France's Sarkozy parts with American RW on global warming and Iraq [View All]

[ProSense]

From Council on Foreign Relations:

… Sarkozy included a word of support for the United States as well as a challenge on global warming (Deutsche Welle): “(A) great nation like the United States has the duty to not obstruct the fight against global warming, but on the contrary to head this struggle.”

<…>

…As the campaign progressed, however, Sarkozy carefully distanced himself from Washington, insisting he would never be subordinate and reasserting his opposition to the Iraq war (Weekly Standard)…

Full comment from Deutsche Welle article:

And to the US he had a message on global warming, saying, "France will always be by (the US's) side when they need her. But ... a great nation like the United States has the duty to not obstruct the fight against global warming, but on the contrary to head this struggle. Because what is at stake is the future of all humanity."

From Weekly Standard article:

But that was then, now Sarkozy is singing to a different tune. On February 28, in his most important foreign policy speech to date, Sarkozy barely strayed from the Chirac line. He started by praising Chirac for his leadership on matters of foreign policy, including his "lucidity" in keeping France from entering the war in Iraq, which he called a "historic mistake." When a journalist asked him about his Atlantist reputation, Sarkozy challenged her to "find one text or broadcast where he supported George Bush's actions in Iraq." Speaking about relations with the United States, Sarkozy stated in a very Chirac-like style that France would not be submissive, and he asked his "American friends to let us be free, free to be their friends." Interestingly, Sarkozy who is often criticized for being too supportive of Israel in a country with a pro-Arab policy tradition, explained that the Israeli response to Hezbollah last year had been "disproportionate"--the same word Chirac had uttered back in July 2006.