273 lines
7.5 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
273 lines
7.5 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
news
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worldnews
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northamerica
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usa
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1395503
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-----
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# Bush jokes as French leader airs criticism
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By Philip Delves Broughton in Paris 12:01AM BST 27 May 2002
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A jet-lagged President Bush arrived in Paris yesterday to meet President
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Chirac and to thank France for its support in the war against terrorism.
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But he found himself chided for his trade and environmental policies as M
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Chirac sought to show that he would not be Mr Bush's poodle.
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At the Elysee Palace, Mr Bush called France a "decisive ally" in America's
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efforts to defeat Islamic terrorism and thanked M Chirac for having been his
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first foreign visitor after September 11.
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But his visit comes at a poor time for Franco-US relations. They are divided
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on issues ranging from [agricultural subsidies][1] and [steel tariffs][2] to
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the environment, the Middle East and Mr Bush's threats against Iraq.
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France feels frozen out of the war on terrorism, especially as Britain plays a
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much bigger role.
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## Related Articles
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* [Le Pen triumph rocks France][3]
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22 Apr 2002
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* [Le Pen is crushed by Chirac][4]
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06 May 2002
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* [Britain attacks US farm subsidies][5]
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12 May 2002
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* [Berlin fears Bush protest][6]
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22 May 2002
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* [Europe a target too, says Bush][7]
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23 May 2002
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* [Bush: face threat of terror][8]
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24 May 2002
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Many in France are also angry that their country is now written off in the
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American press as anti-Semitic. Attacks on synagogues by French-Arab youths,
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the [popularity of the National Front leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen][9], and
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France's [sympathy for the Palestinians][10] has led to the hardening of this
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view in America Although regarded as more pro-American than most French
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politicians, M Chirac has been critical of the United States, especially since
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his [recent re-election][11].
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He told reporters yesterday that France had "real problems" with America
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especially over trade. He mentioned Washington's recent decision to raise
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tariffs on foreign steel imports and increase subsidies to American farmers,
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saying: "These are very real issues and real answers have to be given to these
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problems."
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But he praised Mr Bush for America's revived interest in the economic and
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social development of Africa. France, which retains close links with its
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former African colonies, has long regarded itself as a lonely champion of
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international aid to the continent.
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Left-wing groups mounted a feeble protest against Mr Bush in Paris yesterday.
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Rain and protest fatigue, after the tumult of France's presidential election,
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kept people at home. But the paltry turn-out did not reflect the depth of
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anxiety in France over American power and the competence of Mr Bush. He is
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widely depicted in the French media as a Texan bumpkin.
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Asked about this, Mr Bush said: "All I can do is be who I am, talk about my
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values, my willingness to defend freedom. I think a lot of people on the
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continent appreciate that."
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But when a White House reporter concluded a question in English with a few
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words in French addressed to M Chirac, Mr Bush played to his popular image,
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dropping his ear-piece and saying: "Whoa! The guy memorises four words and he
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plays like he's inter-continental. I'm impressed! Que bueno! Now I'm literate
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in two languages."
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The sages of Figaro and Le Monde stared in bewilderment.
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While M Chirac was magisterial, Mr Bush was jocular and apologised for feeling
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jet-lagged. He said he was especially looking forward to dinner. Pointing to M
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Chirac, he said: "He's always saying the food here's fantastic. I'm going to
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give him a chance to show me that."
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This morning, the two presidents will travel to Normandy, where Mr Bush will
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make a speech honouring the Americans who died during the D-Day invasion. Mr
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Bush said he believed it was the first time a US president has been abroad on
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Memorial Day, when the country remembers its war dead.
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This was no accident, but a reflection of the White House's eagerness to
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internationalise the war against terrorism.
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[X][12] Share & bookmark
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Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
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Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
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[What are these?][13]
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* Share: [Share][12] [ ][14] [ ][15]
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[Tweet][16]
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1395503/Bush-jokes-
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as-French-leader-airs-criticism.html
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Telegraph
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## [USA][17]
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* ### [News »][18]
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* ### [France »][19]
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External Links
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* ### [President Bush meets with French President Chirac [26 May '02] - The
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White House][20]
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* ### [Visite de M. G. BUSH, Prsident des Etats-Unis [26 May '02] - Office
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of the French President [in French] ][21]
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In news
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[![Rock climbing with tents: climbers hang off the sides of vertical cliffs
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sleeping in tents][22] ][23]
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### [A tent with a view][23]
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[![US President Barack Obama's state visit to Britain: day two in
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pictures][24] ][25]
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### [Obamas visit Britain: day two][25]
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[![Queen Elizabeth II and US President Barack Obama during a State Banquet in
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Buckingham Palace,][26] ][27]
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### [Obamas visit Britain: day one][27]
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destroyed when a massive tornado passed through the town on May 24, 2011 in
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Joplin, Missouri][28] ][29]
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### [Newest tornado pictures][29]
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[![The Milky Way stretches across the night sky behind a rock arch in Arches
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National Park, Utah. Bret Webster uses the night skies of the national parks
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of his home state of Utah as his canvas to create images that highlight the
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relative insignificance of the Earth in the cosmos.][30] ][31]
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### [The Milky Way over the desert][31]
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[X][12] Share & bookmark
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Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
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Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
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[What are these?][13]
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Share:
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* [ ][12]
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* [ ][14]
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* [ ][15]
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* [Tweet][16]
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* Advertisement
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![][32]
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Advertisement
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[Follow The Telegraph on Social Media »][33]
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