[speechlesstx]

Seems Obama didn't impress all of Europe...

Sarkozy views Obama stance on Iran as 'utterly immature'

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very critical of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's positions on Iran, according to reports that have reached Israel's government.

Sarkozy has made his criticisms only in closed forums in France. But according to a senior Israeli government source, the reports reaching Israel indicate that Sarkozy views the Democratic candidate's stance on Iran as "utterly immature" and comprised of "formulations empty of all content."

Obama visited Paris in July, and the Iranian issue was at the heart of his meeting with Sarkozy. At a joint press conference afterward, Obama urged Iran to accept the West's proposal on its nuclear program, saying that Iran was creating a serious situation that endangered both Israel and the West.

According to the reports reaching Israel, Sarkozy told Obama at that meeting that if the new American president elected in November changed his country's policy toward Iran, that would be "very problematic."

Until now, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have tried to maintain a united front on Iran. But according to the senior Israeli source, Sarkozy fears that Obama might "arrogantly" ignore the other members of this front and open a direct dialogue with Iran without preconditions.

Following their July meeting, Sarkozy repeatedly expressed disappointment with Obama's positions on Iran, concluding that they were "not crystallized, and therefore many issues remain open," the Israeli source said. Advisors to the French president who held separate meetings with Obama's advisors came away with similar impressions and expressed similar disappointment.

I knew I liked that Sarkozy fellow...

[450donn]

Isn't he just a charismatic empty suit. I equate him to Jim Jones, David Coresh and the bagwahn reniese. Pulling lots of unsuspecting souls in to worship at his feet.

[Choux]

You haters never quit, do you?

[ZoeMarie]

You haters never quit, do you?

Apparently not. This is getting old.

[Choux]

Very old, and full of distortions and propaganda.

America has been SPREADING THE WEALTH since the advent of the INcome Tax which was in what, 1910 or so?

These guys forget that we are going to live in the future, not in the past.

[speechlesstx]

What's getting old is leftists who refuse to open their minds and have nothing to add but insults. But hey, I've known all along that's the kind of tolerance and diversity you endorse so it's no surprise.

[speechlesstx]

And you know what's funny? 18 people have viewed my post asking for Obama supporters to tell us why they're voting for him and not one has come up with an answer yet.

[Galveston1]

We have to face the fact that there are Americans who prefer security to freedom. The two are mutually exclusive. I feel sorry for those who sell their liberty for free bread and circus, and it gripes me when they drag me along.

[Skell]

You produced an article that quoted nobody. Has Sarkozy said anything like this in public. Or is it just according to reports reaching Israel. Hahaha. "According to reports reaching my anus, McSame is old and senile, and he has trouble with keeping his old fella erect". This article has as much credence as my comment.

[speechlesstx]

You produced an article that quoted nobody. Has Sarkozy said anything like this in public. Or is it just according to reports reaching Israel. Hahaha. "According to reports reaching my anus, McSame is old and senile, and he has trouble with keeping his old fella erect". This article has as much credence as my comment.

Skell, I didn't claim it was infallible, but I've read enough negative stuff "according to sources" about McCain to know the MSM considers that sort of thing gospel.

[excon]

And you know what's funny? 18 people have viewed my post asking for Obama supporters to tell us why they're voting for him[/URL] and not one has come up with an answer yet.

Hello Steve:

I did, and I was pretty good too...

I also made a post about the REAL America that you righty's are talking about... Ain't none of you righty's came along there to hep me out. But, I (like you) figured as much.

excon

[speechlesstx]

Hello Steve:

I did, and I was pretty good too.......

I also made a post about the REAL America that you righty's are talking about...... Ain't none of you righty's came along there to hep me out. But, I (like you) figured as much.

excon

And I thank you. I'll be over there, I've been a little busy elsewhere :D

[tomder55]

Anyway the French Ambassador in Israel is denying this story which of course means absolutely nothing.
Sarkozy is one the most brilliant politician of his generation, and definitely smart enough to measure his words and keep his opinions close to the vest.In other words ;he most likely did say these utterances and they were leaked out against his wishes.

If Sarkozy did make these comments he certainly would not make them publicly knowing he most likely will have to work with the new American President; and almost certainly in the case of Obama,steer him towards a correct policy (perhaps before Obama's "no pre-conditions) meetings with the Mahdi-hatter.

I think this is precious. Think about it. The Europeans were critical of President Bush for being too unilateral. Now they want to have a unified front against the Mullahs on the sanctions (and the sanctions would be devastating to the Iranians now that the price of oil is dropping).
So now Sarozy fears that Obama would be more unilateral than President Bush!! He will create rumptures with the European Alliance over this far worse than the perceived divisions President Bush created.

