You could historically count me as one of the top France-bashers around. During the administrations of Francois Mitterand and Jacques Chirac, I was completely disillusioned with the cowardly, antagonistic nation that seemed bent on making itself completely irrelevant in the international community. Under these two jokers, France’s prime directive was to assault US interests and policies at every turn. They were not even Euro-centric. These doofs were unabashed Francophiles who could care less about matters beyond their own borders.
Then came Nicolas Sarkozy.
He is a wet dream for Americans compared to his repugnant predecessors. He made it clear during his campaign for the presidency that he was focused on improving ties with America. He reflected on his time spent in the US and his admiration of the American resolve. Upon his election, he began to translate all of that into reality. He promptly took his first vacation in the US and took time to meet with GW in Kennebunkport.
Think that has made him a lot of friends in Europe? Oh, hell no. While the honeymoon with voters in France has been relatively quaint, his perception among the socialist intelligentsia across the European continent has been rocky. I guess that would explain this article from London’s Financial Times. I read this article as a veiled indictment of Sarkozy for his attempts to nurture a relationship with the US. At the very least, it gives voice to the frustration felt amongst European leaders.
Since becoming France’s president in May, Mr Sarkozy has been making some of his most startling statements in the realm of foreign policy and appears to have ripped up the rhetorical handbook handed down by previous French presidents. In particular, he has appalled the clerics of France’s cult of anti-Americanism by lavishing praise on the US.
During the presidential election campaign, Mr Sarkozy was taunted by one of his Socialist opponents as “an American neocon with a French passport”. This particular critic was subsequently co-opted by Mr Sarkozy and now sits in his cabinet. But judging by Mr Sarkozy’s recent hardline speeches on Iran, the original comment does not appear too far wide of the mark. Mr Sarkozy was the first leader to talk openly of the possibility of war with Iran and is now pressing for tougher sanctions.
Mr Sarkozy appears to have an instinctive admiration for the dynamism and mobility of US society. As the son of a Hungarian immigrant who has risen to the highest office in the land, Mr Sarkozy has been living the American dream in France. But Mr Sarkozy’s rapprochement with Washington probably also springs from hard-headed calculation: the need to count in Washington if he is to matter in the rest of the world. As one European diplomat says: “Sarkozy is someone who wants to make things happen. He is a doer, a deal-maker and a pragmatist. But that means he has to get on with the big boys rather than messing around with a lot of grand – and ultimately meaningless – rhetoric.”
The subtle commentary underlying this article is that Sarkozy is a self-absorbed politician who has befriended America in order to further his own interests.
As Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a European parliamentarian, recently told French radio: “The Sarkozy style is very French, very king of France, emperor of France. It is I who does everything, it is I who thinks everything, who is everything. It is me, me, me at the European level and that irritates people because it’s not true.”
I suppose President Sarkozy’s choice to engage the US as a friend brings with it serious risk. The European elite will continue to paint this as basically American ass-kissing. I view it as a good first step at repairing the damage done by successive French administrations who were more interested in themselves than developing meaningful relationships. The previous French regimes were dedicated to furthering their own narcissistic agendas rather than making a true difference in the international community.
Nicolas Sarkozy will not always see eye-to-eye with the US. There will be significant points of disagreement. But at least we have, in Sarkozy, a partner we can deal with in a positive way. Europe can moan and wail as loudly as it wants, but as long as Sarkozy is in office, you can bet that France will be a more meaningful player on the world stage.
steveflesher
Philip
Mel Maguire
Mark Ciavola
Comments
Certainly, The French goal must be as you say, “you can bet that France will be a more
meaningful player on the world stage”. The frustration of those who would assert the French thumb-print has been expressed.
Yet, as we indulge in this change, not to mention the positive expressions Sarkozy has for the United States, we have to remember that he has a lot of contests to win within his borders. Winning an election is only one part of a campaign, securing the continual assent takes the same finesse and ever increasing effort.
As you mentioned, Philip, the alienating aftertaste of Chirac’s narcissism must be dealt with as well. Here is a case where one of his greatest struggles will be witnessed. The civil servants who have molted through the system, especially one in socialist mode , can break his political legs. (Peculiar, I know, but I can’t reckon with the idea of Daniel Cohn-Bendit, “Red Danny”, as having ever growing up. Must be my age. Trade-unionists and pensioners might have to adjust their standing as well. He will have to address, not just the unemployment issue, but the subsidies (or largesse) to maintain a very sensitive balance between law and order, (or peace and quiet for that matter as practiced previously).
In much of the above are the symptoms of the colonial hangover; witnessed in the numbers of (shall I say) people of non-Gallic ethnicity. Within that segment of the population is the nucleus or greater threats. The recent regimes have appeased this block, but left them as counter-colonials in possession of France. (Now, I realize they were, and still are, just as resolved to keep it that way – as long as the subsidies flow.)
I made mention to the French military in my “White Sale” on my own blog. But that element, too, will be more responsive to a strong leader for no other reasons than they have been treated as service providers leased out to the UN or countries who are skeptical about dialing UN-911 (as in the Saudi mosque case). What soldier wants his flag seconded to an image of arbitrary value? Perhaps living within the strength of an alliance, one force may defer in an operational command choice, but that’s not been the case.
Yes, I agree with you, that it’s tummy-rubb’n-good to realize, for the moment, yes, even for the moment, the restored friendship of a French leader. But let’s recall that “Realpolitik” is a delicate art.
Sarkozy definitely has a balancing act ahead of him – not only in his own nation, but in Europe as well. Yet when he, rightfully, labeled young rioters (mainly Muslim) as “thugs” during their outburst in 2005 – I fell in love. This is a man who calls it as he sees it. He is not a slave to the European/leftist way of thinking. He is a man of thought and conviction.
I feel certain that Sarkozy will do more to strengthen the US-France connection than any French leader has done post-WWII.
I quite agree with you, Philip. He may make up for the absence of Tony Blair, George Bush, Ronald Regan and Maggie Thatcher. What an irony that would be. To partly paraphrase ‘Ole Rummy’, we might yet witness a re-newal of old Europe. A renaissance is what’s called for. Maybe it will reach to Spain.
A restaging of Chaisson d’Roland (sic).
But, it is a good feeling, I agree.
I was in Spain in 2006, and the people really do not give a crap about terrorism.
Their sad attempt of appeasement is like the Netherlands during WWII.
“We will let Hitler in as long as he doesn’t hurt us, but we will stay neutral. They will be occupiers, but they won’t hurt us.”
It is sad, considering the strategic location of Spain – they could easily route the terrorists.
Great observation, Devil Dog.
I made mention of Spain for the very reason that opponents of the West could easily tamper with their heritage. That’s currently going on in Central and South America with conversions. (It’s almost a replay of “Roots”, and look at the nostalgia for mythic leaders and once tribal VIP’s that that produced. Think Kwaanza – nice and all, but…? Of course the snatch and sell was done by Moslems won’t enter anyone’s mind until a newly fashioned Heaven-quest is founded.)
A great deal of the combat we’re facing is going to rely on mental and emotional factors; winning and – maintining – the hearts and minds through psychlogical warfare.
Spain has never really ended its ties with North Africa any more than the Ballkans have. (Implied pincer movement? – Yup.)
“The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Wilson Reagan