Hey Charles! How about a little context? Not that I'm not enjoying the thought of the French wondering "why oh why do they hate us?" But who are these people and why do they think Chirac is a war criminal? And what's with those triangle hats?

Ohne Ironie, alles wäre egal.

If that photo runs in a French newspaper, I can imagine thousands of readers dropping their cheese and white flags in shock. Will it run there, though? Or here, for that matter.

Obviously just another gang of Zionist conspirators manipulating the corporate media with a staged demonstration, probably the work of Halliburton and other corporate PR departments in the Cheney/Bush Axis. For the TRUTH about the oppressed masses, try listening to Barbra Streisand and George Clooney.

schadenfreude SHAHD-n-froy-duh, noun:
A malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others.

Je suis La Premiere!

try listening to Barbra Streisand and George Clooney.

Nope, I always follow the advice on the furniture polish bottle: Do not induce vomiting.

Ou non.

marymary: click the photo and all will be revealed. Except the hats. That I can't help you with.

I was thrilled when I saw this in the Times today. I'm no expert on the Ivory Coast (not by a long shot), but it seems France has brokered a "peace" accord whereby the country's elected president (from the predominantly Christian south of the country) is supposed to share power voluntarily with rebels from the predominantly Muslim north. One apparent feature is that the Pres is supposed to turn the Defense Ministry over to the rebels. Can you say appeasement (with a French accent)? But not to worry, folks, the Times article reports that Kofi Annan "also expressed support for the peace accord, and said this afternoon that he would consider sending a technical team to study whether civilian or military observers ought to be deployed." Read that again if you will, because it's really the UN in a nutshell. Anyway, tomorrow's Times (online) reports that the Ivory Coast army has rejected the accord. Good for them. I'm glad to see somebody else has had it up to here with the French.

But not to worry, folks, the Times article reports that Kofi Annan "also expressed support for the peace accord, and said this afternoon that he would consider sending a technical team to study whether civilian or military observers ought to be deployed

...if the 6 observers Kofi sent to the Congo dont become "lunch", they could always swing around and go to Ivory Coast...

HOW MUCH IS KOFI GETTING FROM THE SAUDS, TO PROMOTE ISLAM....???

I was just this very evening talking with someone regarding this issue. The very idea that France would criticize the US about "interfering" in another nation's internal affairs. I pointed out that they were doing exactly the same thing in Ivory Coast. The person nodded gravely—but I could see that he did not believe it was the same thing.

It appears, the worm has turned.

c'est la guerre! ;-)

You forgot the "THIS IS NOT A JOKE" label

The rest of the CHIRAC IS SATAN, sign is funny...

"SPIRIT DE TENEBRES" means "SPIRIT OF DARKNESS"

WOAHAHAHAH!!!!!

VIVA L'ETAS UNIS!!!!

L'ETAS UNIS EST DEMAIN, LA FRANCE EST HIER!

Freebourne, Secularia #11,

I've had that same experience with my Euro friends. I asked them whether they thought France was being "unilateral" in Cote D'Ivoire and why no one objected to it. They said it was different there, but couldn't explain how it was different.

Beautiful. So nice to see people with common sense out there. Has France surrendered to this yet?

I laughed aloud when I saw the photo, but sobered up quickly when I realized that as much as these poor people want our help, they're not going to get it. We're tied up with Sadaam right now. The Ivory Coast is not an area where we have vital strategic interests. So these folks will be left to the tender mercies of the French and the UN. That means they're doomed.

I hope that picture gets as much play as the blogosphere can give it, though. I'd love to see someone make a poster out of it and carry it to an idiotarian anti-war rally. Especially one in Paris.

I don't know if they've surrendered completely yet, but they did offer to give the rebels the Sudetenland (sp?)

History of relations between France and Cote D'Ivoire- long and sad story.They may be asking president Bush for help...So, some people writing letters about their wishes-- for Santa...

OT
via The Corner
[Link: www.sgtstryker.com...]

[Link: www.sgtstryker.com...]

Enjoy!

This brings us to the M + U words: Multilateralism and
Unilateralism. France is bemoaning the unilateralism of
the US right now. However, no UN Resolution was passed
for France to go the Ivory Coast nor was there ever any
international debate about it, at least none that I read
about. Also, where are the leftist cries of
"Imperialism!" against France? No, they are being hypocrites? Get outta here!

Où est le boeuf? Je ne soigne pas! Où est du frommage? cela est la question! Ce n'est pas dans au Cote D'Ivoire! Alor, nous allons retournez à Paris chercher pour mon frommage. Mon Dieu!! Les Musulamannes ont volè ma ville et pays!! sorry, I had a french test today and am still thinking in french.

DUDES! I screwed up!
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

SORRY!

I took the ball and ran with it. I found lots more pro-US photos in the same vein on the Rantblog.

[Link: www.nationalreview.com...]

BRILLIANT!

adam (#23)

That is hilarious! Classic.

WOW!!!!

I almost wept tears of happiness, reading this...

EIGHT EURO LEADERS CALL FOR UNITY WITH US OVER IRAQ...

[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

Even the Danes signed it! Fancy that.

what the... where are all the trolls?! I wanna see some action... they're mysteriously quiet, though.

Isn't the Ivory Coast a former French Colony, therefore they don't need an excuse to be involved.

Ploome, What do you mean ?

if the 6 observers Kofi sent to the Congo dont become "lunch", they could always swing around and go to Ivory Coast...

Aren't UN observers a protected species and covered by international law?

Trolls? Here?

Charles, thanks for le clue. I was so dumbfounded that the US was not the object of the protest that my brain ceased to function. I may need to take a day off to recuperate.

Sounds like us Americans did everything right in history (like selling weapons to all kinds of regimes and terrorists). We're the oil junkies and our Pres is the dealer who needs to get more! By the way, if our gov has proof, why do they lead a propaganda campaign for war in Iraq?!

