3 Cheers For French President Sarkozy
U.S.-France Relations on an Upswing
French President Nicolas Sarkozy opened a new, cozier chapter in U.S.-French relations, saying he came to Washington with a simple message: "I wish to reconquer the heart of America in a lasting fashion."
Yet Sarkozy, whose trip included a scheduled address to Congress on Wednesday, didn't sidestep the fact that President Bush and the war in Iraq remain unpopular in his country.
"I also came to say that one can be a friend of America, and yet win elections in France," Sarkozy joked during his toast at a White House dinner where the two leaders dined on lobster bisque and lamb.
That's not something Bush would have heard from former French President Jacques Chirac who publicly clashed with Bush, especially over the war.
Sarkozy's address to a joint meeting of Congress will highlight the improved relations. In 1996, many U.S. lawmakers boycotted a similar appearance by Chirac to protest France's nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
Sarkozy will reflect broadly on his vision for French-American relations but will not to make great policy announcements, according to the French Embassy.
Iran and the Middle East peace efforts were likely to dominate Sarkozy's discussions with Bush as the two countries look to build on their warmer relations to look for ways to improve policy coordination.
In his toast Tuesday night, Bush didn't mention France's opposition to the war. Instead, he spoke of working with France to help others around the world resist tyranny and oppression.
"French and American troops are helping defend a young democracy in Afghanistan," said Bush, who was taking Sarkozy at midday Wednesday to Mount Vernon, which was the Virginia home of George Washington.
"Our two nations support the democratic government in Lebanon. We agree that reconciliation and democracy in Iraq are vital to the future of the Middle East. And our two nations condemn violations of human rights in Darfur, in Burma and around the world," Bush said.
Sarkozy - known in France as "Sarko the American" - described the U.S.-French relationship as "simple," yet "always beautiful." In his remarks in the State Dining Room, he spoke with passion about freedom and liberty and the need for U.S.-French cooperation in addressing terrorism, nuclear proliferation, poverty and religious fanaticism.
"I've come to Washington to bear a very simple, straightforward message. ... I wish to re-conquer the heart of America. I want to re-conquer the heart of America in a lasting fashion," he said.
The French president also paid tribute to American veterans who fought in World War II and ended by proclaiming "Long live Franco-American friendship."
Sarkozy, who was seated next to first lady Laura Bush, came to the White House alone. He and his wife, Cecilia, announced their divorce on Oct. 18, a first for a French head of state.
The U.S. and France back tough diplomacy to keep Iran from having nuclear weapons. They have jointly sponsored U.N. resolutions supporting Lebanese sovereignty. And while France fiercely opposed the war in Iraq, Sarkozy sent his foreign minister on a surprise three-day trek to Baghdad in August to enhance France's role in Iraq's future.
"I never quite understood why we had to fight with the United States," Sarkozy said earlier in the day at a meeting of the French-American Business Council.
Sarkozy, an energetic 52-year-old conservative, has wasted no time in his bid to modernize France, in part by trying to inject an American-style work ethic. As a sign of his pro-American tendencies, he took a summer vacation in the United States, causing a stir back home.
In August, he visited Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, N.H., about 50 miles from the Bush compound known as Walker's Point. Sarkozy stopped by the Bush family compound, which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, and the two leaders took a speed boat ride and had an American-style picnic of hot dogs, hamburgers and baked beans.
Story Here
Sarkozy Opens His Arms To President Bush And US
Sarkozy, in Prepared Speech to Congress, Says Friendship and Alliance Is Strong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boy this guy loves President Bush and the United States Of America. It's nice to have our old ally France Back Again :-) LOL! Check out the look on President Bush's face when Sarkozy Kisses Laura's Hand.
Also Blogging:
Mike's America
Spark's From The Anvil
French President Nicolas Sarkozy opened a new, cozier chapter in U.S.-French relations, saying he came to Washington with a simple message: "I wish to reconquer the heart of America in a lasting fashion."
Yet Sarkozy, whose trip included a scheduled address to Congress on Wednesday, didn't sidestep the fact that President Bush and the war in Iraq remain unpopular in his country.
"I also came to say that one can be a friend of America, and yet win elections in France," Sarkozy joked during his toast at a White House dinner where the two leaders dined on lobster bisque and lamb.
That's not something Bush would have heard from former French President Jacques Chirac who publicly clashed with Bush, especially over the war.
Sarkozy's address to a joint meeting of Congress will highlight the improved relations. In 1996, many U.S. lawmakers boycotted a similar appearance by Chirac to protest France's nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
Sarkozy will reflect broadly on his vision for French-American relations but will not to make great policy announcements, according to the French Embassy.
Iran and the Middle East peace efforts were likely to dominate Sarkozy's discussions with Bush as the two countries look to build on their warmer relations to look for ways to improve policy coordination.
In his toast Tuesday night, Bush didn't mention France's opposition to the war. Instead, he spoke of working with France to help others around the world resist tyranny and oppression.
"French and American troops are helping defend a young democracy in Afghanistan," said Bush, who was taking Sarkozy at midday Wednesday to Mount Vernon, which was the Virginia home of George Washington.
