French Prime Minister agrees with Democrats on troop withdrawal from Iraq

[europegirl4jfk]

France's Villepin calls for 2008 Iraq troop exit

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Friday urged the United States and other foreign nations to withdraw from Iraq in 2008 and said the war had "shattered" America's image abroad.

The Iraqi conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Iraqis and some 3,200 U.S. troops in the past four years, is sapping the power of the United States to peacefully influence other players in the troubled Middle East, he said.

....

He said that one key to stabilizing Iraq would be convincing Iraqis that they control their future.

"We must be clear on a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops. I believe that it should take place within a year, during the year 2008," said Villepin. "This will allow Iraqis to feel that their future is in their hands and put them back on the path of national sovereignty."

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070316/wl_nm/usa_france_villepin_dc

That sounds very much like Kerry, doesn't it? And he is from the right-wing party here in France. BTW, I could have lived with him as president if he had been the UMP candidate instead of Sarkozy because I see him as a more moderate guy. It doesn't look that good for the French presidential election. Royal has lost some ground and there is another guy (which I actually like) from the moderate UDF party who comes close as well. The latest polls - and the election is in a month:

- Nicolas Sarkozy: 29,5 %
- Ségolène Royal: 24 %
- Francois Bayrou: 22 %

[JI7]

1. why is Sarkozy ahead ?

does it have to do with the issues involving minorities ?

[europegirl4jfk]

2. It certainly has to do with these issues

He wants to create a Ministry of Immigration and National Identity and crack down on immigrants. As Interior Minister he already fought for selective immigration and toughened the conditions for entering France.

French people like this tough talk after these riots that last year rocked the French suburbs. What they don't see is that Sarkozy has a lot of similarities with Bush. This is from Wikipedia: "Sarkozy's ambitions face strong left-wing opposition. He has been portrayed as a political showman “cozy with big business”. The left has also stated that Sarkozy has given tax breaks to the wealthy and to corporations, and that he preys upon the security fears of citizens and uses the police forces for publicity purposes."

Sounds familiar. There is an interesting and provocative French book about Sarkozy where he is called "an American neo-conservative with a French passport". His role model: George W. Bush. :puke: