100 years of the Entente Cordiale

[gphadraig]

Today M. Jacque Chirac, President of the French Republic, and Mr Antony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, celebrate 100 years of the 'Entente Cordiale'. All accomplished with much pomp and a yawning gap in their respective world views. M. Chirac today characterized the relationship as, "...a stormy love affair".

Still, I suppose, one the hallmarks of real friendship is that friends may agree to disagree. So with POTUS on one side and M. Chirac on the other, Mr Blair must be feeling what? Split, frustrated or 'what the heck', this is politics and remember to smile sincerely for the benefit of the cameras?

Personally I really like France and the French. And I find the openness and the get up and go of Americans infectious. Politicians are something else. As I have often heard in both Ireland and Greece, "I haven't met one who doesn't have his hand in the till somewhere". (On this one I am not sure, both Greece and Ireland have had more than their share of scandals).

[Joshua F]

Today M. Jacque Chirac, President of the French Republic, and Mr Antony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, celebrate 100 years of the 'Entente Cordiale'. All accomplished with much pomp and a yawning gap in their respective world views.

At least they haven't gone to war with each other... yet

Politicians are something else. As I have often heard in both Ireland and Greece, "I haven't met one who doesn't have his hand in the till somewhere".

I still believe that we ought not speak evil of the leaders of our people, in general. This does not mean being acquiescent to everything they do, or winking at corruption, but according them the respect they deserve. Politics is an unforgiving business. Divorce rates amongst Canadian Members of Parliament is approaching 80%, due to the stress of the job. There is an enormous work load, and when you lose an election, you not only lose your job, but you become almost unemployable. A select few of the thousands of politicians in my country achieve some security in employment and recognition for their hard work, but the vast majority get a rather raw deal. Many politicians are sincere, honest, and extremely hard-working people who leave lucrative careers in other professions to work longer hours at lower pay for less recognition.

Having been exposed to that side of political life, I am amazed that otherwise intelligent people continue to get themselves into it

[gphadraig]

Joshua,

Thank you for your final comment. I have amended my post slightly, although leaving the original aside intact. Yes, I too think there are many men and women who give enormously of themselves for the public good and their contribution should not be rubbished readily....

[Joshua F]

To me, this event is particularly interesting in the context of Spain's recent pronouncements on European Unity and a sort of triple entente between Germany, France and Spain for increased co-operation / integration. I'm still not sure if Spain is on the same page as the rest of the continent, but this would seem to have troubling implications for Britain, as I understand they have traditionally pushed for a looser approach to EU development. Should France, Spain, and Germany drop NATO as the Spanish president suggests (still seems highly unlikely) you might see the channel become a real rift - in the context of those comments by Spain, the current politicking may be an effort to avoid that sort of thing.

In other news, Bush is coming to Canada... and at this point, it's unknown whether he will be heckled in Parliament or not, should he speak there

[gphadraig]

Up until the recent Spanish general election there was a Franco-German axis and a Brit, Italian and Spain as the other major axis. With a Spanish socialist government that is no longer the case, as you correctly point out. (British/Spanish feelings toward the thorny issue of Gibraltar seem to have improved following the change).

Britain appears to have some common cause with some of the new 'accession' states and her economy is in considerably better form than either France or Germany.

Blair is seemingly pro EU and pro Euro, but his chancellor or finance minister, Gordon Brown, seems very shy of joining the Euro (currency cabal). Brown appears to have a better understanding of the British people on this issue.

Significant differences within Europe seem to include viewing the EU as a common Market of sovereign states co-operating for the common good and those who see and want an increasingly binding Federal European state. A view most strongly held in Bonn and Paris. In the minds of some this is seen as a necessary counter-weight to power and influence of the United States. Blair is very opposed to this role for Europe. He, of course, sees himself as the bridge between Europe and the United States.

Part of the European super-state mentality is that it needs all the trappings necessary to fulfull such a role, common taxation, foreign policy and a united military force subject to a European and not NATO command and control structure. This latter point is one Blair is empactically against. Allies on this, as I recall, include Poland. France has long detached itself somewhat from NATO. A complication here is the United States has itself criticised Europe for not 'pulling' its weight in terms of its own defence. Some are saying if we have to provide and pay for a force within Europe, then that force should be subject to European rather than a transatlantic command and control structure.

(Even in Ireland there has been strong protests about the numbers of American troops coming through Shannon airport on the way to the Middle East. Unlike the Brits we have embraced the Euro, though. And been found to be best place to live in the world by the Economist Magazine).

As to POTUS visit to his northern neighbour, does he know the way or should someone lend him a map?

[gphadraig]

M. Chirac last night declared that ousting saddam Hussein had mobilised Islamic people worldwide and sparked a rise in terrorism. He went on to say Mr Blair had won nothing from President Bush for supporting the war. However he insisted the relationship between France and Britain remained good, and said that disagreement over the war did not mean a breakdown in France's relationship with the U.S. M. Chirac said he was not at all sure that the world was a safer place with Saddam no longer in power, as President Bush has insisted, although he said it was important to have put an end to Saddam's tyranny. He said the world was more dangerous because of the way it was done.

Today's discussions between the two would have been an interesting spectacle to witness. The day commenced with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Blairs being kept waiting for some 20 minutes by M. Chirac. On Arrival at Whitehall the President and Mr Blair inspected an honour guard composed of the elite Republican Guard and the Irish Guards. This was the first time the Republican Guard had paraded in London. (Alas, poor Napoleon Jacque accomplished what you only dreamed of).

Today also saw a significant development with The European Commission President elect, Mr Barrosco, presenting a new team of Commissioners to the European Parliament. He previous Commission were withdrawn in the face of massive opposition from the Parliament. Today the Parliament voted 449 for, 149 against, with 82 abstentions. And so a new European Commission arrives. This Commission appears to be characterized as Economically liberal, unlike it's Franco-German dominated predecessors.

Interesting times.........

[Joshua F]

Today also saw a significant development with The European Commission President elect, Mr Barrosco, presenting a new team of Commissioners to the European Parliament. He previous Commission were withdrawn in the face of massive opposition from the Parliament. Today the Parliament voted 449 for, 149 against, with 82 abstentions. And so a new European Commission arrives. This Commission appears to be characterized as Economically liberal, unlike it's Franco-German dominated predecessors.

That's interesting; quite the landslide of approval. That kind of majority would seem to indicate a pretty strong consensus about the policy direction to be taken. I understood the european union has been quite protectionist in the past.

On my Bush / Canada story, it looks as though Bush is going to be moving on some old trade problems, from beef to softwood lumber. Quite a surprising turnaround, really - and this is before the actual visit, at an APEC conference in Columbia. Looks like both Bush and Blair are looking to build more international support, even if it costs them some "political capital" and means letting Chirac prance about.