In his latest faux pas Obama managed to pi$$ off France…
President Obama wrote Jacques Chirac saying he was looking forward to working with the former French president in the coming four years(?)
Monsters and Critics reported:
US President Barack Obama has indirectly praised former French president Jacques Chirac’s fierce opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, the online edition of the daily Le Figaro reported on Thursday.
In a letter described by Chirac as ‘very nice,’ Obama wrote, ‘I am certain that we will be able to work together, in the coming four years, in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world.’
The use of the word ‘peace’ was taken to be an indirect reference to Chirac’s stance against the US intervention in Iraq, which Obama had also opposed as senator.
No Pasaran has more on the bizarre letter to Chirac.
French newspaper Le Figaro is horrified at the faux pas. And, current French President Sarkozy was appparently upset with the letter.
Europumas and Free Republic has the latest:
Now Obama has insulted French President Sarkozy!
Oh no! Obama sent a letter to Chirac, saying he looks forward to working with him the next four years. Le Figaro, French newspaper is horrified at the faux pas. Doesn’t Obama ever consult his staff before acting? Sarkozy is the President there! It’s like Sarko writing to George Bush and saying he looks forward to working with him. Chirac is the FORMER president.
Volokh Conspiracy notes a possible reason for writing Chirac- his foundation on dialogue.
Figures.
UPDATE: The Christian Science Monitor reports that Obama was replying to a message from anti-American peacenik Chirac.
UPDATE 2: Fausta offers a few facts on the controversy:
** Obama’s letter was sent on March 20, the anniversary of the Iraq war.
** The US still has troops in Iraq defending that country, and those troops are not only fighting but actively engaged in building a civil society.
** Each and any action by the Obama administration will be closely examined. Publicly approaching a private foundation with language that can be interpreted as being against the US presence in Iraq actively undermines that effort.