The reason the French military intervention in Ivory Coast is "different" from Iraq is that the President of Ivory Coast "asked" for French troops to be deployed. He really didn't have a choice, his bank accounts are in France and the troops deployed in his office...

Now, why did the French government decide to sell out Ivory Coast to the Muslim rebels? I don't have a clue. I think idiocy is the most probable cause.

No Blood for Chocolate!

(Ivory Coast is the world's leading Cocoa producer)

The idiotarian line on this one is that the elections were "disputed" because the main opposition leader from the north was excluded from running under the IC constitutional requirement that both of one's parents must be Ivorian in order to run. When it is pointed out that the constitution was ratified by 86% of the voters, the Id claim is that it was a plebiscite conducted under martial law imposed by a junta, therefor invalid (of course the French didn't address this complaint, but why seek any logic or consistency? These are Id perspectives).

The logical conclusion is, of course, that the people of IC have been exploited by corrupt politicians of various parties and military strongmen (and the country's supreme court). Therefore any expression by Ivorians of their preference for government, short of taking up arms, is null and void. Jacque Chirac should determine what the best course is for their government and the 53% of the population that voted for Gbagos should shut up and like it.

Btw/ this accord sees both the defense ministry and the interior ministry (in charge of police) handed over to rebel politicians. Is it any wonder the surrender monkeys are packing the 747s trying to get out?

[Link: story.news.yahoo.com...]

Remember how those lovely Frenchies blew up a Greenpeace ship for protesting them letting off bombs in the Pacific.

Could the CIA arange for the same fate to befall a French Patisarie?

Just a suggestion...

Here in Europe we see about 40% of the EU budget wasted on farm subsadies.. why? Because the French want it that way. Most everyone else wants these finished, but our lovely French 'alies' see things their own way...

Zut alors!
#25: I read it this morning, damn. I wish Germany had initiated it, as it would under Kohl. But our government at the moment is so infested with fundamentalists of peace that it stinks from Berlin all over Europe. Only hope Schröder is replaced soon, this wekend there are some Länderwahlen, and I BET he'll get some attrition there... His political margin is dwindling more and more, and it is his own fault.

One more thought concerning the future campaign. Iraq is weak. It was defeated in Gulf War I within 100 hours and since then has only kept one third of its military strength. They have weapons, provided by Rummy in old days fighting that Ayatollah (and by some black sheep from other countries, e.g. Germany, France), so these weapons should be largely known (Concerning chemical weapons: well, not so sure there, as you can produce them in any kitchen, provided hou have the relevant knowledge and gasmask). Bush needs a victory as OBL has escaped (btw, Saddam has - as far as my knowledge goes - always tried to SUPPRESS radical Islam groups, as HE wanted to be Emperor and not Allah). If he now lets Saddam slip, he'll be a one-term president.
OK, Iraq has already fallen. Questions now concern

1.) Rebuilding of Iraq. Will there be a civil war among Kurds, Schiites etc.? Remember Yugoslavia after the yoke had been removed. What if the curds, like the Albanians, want a Kurdistan? Turkey might not be amused. Further, will there, like in Afghanistan, pop out new heads of the al-Qaida hydra? [I mentioned somewhere else that Afghanistan is far from being peaceful.]

2.) The other evil guys. Who will be next? Iran are assembling student power to throw down Mullahs. But Syria? And Saudi-Arabia? They are really doing a lot against the US as well.

3.) Pacific region. Jakarta and Canberra have become estranged and unfriendly. Gusmao, on the other hand, is a strong US supporter, and the US are building a submarine harbour there. If the coloss in that region awakens, and it is already stirring, things might get really uneasy for Australia. CIA, as far as I've read, are already getting really concerned with that region.

4.) Europe. EU has many Muslims, but there is a hard-core minority who would like to terrorize us as well. Germany has been seen by many as "Ruheraum" (quiet room), I just wonder when (not IF) they try to accomplish their first strike. If so, they'll actually get some real fun, I tell you that.

Just interested in possible opinions concerning future questions, as the present is already past. Let's peek over the rim, what do YOU see?

hans

#35: THAT is really annoying, you are right. Chirac insists on blowing billions of Euros into some fat farmers' asses. It is such a waste. We will need armament in the EU concerning these new threats... this might become the century of long-term wars... oops, did anybody hear Cassandra?

OT:

Wow, Charles,

you have your site displaying in Netscape 4.08 pretty well. Only two small fixable display errors, but the rest looks almost exactly the same as in IE6.

I have been working all night using IE6, Netscape 4.08, Opera 7, and Mozilla 1.2 to get my site to display the same in each.

I gave up on Netscape 4 for most of the night. My links are miles apart, and one of my images is always broken, even though it isn't. My page is extra wide if my divs inside a table are 100% (and I read your /td tip, but no luck).
My main page won't even load in NS4, and the one time it did, it couldn't find my css backgrounds (probably because JSSS embeds file paths just like JavaScript)

Hovering over a link in Mozilla widens the table cell and extends the page beyond the window. Transparency won't work in Opera at all to my trials, and the lists are always indented in Opera.

Ahhhh, IE6 is the only browser. What to do.

(P.S. Can't post comment in NS4 here)

Hans,

instead Schröder ruined his last chance to turn around and maintain at least a little dignity.

really hope this is going to ruin him politically. btw, heard anything about Strucks sending planes to Iraq, to evacuate wounded soldiers? didnt he say something like that just before the campaign got ugly again and the peace-card was used once again?