"Our two nations support the democratic government in Lebanon. We agree that reconciliation and democracy in Iraq are vital to the future of the Middle East. And our two nations condemn violations of human rights in Darfur, in Burma and around the world," Bush said.
Sarkozy - known in France as "Sarko the American" - described the U.S.-French relationship as "simple," yet "always beautiful." In his remarks in the State Dining Room, he spoke with passion about freedom and liberty and the need for U.S.-French cooperation in addressing terrorism, nuclear proliferation, poverty and religious fanaticism.
"I've come to Washington to bear a very simple, straightforward message. ... I wish to re-conquer the heart of America. I want to re-conquer the heart of America in a lasting fashion," he said.
The French president also paid tribute to American veterans who fought in World War II and ended by proclaiming "Long live Franco-American friendship."
Sarkozy, who was seated next to first lady Laura Bush, came to the White House alone. He and his wife, Cecilia, announced their divorce on Oct. 18, a first for a French head of state.
The U.S. and France back tough diplomacy to keep Iran from having nuclear weapons. They have jointly sponsored U.N. resolutions supporting Lebanese sovereignty. And while France fiercely opposed the war in Iraq, Sarkozy sent his foreign minister on a surprise three-day trek to Baghdad in August to enhance France's role in Iraq's future.
"I never quite understood why we had to fight with the United States," Sarkozy said earlier in the day at a meeting of the French-American Business Council.
Sarkozy, an energetic 52-year-old conservative, has wasted no time in his bid to modernize France, in part by trying to inject an American-style work ethic. As a sign of his pro-American tendencies, he took a summer vacation in the United States, causing a stir back home.
In August, he visited Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, N.H., about 50 miles from the Bush compound known as Walker's Point. Sarkozy stopped by the Bush family compound, which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, and the two leaders took a speed boat ride and had an American-style picnic of hot dogs, hamburgers and baked beans.
Story Here
Sarkozy Opens His Arms To President Bush And US
Sarkozy, in Prepared Speech to Congress, Says Friendship and Alliance Is Strong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boy this guy loves President Bush and the United States Of America. It's nice to have our old ally France Back Again :-) LOL! Check out the look on President Bush's face when Sarkozy Kisses Laura's Hand.
Also Blogging:
Mike's America
Spark's From The Anvil
posted by Marie's Two Cents | 9:12 AM
10 Comments:
Finally someone who manages to make President Bush look intelligent!
I almost forgot to mention: I am French. Oh well, for the next five years I will just have to say my accent is from Belgium!
ej,
Contrary to popular belief President Bush has always been intelligent.
You on the other hand are not even proud enough nor intelligent enough to claim your French Heritage!
Only an idiot would hide that fact.
Mon Dieu! The more Sarkozy speaks, the less I dislike France!
France has always been a good friend of ours, although they stray from time to time. It's good to have a "friend in peace" like Sarkozy in charge now.
However, President Bush should keep a sharp eye on Sarkozy when he's around a beautiful lady like Laura. You know those Frenchmen. ;^)
And to EJ, thankfully the majority of French citizens made an intelligent choice in Sarkozy. Unlike yourself, I'm sure the majority of people in France are proud to be French ,no matter what, and do not share in your cowardice.
Trek,
He's great isnt he? Like the Tony Blair of France. I think we can go back to "French Fries" now.
And Frech Champagne, and the works :-)
Barker,
France has always been a good friend of ours, although they stray from time to time. It's good to have a "friend in peace" like Sarkozy in charge now.
It sure is :-)
LMAO! The look on President Bush while Sarkozy was kissing Laura's hand was priceless!
Thank God all the French people dont think like ej. He's exactly as you discribed, "A Coward"!!!
I'm sure even Belgium French don't want you either ej. The hard working, long suffering people of France have had enough of your ilk and took the polls to show you that.
I love the dress that the First Lady is wearing. She really is representative of the majority of women in both France and the US. Dignified, intelligent and unencumbered by the dead weight of liberalism.
It is a good thing President Sarkozy has been elected and is moving France back to it's place as a world leader instead of a world whiner.
"I wish to reconquer the heart of America in a lasting fashion."
..woohoo Marie he can kiss my hand anytime then!..:)
Jenn,
I love the dress that the First Lady is wearing. She really is representative of the majority of women in both France and the US. Dignified, intelligent and unencumbered by the dead weight of liberalism.
It is a good thing President Sarkozy has been elected and is moving France back to it's place as a world leader instead of a world whiner.
You said it :-)
I Love the Gown Laura is wearing too. She looks like the First Lady, very ellegant.
Angel,
Notice Laura had her hand out there for Sarkozy but never reached out for Chirac to kiss her hand lol.
I LOVE Sarkozy! What a great French President! My plans to visit southern France are not a dream anymore... I had boycotted the idea because of the previous anti-American sentiment.
What a gentleman kissing the 1st Lady's hand. She looks lovely. George looks unsure. ;)
Amy,
He is great isnt he?
Laura looked so ellegant :-)
I would make your plans again for France now.
We can all go back to calling them French Fries again, Geez this makes Chirac look like such an idiot.
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