French minister in first Iraq visit since war

[Up2Late]

Source: Reuters

French minister in first Iraq visit since war

Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:14pm ET137

By Paul Tait

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived in Baghdad on Sunday on the first visit by a top French official to Iraq since the beginning of the U.S.-led war in 2003 which France vigorously opposed.

Kouchner's arrival in Baghdad coincided with President Nicolas Sarkozy's return from a holiday in the United States which was seen as an effort to improve relations with U.S. President George W. Bush after a bitter fallout over the war.

Kouchner, invited to Baghdad by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, told a news conference he was on a listening visit and had not come to present any diplomatic initiative.

"I want to listen to the people ... We have to understand this country, we have to understand what's going on between the Shi'ites and the Sunnis, not only in Iraq," he said.

Read more: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=top...

---

"...on a listening visit...?" Why that's just crazy! Listening to "the people."

Btw, my Dad is a French Immigrant/Holocaust Refugee, so yes, I'm kidding.

[maxsolomon]

1. in w. europe, only the french have legitimacy

they never bought a sou of bush's merde.

[demoleft]

2. Kouchner expresses "solidarity". Odd enough.

"In 2003, Mr Kouchner was a rare French voice in refusing to condemn the US-led invasion." (BBC)

That makes the pair with:

"Mr Sarkozy - who recently had informal talks with US President George Bush - has already said that the US could count on his friendship." (BBC)
BBC report, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6953928.stm

The same Kouchner rejected by MSF and the Socialist Party. The same man who dreamt an ambitious role for himself and was finally given one by Sarkozy.
The fact that it's he that expresses "solidarity" to the Iraqi people is astonishing and paradoxical.

I'm ashamed he's representing Europe in representing France on this occasion. He's not my Europe. Not even the France I dreamt of.
He's the worse of both and of Bush's USA.

[Up2Late]

3. What do you think about what the Italian Government is or is not doing regarding Iraq?

Probably the last news report we got here in the U.S.A. from our "news" media was Italy withdrawing from the whole mess, anything new happening within Italy regarding Iraq?

[demoleft]

4. The truth of it? We're looking elsewhere...

"International Peace Conference...the key point is the Israel/Palestine question...A new strategy for the M.E..."

This is what we hear. But no consequent huge, massive political diplomatic initiative is to be seen.
Europe is paralyzed, Italy even more.

Our Centre-Left government is always on the line of the failure. The first stop was on Afghanistan. It was almost crisis.
I'm so sorry to say we're a failure.
The match is in your hand, USA citizens. And in the good head of a good Dem President.

Europe and Italy can't make it. We don't have the strength. And with Sarko mildly supporting Bush we're again divided.

[Up2Late]

5. kick n/t