Schröder verbally slapped the guy from Heute Journal yesterday when he literally opened every door for him to revise his stance(Chancellor, would you, if the new evidence showed material breach of 1441 et al by Iraq, change your opinion?.....Chancellor -the fundamentalist he is, answered his stance was a "fundamental one" and that it of course couldnt be altered. in the end he can turn that around again, by saying that fundamentally he was anti war, but well, if Saddam really wasnt the nice guy he pretended to be these days he should be fought).

what is really bad luck is that Germany had, of all the months, enter UNSC now, and even chair it. argh...

what i find extraordinarily cute is Schröder being the "peace chancellor" now, while having sent more troops abroad than any chancellor in FRGs history up to now. participation in "Enduring Freedom" would never have happened under CDU/CSU, simply because SPD and Greens would have blocked it.

plus has there ever been a cabinet SO crowded wioth idiots? a) schröder: a communication device, not someone with a goal, a line, a concept. b) eichel: whatever he says, the truth is the opposite c)trittin: solving the most pressing problems, like forbidding nuclear energy, artificially making fuel prices rise and of course to rescue the wellbeing of all germans: Dosenpfand. d) Künast: ruling over german cows and pigs, supporting higher prices and subsidies, in the end. as the rest of them, no clue what economy works like(nicht unter Einkaufspreis verkaufen...wer prüft nach zu welchem Preis ALDI einkauft?).......and the list goes on....

every nation has the leaders it deserves, the saying goes. but Im honestly not sure what i did to deserve this, LOL.

#39 kath f.

every nation has the leaders it deserves, the saying goes. but Im honestly not sure what i did to deserve this, LOL.

You should come to France, you'd immediately feel better about your politicians. Here we have a right-wing government that is slightly on the left of Schröder. Fun.

#39:

plus has there ever been a cabinet SO crowded wioth idiots? a) schröder: a communication device, not someone with a goal, a line, a concept. b) eichel: whatever he says, the truth is the opposite c)trittin: solving the most pressing problems, like forbidding nuclear energy, artificially making fuel prices rise and of course to rescue the wellbeing of all germans: Dosenpfand. d) Künast: ruling over german cows and pigs, supporting higher prices and subsidies, in the end. as the rest of them, no clue what economy works like(nicht unter Einkaufspreis verkaufen...wer prüft nach zu welchem Preis ALDI einkauft?).......and the list goes on....

LOL, LOL! kath, you hit the nail on the head! Don't forget that Künst last year tried to invoke a Euro-Congress, because trade had utilized the Euro to secretly RAISE prices (again, only SOME did so). Now, as prices have dropped, she tells us that things are too CHEAP and wants to (what else) manage things by bureaucracy. Am I the only one who wants to pull a pot over his head and hit it with a spoon? Ruling over German cows and pigs, just fantastic...

Thanks for the great posting! Let's cross our fingers that Schröder, ruining the US-German friendship, gets what he deserves. (I saw the heute journal yesterday as well, and Schröder got VERY uneasy on his chair, you noticed that?)

P.S. Trittin: we have some of the the safest nuclear reactors in Germany (except the older ones, but still they are pretty safe). In Munich, there is this research reactor, having been constructed during Kohl's era. Now, what does the fool Trittin do? He forbids to do research on it. Researchers from Finland and other countries (not mentioning countless protests from our researchers) begged him to undo his decision, but the brainless dumbass has swallowed his ears. What a waste of resources, what a grotesque presentation of incompetence. Fundamentalism sucks...

Kath F. , Hans,
Glad to see I have company. Noticed in my pay slip I am taking home €75 less this month due to the increase in the sozialbeiträge.
Stoiber was right, Schöder is NOT going to finish his term. He played the pacifist card (when no one , lied to the electorate (gewählt ist gewählt) and has "keine Ahnung" about basic economics.
BTW, its nice that German soldiers are guarding US bases in D-land, but we all know its just for PR and not security. Hessen and Niedersachsen go to the polls on Sunday, so it should be interesting how much spin will become of the results.
MfG

kath f., mattG: I just wanted to recommend you one of the best books I have read on the topic of war against terror, written by Peter Scholl-Latour: Kampf dem Terror - Kampf dem Islam? - Mr. Scholl-Latour has been an expert on this matter for more than 40 years, an expert in Arab matters. Much more cool and rationale than Fallaci. I have not yet found an English translation, but it is very "fresh".

caton,

well, thats not bad either, LOL.

however, Im still wondering what people here THOUGHT when they voted for Schröder. [Link: www.bundeswahlleiter.de...] shows how people voted, what districts were won by SPD(in September), and which were won. what is strange is that some better off places usually vote conservative (CDU/CSU; FDP), and where everything is down anyways, they keep voting for SPD et al. hope the coming elections now change that trend again.

Im not so convinced that CDU would do everything better, but they at least have a bit more common sense. hope tax policies etc will change the trend now:o).

when following the SOTU what became really obvious once again was that while Europe has no ideals anymore, the US have kept and even strengthened their idealism. ideals can be dangerous(when they are wrong), but they also give people the drive to do something and think its right. thats what europe is missing. (IMO)

plus, in Germany, there is NO such tradition as the SOTU, and I think it should exist! the chancellor here doesnt have to show that he has any sort of concept, plan or goal, and in my opinion, that fact hides the fact that this chancellor most of all has no concept anyways.

as long as it means higher taxes and pleases the unions, its fine with him....

:-/

Here is a map of governments in favour of war (green) and against war (red), looks like we're a bit isolated... THANKS MR SCHRÖDER YOU FOOL! Aargh... Here's what CNN thinks.

hans:)

well, cyinicism isnt always sound, but its the only way to survive here:)

never thought about that pot on head strategy, guess it would make my headache worse.

Schröder definitely wasnt feeling comfortable yesterday, touched his nose a few times and was moving on his chair, right. also the eyes were moving quite uneasily.