Add to that his real rhetoric over issues like NAFTA (alienating Canada and Mexico );his refusal to back a trade agreement with Colombia ;the fact that he will fundamentally change our relationships with Israel. (Please LA Times... release those tapes of Obama at the Rashid Khalidi lovefest) , and his anti-free trade rhetoric...
Will the US have any friends left after a couple of years of Obama's ideological unilateralism

[speechlesstx]

Whether Sarkozy said this or not, and I bet he did, the luster seems to be dulling a little in the eyes of Europe.

Obama's fans in Europe are in for a big surprise

If Barack Obama is elected president of the United States next week, he'll bring into office with him the advantage of not being pre-cast as a villain in Europe.

As pluses go, it may be an impermanent one.

The realities of American interests, American responsibilities and the American presidency mean that all the soft power instincts and readiness for multilateral mosh-pit politicking attributed to Obama by Europeans can quickly look imaginary.

Exhibit A: On Saturday a news report said that France no longer expected that the president-elect, presumably Obama, would attend an international financial crisis summit meeting of 20 countries that Nicolas Sarkozy organized with George W. Bush's backing for Nov. 15 in Washington.

Sarkozy keenly wanted the legitimacy of the newly elected leader's participation. By way of a response, Obama said, in effect, that the United States had one president at a time.

This was a direct peek into the real future.

It meant America had its own crisis to deal with first, Obama was not going to muddle his priorities, and that a more specific international response could be coordinated once his own plan for national and global financial reform was on its feet.

This is the Obama who says, like John McCain, that his goal is to keep America the most powerful country on Earth.

Obama is not Michael Moore transmogrified. He will fulfill no one's dreams of a capitulating, apologetic United States.

Europeans will learn Obama has no 'magic wand'

Barack Obama, if he is elected US president next week, will disappoint his many European admirers when they find out he has no "magic wand" to change American foreign policy, analysts warn.

Analysts say that the Democratic candidate -- whom Europeans overwhelmingly favor over his Republican rival John McCain -- will likely change just the style rather than the substance of diplomacy.

This article also says “The Democratic candidate has therefore adopted the position of President George W. Bush's administration in urging the European Union to send more combat troops to fight insurgents in Afghanistan.”

That’s priceless, between that and what tom said it looks like you guys are voting for “more of the same.”

[speechlesstx]

Speaking of the tape the LA Times refuses to release, Doug Ross (hat tip to Instapundit) claims to have received a tip from a source on why they won't release it:

Saw a clip from the tape. Reason we can't release it is because statements Obama said to rile audience up during toast. He congratulates Khalidi for his work saying "Israel has no God-given right to occupy Palestine" plus there's been "genocide against the Palestinian people by Israelis."

It would be really controversial if it got out. Tha's why they will not even let a transcript get out.

Come on Times, release the tape... we deserve to know.

[ZoeMarie]

What's getting old is leftists who refuse to open their minds

I think it's hilarious that you say that. Are you being open minded. From all of your threads I can see that you're not. I think if more people were open minded they would be supporting Obama.

[speechlesstx]

I think it's hilarious that you say that. Are you being open minded. From all of your threads I can see that you're not. I think if more people were open minded they would be supporting Obama.

I love it even more when people who know nothing about me criticize me for not being open minded. I doubt seriously if you've read "all" of my threads, and probably even fewer of my answers anyway. Here's one clue for you though, if you've read my stuff you'll see I actually discuss things such as facts, possibilities and the actual topic. My comment was to people who responded to a newspaper article with this:

You haters never quit, do you? - Choux

apparently not. This is getting old. -ZoeMarie

Very old, and full of distortions and propaganda.

America has been SPREADING THE WEALTH since the advent of the INcome Tax which was in what, 1910 or so?

These guys forget that we are going to live in the future, not in the past.

Where was that open mind in there?

[ZoeMarie]

I'm totally open minded, but all the political talk is getting old. At this point people have pretty much decided who they're voting for and reading all these threads isn't going to change their minds. I don't have to know you to be able to read. And actually, yes, I have read every thread and all the answers for all the current events.

[NeedKarma]

I love it even more when people who know nothing about me criticize me for not being open minded.

People here can only know you by your postings on this site.

[ZoeMarie]

I also want to apologize for sounding like a butthole, but I'm so tired of hearing about politics. I know it's my choice to read the threads. I guess at this point I'm not going to read them anymore.