Thursday, December 11, 2008
The ban on French jokes continues: Sarko bashes the mullahs
Unconditional meetings may be all the rage in Washington (until, at least, Secretary Clinton draws upon her inner harshness), but French president Nicholas Sarkozy is having none of it:
Iran has summoned the French ambassador in Tehran over comments made by the French president about his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Nicolas Sarkozy said earlier this week that he would not be able to shake hands with someone who said Israel had to be wiped off the map.
Ambassador Bernard Poletti was told of Iran's strong objections.
He was told there would be repercussions for relations if such remarks were repeated.
How is it that a people such as the Iranian people have the misfortune of being represented as they are today by some of their leaders?
In the speech, given on 11 December on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr Sarkozy said: "How is it that a people such as the Iranian people - one of the world's greatest peoples, one of the world's oldest civilisations, sophisticated, cultured, open - have the misfortune of being represented as they are today by some of their leaders?
"I have said this to my friend Kofi [Annan]: I find it impossible to shake hands with somebody who has dared to say that Israel must be wiped off the map.
Good for Sarko. In what might be a historical reversal, in matters of foreign policy, at least, the blue, white and red now speaks with less nuance than the red, white, and blue.
8 Comments:
By 
, at
Thu Dec 11, 10:07:00 AM:
Sarko will by himself help undo my decades-long Francophobia!
I would like to have him invite the Iranian ambassador in for a meeting, w media present, and repeat what he said.
By 
Christopher Chambers, at
Thu Dec 11, 10:59:00 AM:
You and your gang over here might be the only people who are rapid fans of this dude's--merely b/c he attacks Muslims? Hell, I'm sure you hold his...well..."interesting" spouse with more respect than our new First Lady. He's a one trick poney--thank goodness for you all it's the poney you'll ride till it froths and keels over. Gee whiz, would it surprise you to know (or would care) that even within Condi's State Dept Sarko's pretty much a Saturday Night Live skit?
Besides, he's still French. LOL Keep that in mind when he bucks on you, and he will do that. (hint: he fawned all over Barack as if Mr. O was the suntanned second coming of Louis XIV this summer on the then-candidate's European "hey I'm gonna president" tour).
By Snowden, at
Thu Dec 11, 11:52:00 AM:
I'm pretty sure that in Tehran it's unlawful for any woman to draw upon her "inner harshness", let alone one in a pantsuit.
By Dawnfire82, at
Thu Dec 11, 12:19:00 PM:
I'm sure he was smitten.
By , at
Thu Dec 11, 07:40:00 PM:
T-hawk: I know Mr.Chambers is the "loyal" opposition - Tigertown buddies and all that old school stuff and, he even has an oddly compelling blogsite- but, I am reminded that his occasionally demonstrated partisan ramblings/rumblings are tiresome now that The One is changing the towels in the WH. What about OJ , now Chris? Oooops, too "up-front" with that? And, please no cultivated , parsed solipsisms..not with l'affair Blago a la Chi-town being served up...when will it stop with Barry?If ever...just sayin'we're ALL Americans now baby.
By , at
Thu Dec 11, 10:09:00 PM:
My girlfriend and I sat down together and really enjoyed all the great information that we both saw and could not believe how interesting it was for the both of us, very well placed blog. Thank you!
By Gary Rosen, at
Fri Dec 12, 05:12:00 AM:
Chrissy:
"merely b/c he attacks Muslims"
Chrissy, he wasn't attacking Muslims, he was defending Jews. As an antisemite I know you can't stand that, because antisemites like you, Chrissy, are always nitwits, misfucks and born losers who can't own up to their own failures and shortcomings so they blame everything on the Jooos, Chrissy. It's just like you, Chrissy, to defend a fellow raving antisemitic nitwit like Ahemedinejad, Chrissy.
By , at
Fri Dec 12, 06:27:00 AM:
Christopher Coloumbus said:(hint: "he fawned all over Barack as if Mr. O was the suntanned second coming of Louis XIV this summer on the then-candidate's European "hey I'm gonna president" tour)."
No he didn't. He called him an empth suit. Which is spot on by the way.