Künast is a cretin. no idea who chose her to have that office and not sure about the sanity of voters in her home district either.;)

well, they are trying to make germany into a successful third world country. chase science and progress out, lets embrace ecological agriculture(may I say that i have a horse and know a number of farmers, and standard agriculture is not worse for health in ANY way, except that we probably get less of that poison they feed eco-chicken;))

also find it weird that in a ountry with an important car industry, people even DISCUSS things like ecotax and "Dienstwagensteuer".
(I live in a car-town:)).

buckeye abroad:)

I see a few american bases everyday, sort of. have seen border police and military there quite often, since 911. how important that is, i cant say. you would know better.

hopefully Schröders idiot-club is going to break apart. they have lied in about every way and arent stopping. guess thats why they sort of fell OK with Saddam around;)

I absolutely hope that niedersachsen is going to fall and Gabirel can look for another job. the man is a brilliant polemic but not a sensible politician.(very much like Schröder btw, always digging for a topic that might bring voter support). and Koch, hopefully he will remain where he is, no matter what idiotic statements he has "in petto" at times.

are you living in CDU/CSU-land or not now?

hans,

I have that book:) he slaps german politicians around quite a bit:)

nooo...we re not isolated:) Iraq is with us:)

what i find extraordinarily cute is Schröder being the "peace chancellor" now, while having sent more troops abroad than any chancellor in FRGs history up to now. participation in "Enduring Freedom" would never have happened under CDU/CSU, simply because SPD and Greens would have blocked it.

Before 1990 Germany was the battlefield of the cold war, times change. Now we have to take a part in the world community and have to do something for world peace.

We had/have armed forces in Somalia, ex-Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Israel, Kuwait, Afganistan and at the Cape of Africa. There was only one real war between NATO and Yugoslavia (Kosovo). After the USA we have the most armed forces in foreign countries.

Germany and Japan paid more war cooperation- and result-costs the the USA during the first Iraq war. You see the CDU/CSU wasn't better.

#48:

After the USA we have the most armed forces in foreign countries.

True, and expensive enough (2 bio. € per year), but it does make sense, and it would make even more sense if Schröder wouldn't ruin things now. I am still waiting for my hard-core adversary kalle (kefir forver), who wanted all German forces to retreat, to tell my about replacement.

Germany and Japan paid more war cooperation- and result-costs the the USA during the first Iraq war. You see the CDU/CSU wasn't better

This is a bit short-sighted, I'm afraid. Kohl paid, but at the time, he had no option to send in troops. Germany was still very afraid to send German soldiers in a WAR mission abroad. I supported this sentiment. Kohl paid and thus shared his part. Weren't then Fuchs tanks sen there...? Nevermind. As to the CDU, they have been better at supporting and not destroying the friendship between US and Germany; it was RIGHT in 1991 to go in, and it WILL be right now. Schröder has never really had a grasp of this friendship's importance. Concerning his fundamental NO to war, regardless of what inspectors say, is a dire blow to my intellectual integrity and appears - in euphemistic terms - childish.

Iraq in the map is blue.
Since they are not red (against war), does that mean something? Are they implying Iraq wants to test Bush to his limits?

This is all happening because Chirac has no toy in his sty. He has refused to comply with EU rules and is now paying the price!

#50: LOL, it might represent current feelings of saddam, feeling a bit blue... naah, he'd never admit that... just sends whining ambassadors of his to UN...

>Before 1990 Germany was the battlefield of the cold war, times change. Now we have to take a part in the world community and have to do something for world peace.

right, by closing the eyes when saddam brands his own people, by an "uprising of the upright" for human rights of dictators, and yes, by watching saddam talk of bombing IL and letting him build missiles that without problem can hit not "only" IL badly.

ever read kanan makiya: "republic of fear"?

>We had/have armed forces in Somalia, ex-Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Israel, Kuwait, Afganistan and at the Cape of Africa.

IL is news to me. should noone in IL have taken notice of this?

>There was only one real war between NATO and Yugoslavia (Kosovo). After the USA we have the most armed forces in foreign countries.

not anymore. you might have noticed that british troops are moving. plus, for a peace priomoting person you sure brag about the number of troops abroad:). and sure its a pity that there was no war except the one in Yugoslavia, huh?

out of area would not have happened with SPD/Greens in opposition, Im quite convinced about that!

>Germany and Japan paid more war cooperation- and result-costs the the USA during the first Iraq war.
Germany back then paid about a third of the costs of Gulf War II. which is what Schröder isnt ready to do now, if it comes to military action(when).

to me, a good german government is one that makes a sensible foreign policy not isolating itself in the western world. this is an economy depending on exports, and our main trading partners are not developing states and the poorest of the poorest.

>You see the CDU/CSU wasn't better.

in what respect?

United We Stand
Eight European leaders are as one with President Bush.

Thursday, January 30, 2003 12:01 a.m. EST

(Editor's note: This article is written by Jose María Aznar, Jose-Manuel Durão Barroso, Silvio Berlusconi, Tony Blair, Vaclav Havel, Peter Medgyessy, Leszek Miller and Anders Fogh Rasmussen.)

The real bond between the U.S. and Europe is the values we share: democracy, individual freedom, human rights and the rule of law. These values crossed the Atlantic with those who sailed from Europe to help create the United States of America. Today they are under greater threat than ever.

The attacks of Sept. 11 showed just how far terrorists--the enemies of our common values--are prepared to go to destroy them. Those outrages were an attack on all of us. In standing firm in defense of these principles, the governments and people of the U.S. and Europe have amply demonstrated the strength of their convictions. Today more than ever, the trans-Atlantic bond is a guarantee of our freedom.

We in Europe have a relationship with the U.S. which has stood the test of time. Thanks in large part to American bravery, generosity and farsightedness, Europe was set free from the two forms of tyranny that devastated our continent in the 20th century: Nazism and communism. Thanks, too, to the continued cooperation between Europe and the U.S. we have managed to guarantee peace and freedom on our continent. The trans-Atlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's persistent attempts to threaten world security.

In today's world, more than ever before, it is vital that we preserve that unity and cohesion. We know that success in the day-to-day battle against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction demands unwavering determination and firm international cohesion on the part of all countries for whom freedom is precious.
The Iraqi regime and its weapons of mass destruction represent a clear threat to world security. This danger has been explicitly recognized by the U.N. All of us are bound by Security Council Resolution 1441, which was adopted unanimously. We Europeans have since reiterated our backing for Resolution 1441, our wish to pursue the U.N. route, and our support for the Security Council at the Prague NATO Summit and the Copenhagen European Council.

