Presidents Hollande and
Obama at the G20 Summit in Russia: Were
they really listening to one
another - or were they simply playing to
the camera until getting
to their post-Summit serving of borscht?
Obama and Hollande: 'Galactic Summiteers' Play to the Camera (Liberation,
France)
"Hollande speaks and Obama listens. But to whom is Hollande
speaking? Is it to someone or something? Is he taking in the room's lovely
curtains or talking to the friendly borscht simmering on the buffet - 'the
eternal flavor of Russia' - that awaits participants after the meeting? ... We'll
never know. ... And Obama - is he really listening? Presumably, cunning and
wise to the rites of international conferences, the U.S. president knows how to
give every sign of paying constant attention while thinking about something
else. For example, about how that slut Putin must be taking advantage of his
absence to foment some new trickery. Or the fact that, if there's one thing in
the world he can't stomach, it's borscht!"
The United States and its intelligence services
are now world famous for their ability to spy the planet to death with the aid
of the latest electronic arts. But they haven't the means to ask a neighbor to squeal
more quietly (singing is what they call it!) or open the fridge door to see
whether there's any beer left. So we can reasonably speculate that during the
last G20 Summit in St. Petersburg, although within earshot and even facing President
Hollande, the American president had no idea what his French counterpart was
thinking, and more specifically, what his personal agenda was.
That would explain Obama’s piercing gaze - his
laser beam method of thought transmission. After all, Obama comes from the
country where a plethora of sci-fi films are made in which, using only the
power of his mind, the hero reads ours - and that's true not only in Hollywood.
Does that tell us that at the White House, there is not only an Oval Office,
but a table on which the president and his advisors hold séances to summon the
spirits of our Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence? Is Hollande less
of a dumdum than he looks? If "no" knock twice. If "yes,"
send e-mail confirmation.
So Hollande speaks and Obama listens. But to
whom is Hollande speaking? To the one who we say has "left the field?"
Is it to someone or something? Is he taking in the room's lovely curtains or
talking to the friendly borscht simmering on the buffet - "the eternal
flavor of Russia" - that awaits participants after the meeting?
We'll never know. Unless he is trying to answer
the waiter's question: who ordered the steak? And Obama - is he really
listening? Presumably, cunning and wise to the rites of international
conferences, the American president knows how to give every outward sign of
paying constant attention while thinking about something else. For example, about
how that slut Putin must be taking advantage of his absence to foment some new trickery.
Or the fact that, if there's one thing in the world he can't stomach, it's
borscht!
Posted By Worldmeets.US
At this kind of meeting, let alone when it's offered
up to flash photographers for a few moments, appearances are everything. If we
are speaking, it shows we can agree one something. However when the doors are again
closed to the public, they are no longer free of the nastiness of a full-on scrum.
The uniqueness of this kind of ritual hinges on
certain details. For example, the name of the culprit responsible for the
floral arrangements in the middle of the table. Three poor white thingamajigs
with garbage-bags like greenery. Looks like one of those pathetic bouquets
bought on a highway stop area three minutes before the annual visit to grandma.
And then again - what do these masters of the
world drink at such intergalactic summits? They can only fantasize about vodka-filled
glasses, so it's a shot of tap water or a cup of foul-tasting coffee.
Bravo to the hospitality. Thank you Russia.
Note, however, that participants aren't that stupid: no one touched their water
glasses. But the peaked look on the French president's face suggests that perhaps
he, on the other hand, has already knocked back his rutabaga coffee.
