NationStates Jolt Archive

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7906/123270219yj9.jpg
picture from Al Jazeera's website


French President Nicolas Sarkozy [...] received a standing ovation during the first address by a French president to both houses in more than a decade.

[...] At Congress, Mr Sarkozy was cheered for more than three minutes before he even began his 45-minute address through a translator.

He further delighted his audience by saying: "Let me tell you solemnly today, France will remain engaged in Afghanistan as long as it takes, because what's at stake in that country is the future of our values and that of the Atlantic alliance."

Mr Sarkozy, 52, did not discuss Iraq but said he wanted France to "resume its full role" in Nato's military command structure after several decades outside it.

And he also impressed his hosts with tough talk on Iran, which the US believes is trying to build nuclear weapons, although Tehran insists its programme is for energy purposes.

Mr Sarkozy said: "Let me say it here before all of you: The prospect of an Iran armed with nuclear weapons is unacceptable."

He also urged Americans to "stand alongside Europe in leading the fight against global warming".

Mr Sarkozy devoted much of his speech to expressing gratitude for US heroism on French battlefields in World War Two, and to praising American values, spirit and culture.

"America liberated us. This is an eternal debt," he said, adding: "I want to tell you that whenever an American soldier falls somewhere in the world, I think of what the American army did for France.

"I think of them, and I am sad, as one is sad to lose a member of one's family."

He drew more applause when he told US lawmakers: "In times of difficulty, in times of hardship, America and France have always stood side by side, supported one another, helped one another, fought for each other's freedom."

Mr Sarkozy's speech came one day after the French leader pledged to "reconquer America's heart" as he began his warmly-received visit.

Relations between the two countries were strained when France opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The French leader, who spent the afternoon with Mr Bush while on holiday in New England in August, is widely known back in France as "l'Americain" for his pledges to improve transatlantic ties.

Elected in May, he is viewed on Capitol Hill as much more pro-American than his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who publicly clashed with Mr Bush over the war in Iraq.

[...] Correspondents say the Bush administration increasingly sees Mr Sarkozy as its principal ally in efforts to halt Iran's nuclear programme.


(link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7083339.stm))


Sarkozy said the Americans did not need to worry about France backing out of Afghanistan, despite his pledge during his campaign to pursue the withdrawal of French troops. France has about 1,100 troops in the country.

"France will remain engaged in Afghanistan for as long as it takes, because what's at stake in that country is the future of our values and that of the Atlantic alliance," he said to more applause. President Nicolas Sarkozy told the US Congress that French troops would stay in Afghanistan "as long as needed".

At a White House dinner on Tuesday night, Sarkozy hailed the reconciliation between France and the US after four years of tension over the Iraq war, when Chirac led opposition to the US-led invasion in 2003. "We can have disagreements, we can have differences, but we remain friends because we belong to the same family," Sarkozy told President George W. Bush and other guests. "I wish to reconquer the heart of America, and I wish to reconquer the heart of America in a lasting fashion."


(link (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/news/world/20071107-USA-France-sarkozy-congress-address.html))

See also:
* CNN article (with videos) (http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/07/sarkozy.congress/index.html)
*Al Jazeera article (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7BFFF4B1-3805-45E0-82E5-891D487DC403.htm)

I was also just watching Bush interviewed by French journalist Patrick Poivre d'Arvor on the French news; I'll see if I can find a video online.

They did that for Blair too. Thats a very, very bad sign.

What can I say? The U.S. Congress loves people who will bend over and kiss its ass.

They did that for Blair too. Thats a very, very bad sign.

Bad sign for whom? Sarkozy?

Bad sign for whom? Sarkozy?

No, the european peoples.

If the US congress applauds them, we know what comes next - curtailing of the freedoms that we still have which the US congress has already taken from their own people.

Again, check Blair.

He's just trying to get "freedom" out and "French" back in in the name of potato chips in the United Statelets.

Bad sign for whom? Sarkozy?

The world generally.

He's just trying to get "freedom" out and "French" back in in the name of potato chips in the United Statelets.

LOL. Please tell me people aren't still refering to them as "freedom fries"?