In doing so, we sent a clear, firm and unequivocal message that we would rid the world of the danger posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. We must remain united in insisting that his regime be disarmed. The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity.

The combination of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism is a threat of incalculable consequences. It is one at which all of us should feel concerned. Resolution 1441 is Saddam Hussein's last chance to disarm using peaceful means. The opportunity to avoid greater confrontation rests with him. Sadly this week the U.N. weapons inspectors have confirmed that his long-established pattern of deception, denial and noncompliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions is continuing.

Europe has no quarrel with the Iraqi people. Indeed, they are the first victims of Iraq's current brutal regime. Our goal is to safeguard world peace and security by ensuring that this regime gives up its weapons of mass destruction. Our governments have a common responsibility to face this threat. Failure to do so would be nothing less than negligent to our own citizens and to the wider world.
The U.N. Charter charges the Security Council with the task of preserving international peace and security. To do so, the Security Council must maintain its credibility by ensuring full compliance with its resolutions. We cannot allow a dictator to systematically violate those resolutions. If they are not complied with, the Security Council will lose its credibility and world peace will suffer as a result. We are confident that the Security Council will face up to its responsibilities.

---

Messrs. Aznar, Durão Barroso, Berlusconi, Blair, Medgyessy, Miller and Fogh Rasmussen are, respectively, the prime ministers of Spain, Portugal, Italy, the U.K., Hungary, Poland and Denmark. Mr. Havel is the Czech president.

[Link: www.opinionjournal.com...]

You will not find this photo on any French daily, instead scroll down to this cartoon:

www.lemonde.fr

Can someone please translate (i was asleep in class that day/week/month)

to me, a good german government is one that makes a sensible foreign policy not isolating itself in the western world. this is an economy depending on exports, and our main trading partners are not developing states and the poorest of the poorest.

If a friend saids: 'jump from a skyscraper' You will do it?

If the german and frensh goverment are thinking, it's wrong to attack Iraq. Why they should do something, which they can't agree at the moment. The weapon inspectors didn't found any WMD, yet. The USA and UK is talking about proofs since months, but where are these proofs.

We will see, if Bush is able to proof that black is white on February 5th.

Exports of Germany:
52% EU (10% France, 9% Netherlands, 7% Italy, 7% UK, 5% Belgium/Luxembourg), 9% USA, 5% Japan

We aren't going to declare war on the USA or any other country, the exports/imports will go on, maybe the investments will go down. The US economy needs the German economy and reverse. Okay, Germany a little bit more.

Hans, Kath f.:

It's interesting to hear a German's own view of German politics. I just wondered how you perceive your own media? Are they presenting differing viewpoints on politics and the world?

We read "Der Spiegel," and I must tell you that their coverage of the US is laughably bad. Most of the articles seem, to me, pieced together from Time/New York Times/Washington Post/network tv. I don't see indications that their correspondent makes any attempt to report, rather than regurgitate.

In short, if you didn't have access to the web, the blogs, and couldn't read english-language sources, how would your opinion about the Iraq situation differ?

#56, pkk - Do you think that Saddam disarmed on his own between 1998 and 2002?

#56

If your government told you to jump off a bridge would you do it? I think so, if you believe their analysis of Iraqi disarmament.

Please read the last findings of UNSCOM and tell me that you believe Saddam Hussein: that all of the weapons programs detailed there (along with Iraq's efforts to hide them) were destroyed in a manner which cannot now be verified by any means. If you, like your government, choose to take Saddam at his word, that is your right. But understand that you, like your government, will lose all credibility amongst the sensible people of the world.

#56 pkk

When I think one of my friends is about to do a mistake, I tell him or her. I don't need to invite everybody we both know to a "press conference" explaining why s/he is stupid. In public, you support your friends or you shut up. In private, you can give 'em hell -- that's a friend's privilege.

OT: Caton--I just read through the rest of the discussion from yesterday. Had I known about what happened to your brother, I would not have made the remark I did about "you could run the childrens' camps". That was out of line, and I apologize.

#32 Alan E. Brain: I'm glad someone else is taking up the call... only I prefer "No Blood For Fudge"! I think it has a better ring to it. So I'll see you at the protest outside the French embassy!

#55 TAS

Something like:

"The support for the US on Iraq divides Europe"

I was confused for a moment because the flag looked like an old union jack, but there are only 12 starts on it, then I realized that the author superimposed the EU flag on the US star field, I suspect symbolizing that a toothy Uncle Sam co-opted the EU from the hands of Germany and France. That's just a guess, as I can understand some of the French language, but I'll be damned if I can understand French people!!!

adam

#56:

The USA and UK is talking about proofs since months, but where are these proofs.

I agree to this, the information should have been made accessible to allied government circles, much strange and bizarre acting on world stage might have been spared. But, you know, the BND has something interesting on their own as well...

52% EU (10% France, 9% Netherlands, 7% Italy, 7% UK, 5% Belgium/Luxembourg), 9% USA, 5% Japan

Naah, do you think the rest of EU states is independent of the US? A simplifying thought in need of revision. 9% go to the US, that's the second-largest trade partner. Many many employees depend on that. It is idiotic as hell to irritate the Americans from this point of view. We depend on our export as nearly no other nation. It might be painful for Schröder to realize that.

#57:

In short, if you didn't have access to the web, the blogs, and couldn't read english-language sources, how would your opinion about the Iraq situation differ?

It would differ in that i woudln't have a grasp of the American position. Reading this here helps me to learn a lot about American strategy, motivations and goals, and much has clarified that was obscure before. I would WISH that some LGFers put some effort into understanding European mentality as well. I do not say sharing, just understanding.

Iraq Spies in US from Canada

Iraq sent spies from Canada to New York and Washington this month to snoop and stir up anti-war demonstrations, according to a government report via Drudge

Suddenly I feel very empathetic toward these poor Ivory-Coastians. Where can I send money?

Donna #16

How can you say the Ivory Coast is of little importance to the USA? We get 40% of our cocoa from there.

