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September 27, 2007
Nicholas Sarkozy’s Positive American Bent
Not exactly “the wave” but moving in that direction.
by Tina Grazier
Speaking on the floor of the U.N. General Assembly Nicholas Sarkozy said the following:
"Weakness and renunciation do not lead to peace. They lead to war."
This is what Goerge Bush has said all along. People keep talking about the failure and incompetence of George Bush. Talking heads in the MSM seem to revel in reporting the dire news that America has lost prestige on the world stage and all because of the bungling George Bush…but is this really true? Comments and shifting policies from leaders in other countries, like the words of Sarkozy, would suggest something different. America may be considered too big for her britches, too rich, or too unsophisticated, but she certainly isn’t hated. When world events get scarey, she may even be considered “quite the good friend after all," and George Bush has been as constant as a heartbeat in that reality.
Charles Krauthammer has written an excellent piece, “Sarkozy’s Seismic Shift Has Given New Life to Bush’s Mideast Policy.” It’s posted at Investors Business Daily and speaks to this broader view of America, GWB, and the war. His piece focuses mainly on Sarkozy:
On the largest possible stage — the U.N. General Assembly — President Nicolas Sarkozy put Iran on notice. *** His predecessor, Jacques Chirac, had said that France could live with an Iranian nuclear bomb. Sarkozy said that France cannot. He declared Iran's nuclear ambitions "an unacceptable risk to stability in the region and in the world." *** Sarkozy is no American lap dog. Like every Fifth Republic president, he begins with the notion of French exceptionalism. But whereas traditional Gaullism tended to define French grandeur as establishing a counterweight to American power, Sarkozy is not adverse to seeing French assertiveness exercised in conjunction with the United States.
My own opinion is that George Bush has always treated leaders of other nations, even those of our enemies, with respect. He has shown appreciation and gratitude for efforts, both great and small, that allies have made. He has been a good leader who represents our nation in the world with dignity and grace. His policies have not always fared well but he has worked hard to overcome mistakes and move forward without making excuses or placing blame elsewhere. His new policy in Iraq, the surge, is working and may very well lead to greater cooperation around the world. The election of Sarkozy by the French people may be a strong indication that the demeanor and constancy of George Bush have been appropriate for the times and have worked.
Further evidence of this can be found in positions that Brown, the new left-leaning PM of Great Britian, has taken in support of Bush policies on the war and in the continuing support of our allies. The newest evidence arrives in the form of sudden shifts in rhetoric from certain presidential candidates and congressmen.
The world may indeed be awakening to the possibility that we can win in the Middle East. They may be waking to the need for a united front in the war on terrorism. They are certainly becoming aware of the long war that radical Islamic forces represent. If our policy of removing dictators and replacing them with free democratic states can succeed, the greater threat to the world will eventually come to an end and the possibility for stability and lasting peace will have a chance to flourish in the region.
America is not perfect but she is and has been a good friend to the world. We are not great in the sense of being “greater than” but instead we offer our power to help secure freedom and wish only the best for all people of all nations. The new Foreign Minister of France, Bernard Kouchner, has said:
"permanent anti-Americanism" is "a tradition we (in France) are working to overcome."
Lets hope for all our sakes this sentiment represents a growing trend.
Find Mr. Krauthammer’s article here:
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=275777554834170
Posted by Post Scripts at September 27, 2007 10:22 PM