LOL. Please tell me people aren't still refering to them as "freedom fries"?

The only places I've ever heard of that actually happening are the Senate cafeteria and Texas (I had a friend who moved there for uni).

More from the Beeb:


US warms to new French flavour

In the immediate aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the view was that the French had let America down and that there should be consequences.

In cafeterias on Capitol Hill, French fries became "freedom fries" - and French misfortunes like the riots on the streets of Paris were celebrated with grim satisfaction.

Fox News talk show host Bill O'Reilly was one of those to revel in the discomfort of then President Jacques Chirac.

"For nearly two weeks Chirac has allowed the insurrection to build in ferocity, refusing to use his military, allowing anarchy in the streets. This makes Hurricane Katrina look like a comic book," he said.

Away from the bombast of Fox News, there was a serious side to the issue: ordinary Americans, such as World War II veterans, who felt let down by the French.

The French - not surprisingly - fought back, claiming that the attacks they saw in the media were outrageous.

At one point, Jean David Lavitte, the French ambassador to Washington, went so far as to complain about briefings given by the White House to US journalists.

Although the Bush administration denied any concerted effort to denigrate the French, it certainly felt as if a real froideur had come to stay in US-French relations.

But then two things happened.

One was that the Iraq war went badly off-track, prompting left-wing Americans to point out what they saw as the absurdity of the battles with the French.

Earlier this year, talk show host Bill Maher quipped: "New rule: conservatives have to stop rolling their eyes every time they hear the word 'France', like just calling something French is the ultimate argument winner.

"As if to say, what can you say about a country that was too stupid to get on board with our wonderfully conceived and brilliantly executed war in Iraq."

The other thing that happened was the election of Mr Sarkozy in May.

Living up to his billing as pro-American, he took his summer holiday in the US and met President Bush at the family home in Maine for an informal lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers.

[...] [Sarkozy said:] "That's the reason why I like the US - you can be called Schwarzenegger and be governor of California. You can be called Madeleine Albright and be secretary of state, Colin Powell or Condi Rice can succeed.

"That's a free country, that's a democratic country, a country that gives a chance to each and every one of its children."

Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think-tank, says Mr Sarkozy is now lodged in the minds of Americans as their kind of guy.


(link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7080019.stm))

Also, if you're interested, older stuff:
*"The house that Jacques Chirac built " (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6578581.stm)
*"Washington relief at Sarkozy win" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6631083.stm)

Yea its ok for people to insult the U.S but not the other way around. To bad, looks like political correctness got to jolt.:(

Why does it come as a surprise? Sarko's the new EuroBushevik Lapdog of Choice to replace the likes of Tony Blair and John Howard, who are either out or looking to be on their way out.

I always liked Sarkozy...good guy. Better relations with America and much more aware of the immigration/multicultural issues in France.

Ah, Sarkozy, you affable scoundrel.

Politically I can't stand him... But look at his disarming smile... Oh, pooh! I've fallen for an other!

much more aware of the immigration/multicultural issues in France.

Meaning...?

Interestingly enough, "multicultural" is a word we rarely use here. It's one significant difference between French and Anglo-Saxon societies. Ethnic diversity is promoted to some extent, but cultural diversity rarely so; it's subsumed under what's supposed to be an overriding commitment to citizenship and "les valeurs de la République". Almost no-one in France talks about "multiculturalism".


Politically I can't stand him... But look at his disarming smile...

He's an excellent orator. He's good at appearing dedicated and convinced about what he's saying, often indignant. The thing is, whenever you happen to know about the topic he's discussing, you realise he's talking absolute nonsense.

For example, he said that universities should be able to recruit their own personnel, rather than it being imposed by the government. Universities do recruit their own personnel. I should know; I'm one of them. My application went to the uni, they interviewed me and chose me; the government had nothing to do with it.

Another example, more blatant. He said (looking very indignant, as usual) that people should not be paid when they go on strike. They're not. He knows that. He lied, in an attempt to arouse the indignation and support of ignorant people. ("What! People are paid while they're on strike? Thank goodness we have Sarkozy to put an end to that!")

