France, next 5 years

What can we expect from an pro-US France in the world now.

Will they help in the global war on terror?

What about their own problems in their country. While a slight majority voted in a conservative for change, its stunning to realise that almost half of the country is Socilist, and the roits that are going on are wxpected, and if you rememeber a couple of years ago they had roits for over 100 consecutive days i belive. This country is going to go through some real change in the nest few years.

What i think is going to happen is that France, against my former thoughts on it, has the potential to become a bigger factor in the world.

Also, i find it very reasuring that very quickly it was clear that he wants close relations with the US.

Welcome back France.

The new elected president Nicolas Sarkozy seems alittle more pro American than Chirac was. So its likely France will be a important allie in the region.

It was thought that his pro Western stance would hurt his election chances. Obviously it didnt ,President Bush called and congratulated him....

Originally posted by TKainZero
What about their own problems in their country. While a slight majority voted in a conservative for change,

The French government has been conservative since the beginning of
the Fifth republic, there has not been a significant change in that sense.

Conservative does not mean pro-U.S., though in Sarko's case, he is more
so than others, though that does not mean he's going to send troops to
Iraq or anywhere else, outside of peace keeping missions.

Like the US, France has plenty of trouble at home IMHO that should be addressed. Unemployment, racial tensions that could explode again at any minute, Like our social security system, thier plan is comming understrain as well.

Who cares? France is nothing but a pain in the neck. It is going to take a long time for them to gain back any sort of respect from a large number of Americans - like myself.

Originally posted by itguysrule
Who cares?

Quite a few people, myself among them.

France is nothing but a pain in the neck.

Why, just because they do not bow and do anything we say or support
our warmongering?

It is going to take a long time for them to gain back any sort of respect from a large number of Americans - like myself.

A large number of conservatives, republicans and those on the right
maybe, but they never lost that much respect to a great many of us in
the first place.

Originally posted by itguysrule
Who cares? France is nothing but a pain in the neck. It is going to take a long time for them to gain back any sort of respect from a large number of Americans - like myself.

Interestingly enough, with a few word changes, that statement could be applied to the "wonderful" USA...

I said this in another France-Sarkozy thread, but what is this major hang up Yanks have over France? Seriously?

Originally posted by stumason
I said this in another France-Sarkozy thread, but what is this major hang up Yanks have over France? Seriously?

Good question.

I suspect its one of two things;

1). The outright refusal to buy into the US led Iraqi invasion. Undeniably a wise decision, perhaps some in the States don't like France being right when they (and we) were totally wrong.

2). Perhaps some don't like the socialists in France. Maybe they see it like they did communism?

Either way, its not the job of France to persuade the US to like them. Knowing many people from France, they really couldn't care less what the US think of them!

p.

I agree Phoenix, as a nation France should be able to voice their own views and act in their own national interests.

Something strange I heard on the US news we get on our SBS channel earlier this evening....

Apparently France will be consulting more with the US, rather than voicing national opinion... Now this is not a direct quote but I found it interesting that a nation would put diplomatic relations before their own national interests. It seems that these days, national interests come second to certain agendas. Whether good or bad do you think this is really a good practice?

No offence to anyone but this entire concept seems contrary to democracy in certain aspects. Maybe it was just the way it was reported.

I don't think theres any conspiracy or anything happening to be honest, but I think the majority view of the world is slightly different to the reality. More now than ever before in human history.

Originally posted by stumason
I said this in another France-Sarkozy thread, but what is this major hang up Yanks have over France? Seriously?

Many US ultranationalists have issue with the whole of Europe, not just France. They don't see us as allies, they see us as enemies. All the time you hear these bloody ridiculous notions coming from the Faux News Watchers Club about how bad Europe is.

One minute we're Eurabia, and in twenty years, we'll all be offering up praise to Allah and speaking Arabic.

Next, we're all Socialists (and of course, socialism automatically makes you the reincarnation of Lenin).

Then, a bit later, we ALL hate the US... because you understand, having alternate views to the American far-right, to be vexed at the US Regime's War Of Terror, is a sure sign you hate the US unconditionally.

"Its not Paranoia, everyone hates us!"

There is a sickness among the far-right in America: the need to hate.

Originally posted by seenitall
I agree Phoenix, as a nation France should be able to voice their own views and act in their own national interests.

Something strange I heard on the US news we get on our SBS channel earlier this evening....

Apparently France will be consulting more with the US, rather than voicing national opinion... Now this is not a direct quote but I found it interesting that a nation would put diplomatic relations before their own national interests. It seems that these days, national interests come second to certain agendas. Whether good or bad do you think this is really a good practice?

No offence to anyone but this entire concept seems contrary to democracy in certain aspects. Maybe it was just the way it was reported.

I don't think theres any conspiracy or anything happening to be honest, but I think the majority view of the world is slightly different to the reality. More now than ever before in human history.

Its difficult to speculate on a report I've not seen & to be honest, I'm not familiar with SBS. One thing that has become abundantly clear over recent years is that all media seems to be keen on promoting its own agenda, sometimes at the expense of (for want of a better expression) "fair and balanced" reporting.

