Iran: “France Becoming Anathema To The Islamic World”
From the Tehran Times, an official mouthpiece of the Iraninan government:
The French regard themselves as a major European power, and French governments have never kowtowed to the White House, regardless of whether rightists like General de Gaulle or Jacques Chirac occupied the Elysee Palace or leftists like François Mitterrand.
But it seems that the French tradition is being abandoned by Nicolas Sarkozy — who himself had promised that Paris would maintain its stance of independence from Washington during his election campaign.
Since Sarkozy took office last spring, the French government has drastically changed its position.
It began when Sarkozy traveled to the U.S. to spend his vacation at the U.S. president’s family compound to emphasize the strength of Paris-Washington ties.
After the French president’s cordial meeting with the Bush family, the first visit to post-occupation Baghdad by a French foreign minister occurred.
Ironically, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who was the cofounder of the international humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), initially opposed the Iraq war.
However, in a complete turnaround, Kouchner traveled to Baghdad to show France’s approve of the U.S. policy in Iraq, which seems to indicate that Paris may be destined to pass London in the race to be the main U.S. lapdog.
A little while later, Kouchner made remarks about Iran’s nuclear program that were more outrageous than anything the other top diplomats of Western countries had ever said.
While people like George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, and Robert Gates still exercise caution and speak of negotiating with Iran, the French foreign minister has mentioned the possibility of a war against Iran.
Yet Kouchner’s indiscreet remarks are nothing new. He recently disrupted Paris-Baghdad relations by saying that the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki should be removed.
If he makes another faux pas, Kouchner will probably go the way of Spain’s Jose Maria Aznar, Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, and Britain’s Tony Blair.
It could be said that the French foreign minister’s warmongering remarks were due to his inexperience in matters of diplomacy.
But should we reject such an excuse, especially in light of the Sarkozy administration’s cooperation with the U.S. over the past four months, we can conclude that the French right-wingers’ opportunism is destroying their country’s political tradition.
If it continues on this course, France will no longer be viewed as an opponent of the U.S. and will become anathema to the Islamic world, just like Britain.
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Maybe the frogs have finally woken up and smelled the coffee…
September 20th, 2007 at 7:01 amOver 10% of France is Arab-Muslim, so i think despite the positive rhetoric coming from Sarkozy and his Cabinet, I cannot trust the French’s stance on the war aginast evil in the long-term.
Personally, I have boycotted their products for several years BUT if les frogs end up helping us take out Iran, then I will start buying their wine again.
September 20th, 2007 at 7:11 amVive le France???
“If it continues on this course, France will no longer be viewed as an opponent of the U.S. and will become anathema to the Islamic world, just like Britain.”
This shows the depth of the myopia afflicting the Islamic world today. If they ever thought for a second that France was against western civilization and on the Islamist’s side, they’re delusional! Oh yeah, they are delusional!!! The frogs have woken up, that’s why they elected Sarko, it’s not going to be an easy ride for France but it’s either time to get tough or subjugate itself to Islamic sharia law. Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité will over come the darkness!
September 20th, 2007 at 7:13 amMaybe those acceptable riots (oh sorry, youthful rabblehousing) throughout France has caused them to wake up and smell something cause that shit aint going away unless they make it.
September 20th, 2007 at 7:20 amStranger things have happened, who would have thought that the Swiss would be talking about throwing out entire families of non-Swiss if one of them breaks the law? I beleive France has indeed woken up to the threat that looms against them and all of Europe and the world. If more shit goes down in Europe I don’t find it hard to beleive that France starts throwing the dirty arabs out. They are much like the illegal aliens here, they have no desire to assimilate into the French culture, they want to change France into something more akin to an arab country.
France has a very technologicaly advanced military and could seriously put the hurt on Iran all by itself.
September 20th, 2007 at 7:54 amWell said Irish Girl.
Islam’s radical followers will take it’s time so while they are weakest is the time to identify them and exterminate them.
Let them have strength and then you will convert or die.
True Freedom Fighters MUST unite against the radicals and the appeasing, treasonist left.
September 20th, 2007 at 8:03 amreally, it’s a bit laughable the way you imagine our situation, we are not desesperate at all ; we always were aware of an islamist threat ; that’s why our renseignments kept and keep an close eye on what they think, talk or do ; in contrary to our neighbours, we had no terrorists attaks since 1995 ; the surburbs riots are youth lefty gallic tempered revolts, on the way to be solved, not at all islamic as the anglo-saxon media would like to view them :(mixed religions and different originated immigration)
To be fair, I voted Sarkosy while Beyrou was my favorite candidate, but Segolene Royal was the worst choice possible. and I am afraid that Sarko is only making noise and shaking air, he has not the means of what he is dreaming ; I hope I am wrong though
September 20th, 2007 at 8:05 amI’m liking this guy Sarko. Every day, it seems that my ancestors have finally woken up. I’d sit down with this guy and drink a bottle of expensive French wine with him any day. Viva La France.
September 20th, 2007 at 9:21 amJim Jam;
September 20th, 2007 at 12:08 pmNo, no, no. It’s “Vive LA France”. Gotta keep those genders straight…
We’ll see if they’ve truly turned the corner, but this is a start.
September 20th, 2007 at 12:45 pm@Asterix:
“To be fair, I voted Sarkosy…”
Well then we like you. We really, really like you.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pmSully, tiens, tiens,
2 days ago, you said “écrases machin-chose…”
Anyway, I appreciate the 2nd degree that your using, even if it is not what you think
September 20th, 2007 at 2:32 pm