Read CHOCOLATE

Around this neighborhood, to deny the 51% of the population of this basic food group or to imply a raise in prices ... Well it just would not be pretty

#57 Jules

If you are intersted, I would recommend "Focus" as the counter to "Spiegel" and "Stern" -- both left wing rags even for EU journalistic standards.

Spiegel

Some people regard it as the bible.

#68: Yes, but they read the Bible like der Spiegel as well. Critical distance is always to be recommended with any media.

France surrenders!

France sent troops in November to halt the rebel advance. But it now finds its citizens and soldiers under attack from supporters of the regime that it has, until now, been propping up. Yesterday's edition of the investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchainé quoted a French security official who complained that President Chirac had tried to impose a settlement "like in the days of papa De Gaulle".

Because Spiegel says it, it must be so.

But they don't read anything else-

#14   Ariel   "Freebourne, Secularia #11,I've had that same experience with my Euro friends. I asked them whether they thought France was being "unilateral" in Cote D'Ivoire and why no one objected to it. They said it was different there, but couldn't explain how it was different. "

One person to whom I sent the photo said something like, "Well, I'm sure that not all the Ivorians feel that way." He does not seem to get that the point is" "you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. "

I pointed out that France "interferes" plenty for its own interest and that both Germany and France and many other nations have been caught with their hands in the sales cookie jar to "off-limits" nations. Every nation bases its policies on its own interests.

The world want the free West to "interfere" on their whims. Then they get "pissed" and riot and murder if things don't go their way. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't.

I say, let them implode if they don't want to adopt democracy and free market systems. Leave them to their own devices but, WATCH THEM carefully so they don't come to our side of the fence and cause mischief.

You cannot force democracy on anyone. Democracy is difficult. It requires that people make intelligent, informed choices. Some peoples are not up for choices. They would rather be told what to do. It is easier.

#25   adam   "WOW!!!! I almost wept tears of happiness, reading this...

EIGHT EURO LEADERS CALL FOR UNITY WITH US OVER IRAQ...

[Link: www.timesonli......]

Even the Danes signed it! Fancy that. "

The trouble is that all of these countries are in dire straits financially. Some, like Poland, don't have a pot to piss in! They will all want something from the US for their "support."

#30   Let's stay home  "Sounds like us Americans did everything right in history (like selling weapons to all kinds of regimes and terrorists). We're the oil junkies and our Pres is the dealer who needs to get more! By the way, if our gov has proof, why do they lead a propaganda campaign for war in Iraq?! "

Reality check! The whole world runs on oiiil! If the producers (particularly the Arab producers) don't sell it they will starve, and if the REST of the world (such as oil gobbling Europe) don't purchase—LIFE AS WE KNOW IT WILL STOP—just like the radical Islamists want it to.

So, what kind of a car do you drive? How many plastics are in your home? (Did you know that plastic is a petroleum product?)

I don't know about you, but I am not up for living in the 6th century with a donkey for transportation instead of a car. And me and my (plastic) computer are practically one.

We need to invest into alternative energies regardless, because the oiiiil will run out. Until that day, it is all about oil.

#33   mallory All these countries claim to want "democracy." But, when things don't go their way (like in Venezuela) they want to overturn the government. These folks are not ready for democracy, not in our life times.

#39   kath f.  "every nation has the leaders it deserves, the saying goes. but Im honestly not sure what i did to deserve this, LOL. . . "

There's that "free speech" martyr opportunity again, kath. ;-)

Kath & Hans, et al. have you ever see the "Politanz" web site? An animated website where you can make all the German political players "dance." I'll try to dig out the link. It is a scream.

#42   Buckeye Abroad  ". . . BTW, its nice that German soldiers are guarding US bases in D-land, but we all know its just for PR and not security."

Perhaps not. However, it would be very nice if Europe would spend some €€€ on their own defense machine instead of letting the US taxpayer foot the bill. Perhaps then we in the US could afford to insure those 40 million who don't have insurance and get prescription drugs and better education and fix our infractructure, etc.

#46   kath f.   "hans:)

well, cyinicism isnt always sound, but its the only way to survive here:)"

I am always astounded by the Alles ist Käse attitude of the Germans. Very different from American "can do" attitude. Those sorts of cultural attitudes are difficult to change.

". . .also find it weird that in a ountry with an important car industry, people even DISCUSS things like ecotax and "Dienstwagensteuer".
(I live in a car-town:)). . . "

Perhaps they will use the monies collected for research of alternative fuels? ;-)

#48   pkk ". . . Germany and Japan paid more war cooperation- and result-costs the the USA during the first Iraq war. You see the CDU/CSU wasn't better. . . "

BFD! Now let them pay for their own defense machine instead of depending on the US while criticizing it.

#49   hans ze beeman  ". . . Schröder has never really had a grasp of this friendship's importance. . . "

Schröder is more interested in his "friendship" with the ladies. ;-)

#55   TAS 
"By this declaration, the signatories implicitly repudiate Paris and Berlin."

#56   pkk "We aren't going to declare war on the USA or any other country, the exports/imports will go on, maybe the investments will go down. The US economy needs the German economy and reverse. Okay, Germany a little bit more. "

Ah, since Europe has no war machine to speak of war declaration on anyone would be tough. The European economies, particularly that of Germany, are proof enough of policies that are misguided. Germans are leaving to find jobs in other EU countries. And if things get worse economically on either side of the water all those expensive German luxury goods will go un-purchased.

France first went in Ivory coast to protect foreigners, among them tens of thousands of french, from an oncoming civil war. (a href="[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]
So did the US ([Link: news.bbc.co.uk...] and the UK. And the US were quite happy with it ([Link: www.state.gov...]
french forces are in Ivory Coast as a peacekeeping force, with full aprobation of Laurent Gbagbo's Government.
the US gvt. ([Link: news.bbc.co.uk...] and the UN were quite happy with it also.
This involvment may well turn into a complete faillure, and may be discussed in many ways, but it's not akin to the Iraqi question.
It's a case of 'damned if you do and damned if you don't'. Nobody wants a new Rwanda ([Link: news.bbc.co.uk...] , [Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]

#57   Jules ". . .  I just wondered how you perceive your own media? Are they presenting differing viewpoints on politics and the world?. . ."

