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Home Front: Politix
Anger over 'France-bashing'
2004-10-13
FRANCE'S Ambassador to the United States Jean-David Levitte has condemned what he called the France-bashing rhetoric of the US presidential campaign. "As the French ambassador, I consider that during the last few weeks we have been a bit too much, as France, the punching bag of the electoral debate," Levitte said in comments at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. "I cannot accept to see France, the French citizens, or French companies used as a tool of the campaign," he said.
Reject and be damned, sir!
Levitte referred specifically to recent press allegations that France conspired with deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to bilk the UN Oil for Food program of millions of dollars - an allegation which France has denied. "I think it's fair to say that the United Nations did its best," he said. "It was a good program. Was it perfect? Of course not," he said, in remarks made in English.
"What's a few billion here and there? Nothing, really, in the grand scheme of things..."
He declined to answer a question about his preference between White House contenders US President George W Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry. "It is the privilege of each American to choose his or her president," Levitte said. "I'm not an American and I've nothing to say in the electoral campaign. What is important for two friends and allies like the United States and France is to make sure that whatever the choice... of the American people, we'll be in a position to work well together." The ambassador acknowledged that Paris and Washington have disagreed over the US-led war in Iraq, but said those differences, for the most part, have been resolved. "If we have different views about Iraq, on all the other issues we worked well, and we continue to work well, and it is important after November the 2nd to continue to do an even better job, if possible," Levitte said.
Posted by:tipper

#18  Imagine an America in which all political candidates and all CEOs (with next to no startups or new companies ever being formed) are derived from a pool defined as National Merit Scholars who participated in their high schools' Model United Nations forum, and you get a flavor for how ridiculously inbred, arrogant and corrupt the French elites are.
Posted by: lex   2004-10-14 1:29:48 AM  

#17  Damn, they're complaining that we are hurting their feelings? When I read the headline I thought we were finally cracking some skulls. Oh well, maybe next year.
Posted by: whitecollar redneck   2004-10-13 11:01:51 PM  

#16  "Dave, Why wouldn't you have anything against the French people?"

That's a good question, ed. Perhaps it has to do with lex's comment about the elitist nature of French society: what little I know of the people and their attitudes toward us, I'm willing to attribute at least partly to their being misled by the ruling classes.
Posted by: Dave D.   2004-10-13 10:49:45 PM  

#15  French society is much more elitist than ours. Only those selected at age 16 via national tests have any real shot at the brass ring in politics and business. The real problem is a corrupt and self-referential political class that plays out its ridiculously machiavellian political strategems to the great detriment of the Atlantic Alliance, Europe, and France's own citizens. The deal for the French people is simple: they (the elites) preserve our benefits and our corporatist privileges (right to strike above all), we allow them free reign in the political sphere.

Helas, there's little hope that this corrupt bargain will change anytime soon.
Posted by: lex   2004-10-13 10:27:24 PM  

#14  I've nothing against the French people;
Dave,
Why wouldn't you have anything against the French people? They are the ones who elect their leaders and polls have consistently shown the French people wish ill upon Americans. If you mean there are some fine French individuals, then I can agree with you. But that doesn't negate what the French people, as a whole, think.
Posted by: ed   2004-10-13 9:29:28 PM  

#13  The only anger I have over France-bashing is that there hasn't been nearly enough of it yet.

That's OK, though. France showed itself clearly, and most Americans know exactly what they are about. France WANTS Iraq to fail, because it would be bad for the US, and they continue to actively strive for that failure.

The myth of France as an ally has been permanently extinguished.
Posted by: docob   2004-10-13 9:21:43 PM  

#12  By his cultural values, everything France did is just fine. Its only us naive Americans who don't understand and accept how the world works.

/channeling Chiraq
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-10-13 8:31:32 PM  

#11  But be polite no F#$% Phrawnce.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-10-13 7:40:11 PM  

#10  I'm halfway through "Our Oldest Enemy: A History of America's Disastrous Relationship with France", by John J. Miller and Mark Molesky. It's a great read.

I've nothing against the French people; but their government can bite my shorts.
Posted by: Dave D.   2004-10-13 7:36:04 PM  

#9  Send him an email, Barbara. See link in post # 6 above, from Mrs D.
Posted by: lex   2004-10-13 7:19:30 PM  

#8  My sentiments exactly, A Jackson.

STFU and FOAD, "Ambassador."
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-10-13 7:09:23 PM  

#7  Phuque Phrawnse
Posted by: A Jackson   2004-10-13 6:45:52 PM  

#6  E-mail Levitte here and let him know if you think we're friends.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-10-13 6:44:03 PM  

#5  Allez-y, con. You and your government owe a huge apology to President Allawi and the people of Iraq. Instead of whining about Fox News, I suggest you pay a visit to Iraq and face the victims of your thievery.
Posted by: lex   2004-10-13 6:40:46 PM  

#4  Tell how the oil vouchers are not a direct bribe to France and it's opposition to doing what is right. Dead babies have never bothered the French much if they are not French. Thats why France didn't condem Saddams baby killing and genocide. Keep the bribes coming and we will carry your water.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2004-10-13 6:37:26 PM  

#3  I guess showing the proof that they were on the take is "French Bashing". If so, I hope to see a lot more of it.

Oh, and die you froggie bastard.
Posted by: mmurray821   2004-10-13 6:34:51 PM  

#2  FRANCE’S Ambassador to the United States Jean-David Levitte has condemned what he called the France-bashing rhetoric of the US presidential campaign.

Cry me a $#@&! river.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-10-13 6:30:10 PM  

#1  "Friends", he says.

As if.
Posted by: mojo   2004-10-13 6:22:08 PM  

00:00