That said, reports of this kind of 'collaboration' alarm me somewhat. Sarkozy was elected to reflect the views of the French electorate, he isn't there to make nice when sometimes its not justified.

I think the only way we'll find out is when something happens to put him to the test. For example, any proposed invasion of Iran.

Again, on thinking about this, I think that the EU will take a view and member nations may be limited in their own commentary.

We live in interesting times. The UK government is about to change, the Bush is almost out of time in the Whitehouse, Sarkozy is an unknown for the majority of the world.

p.

France was right about the war, and the right wing US can't stand that. They're pretty hot under the collar about that, and you will likely see the right wingers attempt to spew any and all garbage they can about France... that is after all the new American way... don't take responsibility, just slander someone to get the cameras away for a bit.

The new French government won 53% of the votes... not exactly a ground breaking vote. So yeah, there will be a few more disagreements between the public and, well, the rest of the public.

As for being pro Bush? That doesn't matter, Bush's time is up, in just under 2 years we can go back to ignoring him again, and getting on with cleaning up his mess.
Pro-US? Well, they've never been Anti-US... so the use of "Pro-US" should be dropped now.
That term is just an example of the medias induced binary thinking. You can't label a country right or wrong... you can agree or disagree with each policy on an induvidual basis... but the idea of France being for or against the United States is a pretty stupid notion.

Originally posted by stumason

Originally posted by itguysrule
Who cares? France is nothing but a pain in the neck. It is going to take a long time for them to gain back any sort of respect from a large number of Americans - like myself.

Interestingly enough, with a few word changes, that statement could be applied to the "wonderful" USA...

I said this in another France-Sarkozy thread, but what is this major hang up Yanks have over France? Seriously?

I do not claim to speak for anyone but myself. My problem with France can be stated in two words; Arrogance and Duplicity. France has the right as a sovereign nation to disagree with the US anytime they want to. They do not have the right to lecture the US like a parent talking to a disobedient child. France would be part of Germany if we had not saved their sorry hides in WWII. As for duplicity you only need to look at the antics of the French at the United Nations. They supported resolutions against Iraq that were intended to try and contain Saddam without having to resort to military action. But all the while they were breaking the sanctions they voted for and helping Saddam under the table. They are liars and cowards. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that is mine. I don’t care if you like it or not.

As for changing my words to apply to the US instead of France – go right ahead if you want to. Many people here on ATS seem to take all kinds of pleasure in continually “bashing” the US and everything we do or say. You may think we are a bunch of mindless war mongering idiots but you will find that most of us are just regular folks trying to get by. Maybe one day you will get your wish and the US will be destroyed, defeated or broken up. Fine. I wish you luck in defending yourselves from Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and Islamic Fascism without us.

Many people here on ATS seem to take all kinds of pleasure in continually “bashing” the US and everything we do or say.

Easy there friend. We're not bashing the US, we typically bash your current administration... not the people. Once in a while we find an ignorant induvidual to hit, but you find ignorant induviduals in every country.

You have to admit, when it comes to poking fun at someone, your current administration literally writes our material themselves, we just think it's comical enough to repeat.

If you want, you can take a jab at old Steevie Harper, I'll probably laugh with you.

[edit on 9-5-2007 by johnsky]

It’s nice to know nobody on ATS is bashing the people of the US, only the government. I was afraid that being called “ultranationalist, right-wing, warmonger with a need to hate” was a bad thing. It is also nice to know that everything will get better as soon as Bush is gone. I was beginning to think that there are real problems in the world and people who really want to destroy Israel or blow up school children or build nuclear weapons. I am so relieved to know that they are only doing these things because the US has been so mean to them and hasn’t given them enough candy or trinkets. There is obviously no reason for the US to keep troops in Iraq – let’s bring them all home today. I’m sure Iran won’t try to take over, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis won’t be killed because they cooperated with the “Great Satan” and the Middle East will become so stable that gasoline prices should go down to about 50 cents per gallon. I am so happy now. Viva la France !!!

Originally posted by itguysrule
It’s nice to know nobody on ATS is bashing the people of the US, only the government. I was afraid that being called “ultranationalist, right-wing, warmonger with a need to hate” was a bad thing. It is also nice to know that everything will get better as soon as Bush is gone. I was beginning to think that there are real problems in the world and people who really want to destroy Israel or blow up school children or build nuclear weapons. I am so relieved to know that they are only doing these things because the US has been so mean to them and hasn’t given them enough candy or trinkets. There is obviously no reason for the US to keep troops in Iraq – let’s bring them all home today. I’m sure Iran won’t try to take over, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis won’t be killed because they cooperated with the “Great Satan” and the Middle East will become so stable that gasoline prices should go down to about 50 cents per gallon. I am so happy now. Viva la France !!!

I rest my case...

[edit on 9-5-2007 by Terran Blue]

Im going to say this once:

Please STAY on topic regarding France and its next 5 years.


Thanks

news.bbc.co.uk...

www.breitbart.com...

More USA-FRANCE Loving!!!

The more of this Sarkozy i see the more that i like him. I loved last weekend when he Boarded some photographers Boat and verbaly abused them, that goes against every french joke ever. I give him two thumbs up.