The media is just as "biased" as ours. This shocking (but not surprising) story, for example, has not yet been covered as far as I can tell:

Prelude to 9/11: A Hijacker's Love, Lies

Aysel Senguen saw her fiance fall into
radical Islam. She knew something was
wrong but had no idea what lay ahead.

“. . .The evidence presents a new view of the Hamburg cell. So public were the beliefs of the hijackers and their associates that the often stated notion that they were a cell of secret "sleeper agents" of the Al Qaeda terrorist network seems almost opposite the truth.

The group was far larger than previously described, including at least several dozen men. Almost everyone who had significant contact with them knew that the men professed a personal commitment to holy war and spent years trying to determine how best to wage it. Casual acquaintances were sometimes frightened by the group's beliefs. A member of the congregation at the Al Quds mosque in Hamburg brought his father to a worship service, and the older man was so unnerved by what was a routine day at the mosque that he warned his son never to return. Others fled town to avoid the group.

Members of the group hectored acquaintances to join the cause, at one point physically beating one man because they declared him insufficiently devout. They pressured other men to grow beards, to dress in a prescribed manner and to make their wives convert to Islam.

Intelligence officials from the United States and Germany were well aware of the radical nature of the group. A CIA agent was so agitated about the group's activities that German authorities at one point told him that they would throw him out of the country if he continued to make a nuisance of himself by demanding the Germans do something. . . [Link: www.latimes.com...]

*****

". . .I don't see indications that their correspondent makes any attempt to report, rather than regurgitate.

In short, if you didn't have access to the web, the blogs, and couldn't read english-language sources, how would your opinion about the Iraq situation differ? . . "

How is this different than what US reporters do? Unlike the Americans, most Europeans, particularly Germans speak English.

#60   Caton  ". . . In public, you support your friends or you shut up. In private, you can give 'em hell -- that's a friend's privilege. . . "

That is the problem with Bush. He has not stuck to this rule. His "cowboy" posturing has turned the rest of the world off. It was not what he said, but rather how he said it that is the problem. "Plain speakin' " must be done in private or saved for the blogosphere. ;-)

The chocolate issue is a big one. Can't live without that—Hershey's excepted. ;-)

adam #23: it is hilarious, but when I try the same search myself, I get 57,100 hits. What gives?

#75 i think it's supposed to be a joke

BOT -

any way to email a newspaper in the Ivory Coast and let the folks know they are being seen in the outside world?

They probably feel pretty betrayed with the suggestion that the police/army be turned over to the rebel forces.

#73,

Philippe, nobody wants another Rwanda, but let us remember what happened when France acted 'unilaterally' in Rwanda, backing the Hutus...

It is fair to criticize the international community -- the US in particular -- for failing to stop the slaughter.

But France deserves special anti-kudos for supporting the Hutus in their efforts. Sorry to gripe, just read this book.

Just to add-on to my comments (#78) above:

The status quo blows, another reason for the world to stand up to people like Hussein.

The consequences of 'stability' are far worse than inaction.

#50 (AB)

I'm not sure how much I can trust my local radio station (because I don't know where they get their news feed from), but they reported this morning that Goddamn Insane wants us to go to war with them, because he feels taht they have the means to defeat us.

Given the size of their army, and assuming that he's not blowing smoke out his @$$, that tells me he's got something planned. Working nukes are one possibility (and if I find that link that tells the story of a previous inspector who feels they have nukes, I'll post it), or terrorist attacks, or something.

Again, note that I do NOT discount the possibility that he's merely flexing and trying to scare the US.

#74
#60 Caton ". . . In public, you support your friends or you shut up. In private, you can give 'em hell -- that's a friend's privilege. . . "

That is the problem with Bush. He has not stuck to this rule. His "cowboy" posturing has turned the rest of the world off. It was not what he said, but rather how he said it that is the problem. "Plain speakin' " must be done in private or saved for the blogosphere. ;-)

You see it as a problem, while most americans find it refreshing to see a politician say exactly what he means. Yes, the rest of the world is turned off NOT because of his "cowboy" posturing, but because it's pretty tough to put their own "spin" against something that is explained in the "Plain Speakin" believable manner that Bush does. So rather than attack the message (which they've failed miserably at), they resort to the standby tactic of attacking the messenger.

They say it's like a poker game, and that Bush has good cards, but we don't know if Iraq is bluffing on theirs.

It seems the majority belief is that US is so aggressive and that it will be an unfair war too because US will win and is attacking someone "without weapons". Only Saddam says he's 100% sure he will win.

On CBC (pro-Pali Canadian Gov. owned TV/Radio network) they interviewed some official. She said something along the lines of this, "Bush wants to go start a war on children. Iraq is 60% (or something) under the age of 18, and that means Iraq is all children.. and Bush is gonna declare war on children, it's outragous to go to war with children.. how can the US go to war and kill children. They wanna murder children!!!!!"

Since we know what side the CBC is on, I can see what Iraq has planed. Sympathy for the human sheilds. Same as Arafish does.

If Saddam means what he says by consequences, I don't think he means bombing US Troops. I think he will destroy oil pipes/fields (like last time) or use biological weapons. Who knows? We'll wait and see.

THESE GUYS HAVE FUN!!

#72 Freebourn
Totally agree with the EU flipping ther own defense bill, but who wants to see a military strong Germany in their parents lifetime???
Regarding those poor US 40m who do not have insurance... I do not recall anyone this year in the US dying in the ER because they did not have Blue Cross!?! The socialized medicine in Germany is a fucking joke. My insurer, TKK, did an investagation of the last 3 months of 2002 (Germany) to find 68 doctors charging the national health service for expenses of patients long dead. Socialized medicen is the biggest scam in the EU.
Better education in the US will happen once the NEA is out of schooling and parents can choose where the kids can get a better education (Vouchers).
I would like to see your comparisons between the US vs EU regarding infrastructure, because I am sure your model is flawed regarding cost, convenience and reality.

