence Wine"

Posted by rg117 2003-04-15 18:09:06|| 2003-04-15 18:09:06|| Front Page Top

#15 TGA -- I think what was meant in the "fake news" was not just having diplomatic/business/etc relationships with ruthless dictators, but actually having them as rulers. Every country on this planet has had some dealings with many, if not all of the tyrants on your list. No country is lily-white in that regard, and I don't think anyone here would say that the US is.

The thing that is so incomprehensible to most is that the French seem to really LIKE not only having them as sometime allies, but being under their domination.

Posted by Baba Yaga 2003-04-15 19:51:11|| 2003-04-15 19:51:11|| Front Page Top

#16 To TGA: all during the Cold War, not lately. Have some perspective: it was a big standoff, many methods were used in a pretty desperate situation, against the same methods from the other side. Now it seems to be different: one does not need to put up with dictators except for some questionable political ends.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-04-15 19:53:41|| 2003-04-15 19:53:41|| Front Page Top

#17 Then I hope it is a lasting policy change. Let's hope that DDD ("Dictator Dying Disease") is extremely contagious.

Posted by True German Ally 2003-04-15 20:39:13|| 2003-04-15 20:39:13|| Front Page Top

#18 True German Ally; that list ya made is of the deposed why not get current. Start with the emerging dictators and surregate un lackeys'
Schroedr fischer
chirac villapin
Castro No Name
Putin lackey
kofi of Gahnarhea
oh well you get the idea....your walk down memory lane is to divert attention from the present.Duly noted that you omitted der fuerur and his band of timely demons, masquerading as governments.

Germany didnt elect to go Socialist, you'll find this out by August.
J Fisher that thug you have representing subversion in the un, he'll be unemployed very soon...

With Germanys record of supporting Just causes as dictators, it's obvious you have learned nothing, and that you are failing once again to overcome this character flaw. Go Ahead and cast your collective lot on the wrong side of Right...be stupid, its OK!

Posted by Anonymous 2003-04-15 20:42:41|| 2003-04-15 20:42:41|| Front Page Top

#19 Anonymous, Schroeder is a mediocre politician, he is anything but a (emerging) dictator. He will be voted out of office. Germany is one of the most democratic countries in the world. We have learned from history. Have you?

Posted by True German Ally 2003-04-15 21:08:32|| 2003-04-15 21:08:32|| Front Page Top

#20 Brian,
Speaking from flyover country, our dislike of the French (I had to wash my hands after typing that word) has moved well beyond academic to the visceral. We have all the concern for them as three day old road kill.

Posted by whitecollar redneck 2003-04-15 22:00:27|| 2003-04-15 22:00:27|| Front Page Top

#21 Always wrong? Then we must have been wrong too the last 50 years, being US allies?
We were wrong about Schroeder, granted. But in democracies errors can be corrected every four years. And they will be. Maybe even earlier.

Posted by True German Ally 2003-04-15 23:59:24|| 2003-04-15 23:59:24|| Front Page Top

#22 Do I care what the French think?
No
Do I care about French feelings?
No
Is it helpfull to have France involved on the international stage?
No
âFrance believes the international community must do all it can so that things work in its favour and involve the United Nations as soon as possible." â
I read that as France saying the internationl community should do everything it can to further French interests.
Screw the French?

Hey guys ease up on TGA.While Germany(Re:Schroder)was obstructionist at the U.N.,
(1)Germany's constitution expressly forbids forign military involvment.
(2)Germany did not obstruct use of airbases for tactical and logistical support.(You know like the venal Turks)
(3)German police activlly protect our bases and personel.
(4)Where do our wounded go Riemstien.
That gasbag,Schroder,will be gone soon enough.

Posted by raptor 2003-04-16 10:07:13|| 2003-04-16 10:07:13|| Front Page Top

22:28 prometheus genius
16:27 Samma-lamma
16:26 Samma-lamma
16:21 Samma-lamma
14:18 Shana
12:36 raptor
10:07 raptor
12:13 raptor
09:48 raptor
08:28 liberalhawk
07:17 Hiryu
06:25 Ptah
02:41 anon1
00:42 Scott
00:07 Dan Darling
23:59 True German Ally
23:51 PD
23:39 Old Patriot
23:30 Scott
23:30 PD
23:26 Old Patriot
23:21 Old Patriot
23:17 Bomb-a-rama
23:15 Old Patriot