President Bush has no better defender than French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Rue 89, France

Sarkozy and Bush: The Best Friends' Show

"Berlin, Rome, Paris, London and Belfast … The American press has provided few details about the European trip of the 'Lame Duck,' as all presidents are called at the end of their mandate. … We had almost forgotten he was still there."

By Guillemette Faure

Translated By Sandrine Ageorges

June 14, 2008

France - Rue 89 - Original Article (French)

Both at their lowest point in the polls, "George" and "Nicolas" put their presidential friendship on display at the Elysée Palace.

"Follow me quickly - we’ll do something that isn't in the program" … At the end of the press conference of George Bush and Nicolas Sarkozy, the American press secretary approached the White House Press corps. "Come, quickly …" The element that had been added was "a walk," both presidents walked side-by-side down Gabriel Avenue …

Exciting! Two hours earlier at the Elysée Palace while waiting for Bush and Sarkozy, one American journalist leaned over from his golden chair toward his neighbor:

-- I've rarely seen a presidential trip so quiet. These beautiful cities and nothing happens …

-- It makes me feel a little guilty. Such a high cost and so little to write …"

Berlin, Rome, Paris, London and Belfast …  The American press has provided few details about the European trip of the "Lame Duck," as all presidents are called at the end of their mandate.

We had almost forgotten he was still there. The satirical program The Daily Show even has a regular segment entitled George Walker Bush: Still President. According to the latest episode: "With Barack Obama and John McCain hogging the front pages in the United States, still President Bush decided to get out of town and take a quick trip to Europe, making him one of the few Americans who can still afford to travel to Europe."

A cartoon in The Washington Post [below] shows him disembarking from Air Force One in Europe: "Do they still hate us?" he asks one of his aides. "Tell them you come from a country that may elect Obama," the aide says.

The Bush page has already been turned. "The Olympic flame's passage through the streets of Europe brought out more protesters than Bush did," the Los Angeles Times summarizes for its readers .

Interest in the United States for Nicolas Sarkozy also appears to have dimmed. As the LA Times wrote in connection with the release of a book by Yamina Reza on the French presidential campaign, he doesn’t hold much interest now that his popularity has fallen top the level of George Bush.

CARLA: 'INTELLIGENT AND COMPETENT'

In front of the media, George and Nicolasss’, as they mutually refer to one another, fully displayed their friendship. The U.S. president thanked him for dinner the night before, which gave him the opportunity to meet the "intelligent and competent" Carla. He says he understands why he [Sarkozy] married her. The laughter in the press room prompts him to add that he also understands why she married him.

It's true that Bush seems to appreciate him. And how could he think otherwise of this French President, so ready to offer testimonials of friendship when in Bush's own party, Republican candidate John McCain must keep him at a distance to preserve his chances.

In turn, Nicolas Sarkozy raises the ante above personal friendship. He explains why, with the creation of the United States, France chose their side instead of England. The transatlantic relationship has been a privileged one, he says, not just since he was elected, but for the past two centuries. The two countries aren't always in agreement, but they must do their best "not to hurt one another." Take that Dominique [Villepin]!" He didn’t say it. But one could read it in the smile on the face of his advisor sitting in the front row, Jean-David Levitte, who is France's former ambassador to the U.N. In 2002, Levitte hammered home the need to respect "the unity of Security Council," before [former Foreign Minister] Villepin threatened to use the French veto, turning the United Nations into a theater of humiliation for America. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

They discussed everything (except Iraq, of course)

George Bush said that the new French president is someone with whom he can discuss everything. "Lebanon," "Afghanistan," "Darfur," "climate change"… In other words, everything except Iraq. Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki just confirmed that negotiations with the United-States [for a long-term security agreement] are at "an impasse."

Having left behind the fracture five years ago, it was an occasion to make a show of cooperation. On the Iranian nuclear issue, Nicolas Sarkozy said that France’s position is to say, like the United-States, that "Iran's obtaining the nuclear bomb is unacceptable." France is in contact with the Syrian President Bachar al-Assad, who has been invited to attend the Bastille day parade on July 14th in Paris. But Bush and Sarkozy underlined their common position: to ask Syria to distance itself from Iran.

During dinner on Friday night while toasting his guest, Nicolas Sarkozy said that the Bush family could be satisfied when it looks back, writes The Washington Post. "You've kind of written my political obituary tonight," answered Bush, "I remind you, I don't leave until January. And there's a lot we can still do ."

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US June 15, 5:30pm]