#81   Jim  ". . . You see it as a problem, while most americans find it refreshing to see a politician say exactly what he means. Yes, the rest of the world is turned off NOT because of his "cowboy" posturing, but because it's pretty tough to put their own "spin" against something that is explained in the "Plain Speakin" believable manner that Bush does. So rather than attack the message (which they've failed miserably at), they resort to the standby tactic of attacking the messenger. . . "

Nope! I don't see it as a 'problem,' at all. I do, however, see it as a liability. And just to remind you. MOST Americans do not agree. ALL polls show that over 80% of Americans would support a war only—IF 1) There is PROOF 2) We work under the auspices of the UN.

But, just to be clear. I do not find it "charming" that we have a president who cannot orate his way out of a paper-bag. Mispronouncing "impordent" words such as "nukewler" is pretty pathetic for a so-called Yale man. OTOH—I would hate to think what the likes of Gore would do with this crisis. Better to have a man who thinks he is John Wayne than Woody Allen during this movie. ;-)

#82   AB ". . . "Bush wants to go start a war on children. Iraq is 60% (or something) under the age of 18, and that means Iraq is all children.. and Bush is gonna declare war on children, it's outragous to go to war with children.. how can the US go to war and kill children. They wanna murder children!!!!!"

Well, it just goes to show you that under the most dire of circumstances humanity can still reproduce like—well—rabbits. Just as Oriana has said. (That is in the strictly scientific sense, given that rats have entirely too many in a litter and rabbits produce about the equivalent amount.)

Amazing isn't it? That even with all of the hardships of sanctions and deliberate deprivations caused by Saddamn, the Muslims still breed. Most sensible people would say, "This is not the kind of environment into which I would want to bring innocent children."

Perhaps severe deprivation gives one that sort of mentality. You want to "leave something behind"? Anything—even a poor, miserable child.

OTOH—perhaps one of the few pleasure left is sex—of which the consequense is children.

On [Link: www.headheeb.blogspot.com...] last night there was a couple of stories about the civil war in Ivory Coast and the French Intervention. On one of the threads, I came up with the slogan "No Blood for Coca". I see now on the LGF thread concerning Bush Jr.'s SOTU address, Occasional Reader in #154 had "No Blood for Fudge!", definitely a better slogan!
Seriously though I would recoment everybody who is interested in the Ivory Coast situation to log on to the Head Heeb. He has a number of stories about the Ivory Coast which go into more detail and yes, give context to what is going on there. To pardon the phase, the struggle is not as Black and White as a lot of people seem to think. Head Heeb has a lot of other interesting subjects as well. I think folks would find it very informative and thought provoking.
To save time posting on the SOTU thread, I thought it was a good speech, veryforceful on Irag, good mention of the struggle against the Mullahs in Iran, two rather unexpected proporsals about fightning AIDS in Africa and investing in research for a hydrogen car. (The sound you heard after that was the Oil Sheiks pi--ing in their pants!) The AIDS initiative is really helpful.
Zulubaby, I too was moved by Bush' proposal including the amount of money Bush wants to spend in the fight against AIDS in Africa. God knows it is needed.

Freebourne, you seem so angry and bitter. It can't be just because some people here wrote things you disagree with, can it? I hope things pick up for you.

[Link: www.littlegreenfootballs.com...]

You are a really weird spammer, dude. Get a life! ;-)

To Freebourne, Secularia

Matt G appears to have your number -- and your troll like comments need to be remarked upon:

As to our President, George Bush, right-thinking minds judge him by the content and meaning of his words, not by a school marm's pronunciation criticism.

Your truly weird digression on sex points to some mental disturbance on your part. An Iraqi couple have the same right as anyone else in the world to have children, and suffering is relative. In the case of Iraq the issue of suffering children is self-reported by a government seeking to evade sanctions by any avenue possible. If the reports of child mortality are as reliable as the reports they have made on their weapons, we don't have the truth.

As to the "Muslims breeding" comment -- there is no need to dehumanize the Iraqi people -- you sound a bit racist. When the war comes, we will use smart munitions to save as many of the Iraqi common man (and child) as we can. Our quarrel has never been with the people of Iraq. Our sights are set on their malevolent dictator, and he is as good as buried.

Iraq may yet become the model of Arabic and Islamic democracy that has yet to exist.

Caton (#60)

In public, you support your friends or you shut up. In private, you can give 'em hell -- that's a friend's privilege.

I love that you said that and agree with you completely.

But, just to be clear. I do not find it "charming" that we have a president who cannot orate his way out of a paper-bag. Mispronouncing "impordent" words such as "nukewler" is pretty pathetic for a so-called Yale man.

Bill Clinton was a magnificent orator, articulate, polished, and a bullshit artist extraordinaire. I would take Bush over Clinton anyday. The whole world is telling Bush that he's wrong, he should do this, not that, he should pay attention to the farce that is the UN, but he hangs tough. It's nice to have a man in charge. He knows what "is" is, he may have a funny accent sometimes but who cares? Is that what's important? He's smart, just not in the way that snobbish "intellectuals" would like.

#78 toby
But France deserves special anti-kudos for supporting the Hutus in their efforts
Precisely.
I think the idea was to put forces on the ground to prevent another slaugther.

#91

He's smart, just not in the way that snobbish "intellectuals" would like.

Archilochus on the difference between the "intellectual" and Bush:

"The Fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."

-Vic

Wow. At first I thougth the picture was a photoshop job.

Preseident Clinton got top marks for IQ, but failed miserably on good judgement.

What is wrong with Nelson Mandela?

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Heavily armed French forces in armored vehicles and helicopters took control of Ivory Coast's international airport Friday, after thousands of rock-throwing demonstrators attacked fleeing French citizens.

[Link: www.foxnews.com...]