To say nothing of his ludicrous promises, such as a promise to cut the number of state employees in half, but never explaing how he's going to do that or what categories he's going to cut into. Does he want 50% fewer hospital staff? teachers? firefighters? soldiers? police officers? It's a mystery.

Another of his election campaign pledges was "0% unemployment by 2012". Now, does anyone seriously believe he's going to achieve that? The sheer enormity of the claim was a gamble, and it paid off. It was a neat, impressive number to fling out, just like the "50% fewer state employees".

As I said, he's an excellent orator. He knows how to appear passionate, dedicated and sincere. He's very good at that.

LOL. Please tell me people aren't still refering to them as "freedom fries"?

You have to look long and hard and you'd still be hard pressed to find anyplace that sells Freedom Fries.

I wish it was as hard to find places that sold that stinky cheese.

I wish it was as hard to find places that sold that stinky cheese.

*shudders*

Tell me about it. I'm French, and I hate the stuff. I had an Australian friend who came over, and she loved it. I thought she was insane.

Now it's time to show the love back. The two of us should be best buddies.

LOL. Please tell me people aren't still refering to them as "freedom fries"?

It was, like, all of three people who did that to begin with.

He's just trying to get "freedom" out and "French" back in in the name of potato chips in the United Statelets.

It's called the United States you mope...United States. You can't arbitrarily change the name of a country just because you feel like it.

Give it a few years, if the French aren't rioting to have Royal in I'll be surprised.

Did anyone else see the title as : "French President recieves standing ovulation in US Congress"?

I was also just watching Bush interviewed by French journalist Patrick Poivre d'Arvor on the French news; I'll see if I can find a video online.

There, they've put it online. If you understand French, you can watch it here (http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/jt-tf1/0,,3617699,00-interview-george-bush-integralite-.html); it's not particularly long. (Bush is speaking English, of course, but he's dubbed over in French.)

Give it a few years, if the French aren't rioting to have Royal in I'll be surprised.

That's like saying the sun will rise sometime in the next few months. The French go on strike and riot over everything.

I think it's important to separate congress from Bush, but Bush loves him anyway so what does it matter.

Give it a few years, if the French aren't rioting to have Royal in I'll be surprised.

Contrary to popular misconception, widely spread by sensationalist foreign media, we hardly ever "riot". What we do is go on strike regularly and go on large, generally peaceful protest marches. (I was dismayed at the foreign media two years ago talking about "riots" when no such thing was happening.)

Did anyone else see the title as : "French President recieves standing ovulation in US Congress"?

That would be... I can't even imagine what that would look like. Congresswomen all standing up and ovulating simultaneously?

As I said, he's an excellent orator. He knows how to appear passionate, dedicated and sincere. He's very good at that.

Or the French people on average, like any mass voting bloc of any ethnicity and nation, are ignorant dumbasses.

He's just trying to get "freedom" out and "French" back in in the name of potato chips in the United Statelets.
:):D:p


potato chips though?
fries = chips?

It was, like, all of three people who did that to begin with.

The funnier irony is that the Congressman who wanted to change them to Freedom Fries is now saying that the Iraq invasion and occupation was a huge mistake.

LOL. Please tell me people aren't still refering to them as "freedom fries"?

Who ever did except a few nutters?

:):D:p


potato chips though?
fries = chips?

In America, potato chips = crisps.
Fries = julienned potatoes
steak fries = chips.

Another of his election campaign pledges was "0% unemployment by 2012". Now, does anyone seriously believe he's going to achieve that? The sheer enormity of the claim was a gamble, and it paid off. It was a neat, impressive number to fling out, just like the "50% fewer state employees"

I imagine he means 0% structural and cyclical unemployment, not 0% unemployment in general.

I imagine he means 0% structural and cyclical unemployment, not 0% unemployment in general.

He never specified. He simply said 0% unemployment.

There are currently strikes and/or protest movements by police officers, magistrates, students, and public transport workers; fishermen are just finishing a strike, and the military police and threatening to start one (illegally).

God, I love this country. :D

I always liked Sarkozy...good guy. Better relations with America and much more aware of the immigration/multicultural issues in France.wha?