Bush Praised for Facing European Critics of Iraq Policy
by Chad Groening
June 9, 2004
(AgapePress) - A European policy expert believes President Bush's treatment during his weekend visit to France demonstrates how much more the French need the U.S. than Americans need France.Nile Gardiner is the visiting fellow for Anglo-American security policy at the Heritage Foundation. He says it is rather significant that the French went out of their way to make sure protestors did not bother the president during his visit.
"This is a clear sign that the French place a huge amount of value on the U.S.-French relationship, despite all the anti-American rhetoric," Gardiner observes. "France needs America a lot more than America needs France, and I think sharper minds within the French government are urging Jacque Chirac to try not to rock the boat. They're urging for a reconciliation -- they think it's in the French interest to do so."
Gardiner says it showed great leadership by Bush to travel to such a hostile place as Paris to try to win over his staunchest critics, and to "lay down the gauntlet" to the French and the Germans challenging them to play a constructive role in rebuilding Iraq.
"The French and the Germans and many other European countries have not lifted a finger, frankly, to help with the situation in Iraq -- yet at the same time, they are lecturing the United States on the sidelines, criticizing U.S. policy all the time," Gardiner says.
Many of the world leaders on hand for the D-Day anniversary are now in Georgia for the G-8 economic summit.
