Driven By Desperation

While Greece dithers about its future within the EU and the Merkozy decide Greece should have its own bank account, it's well known in EU circles, that Angela Merkel's relationship with Nicolas Sarkozy has been fraught at times. Therefore it was a surprise to many to find that she has decided to openly campaign for her French colleague who is facing elections this year.

Although the EU is based on a ruling German/French duo - Adenauer and de Gaulle hammered out the Elysee Treaty and Kohl and Mitterand held hands over the graves of Verdun - there is unease in Germany, because if Sarkozy lost it would be a severe setback for Berlin.

Merkel's reason for offering her support to the weak Sarkozy is not because he supported her during her campaign but because she is horrified at the prospect of Sarkozy's challenger, the socialist Francois Hollande, succeeding. Hollande describes himself as a 'pragmatic leftist' but his campaign manifesto is so full of expensive promises that even the centre-left Social Democrats in Germany have their doubts about him. Holland's European policy is causing Merkel particular concern and so far she has primarily been able to push through her vision of European austerity only because she knows Sarkozy is on her side.

Hollande has already stated clearly that he will overturn the fiscal pact, the heart of Merkel's European policy and it's this which causes the German chancellor grief.

Why would the leader of a country attempt to influence the electorate of another when it's none of their business? It smacks of desperation but it also shows how far Merkel will go to ensure her EU monetary policy succeeds.

Will her public support be effective?  At present the feeling is that Hollande should silently savour Merkel's intervention because it may end up helping him more than Sarkozy. Many French voters are fed up with their president, who is constantly citing Germany as a shining economic example for France.

I'm uncomfortable with this and wonder if it's the start of German interference into elections in other member states.  Sarkozy has three months before he faces his country. The Merkel/Sarkozy co-operative campaign kicked off yesterday with a joint television interview broadcast on Germany's ZDF and the French station France 2.

The EU is progressing in a distinctly autocratic manner. If Sarkozy does win the Merkel will be further empowered and that doesn't bode well for the future of Europe.

source

Tweet

Afghanistan

A member of the British army was shot in Afghanistan yesterday. He was from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment and was fatally wounded in an insurgent patrol in the Khar Nikah area of Helmand.

His death brings the number of our military lost in this war to 397.

Four French troops were killed by an Afghan soldier last week and Sarkozy immediately halted operations in the country, but after talks with Karzia, it was decided that they will resume training Afghan soldiers today, but France will pull out most of its 3,600 troops by the end of 2013.

Sarkozy's main opponent in this year's French presidential elections has pledged to bring troops home this year if elected. A survey, published on Thursday, stated 84% of French people supported the full withdrawal of troops by the end of this year.

Anyone with an interest in military matters will know that the majority of the medics present in war zones these days are reservists because we no longer have military hospitals and therefore few full-time medical staff.  Lt. Col. Sharon Stewart is one of them and she is to be presented with one of nursing's top honours. 

Congratulations to her and her colleagues. Without them the suffering of our wounded would be even more horrific.

Tweet

Satire - But Will The Leader of France Understand it?

As matters continue to develop in Europe, with Angela Merkel behaving in a much more statesman-like manner than her colleague Nick Sarkozy, I thought the above may be one appropriate response to the Frenchman's diatribes regarding the Prime Minister.

His Grace does it so much better though.

Tweet

A Sickening Performance From the Prime Minister

Another British solder was killed On Wednesday in the Afghan war. The serviceman, from the 1st Battalion The Rifles, was killed by a gunshot wound sustained in the village of Haji Khodin Nazar, in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

His death takes the number of British troops who have died since the war in Afghanistan began to 381.

But the death of another soldier means nothing to politicians, especially when they can pose on the world stage as 'saviours'.

David Cameron, along with Sarkozy, rushed to Libya to claim credit for the ousting of Gaddafi.  Unfortunately, Gaddafi's still hanging around in some invisible abode, but that's of little concern to the two leaders who, according to the Spiegel, revelled in their one day appearance in the war torn country as the saviours of the Libyans.

Cameron went as far as to offer to bring the worst medical cases to British hospitals if Libya paid the transport.  My knowledge of Libya is limited, but I am aware the standards of their education and medical care under Gaddafi was very possibly far superior to what we can attain these days in the UK.  Wouldn't it have been far more sensible for the Prime Minister to offer medical equipment which would assist in the Libyans once again achieving their excellent standards of medical care rather than bringing a few seriously injured here for PR reasons?

The MoD has estimated the cost of the first six months of British involvement in Libya was £260 million (much under-estimated in my view) and France estimated their operations had cost €1 million a day (much more realisitic).

For all Cameron's sickening fawning over the new Libyan officials, it was Sarkozy who was regarded as 'the best man in the world' by the rebels.  Our chief salesman, from the little I saw on television, over-egged his determination to be first in line for any lucrative oil deals.

It very easily could have been so different if Gaddafi had played a different hand and Cameron's relief at deciding to take action against Gaddafi is evident.  It could have gone so wrong.  Like Afghanistan.

Tweet

One Man's Meat...

The title should read 'One Man's Poison Is Another Man's Meat' if the newspapers are to be believed.

While the erstwhile head (although he hasn't officially resigned as yet) of the IMF languishes in a NewYork prison, Mr Sarkozy snr the father of the current president of France, announces his daughter-in-law is pregnant.  Quelle surprise.  Commentators are suggesting the news could spark the president's resurrection after his poor showing in the polls in recent months.

In honour of Strauss-Kahn's fall from grace a pack of would-be successors wasted little time yesterday maneuvering for his job. The Spiegel has taken the trouble to run a photo gallery of possibly contenders for the IMF leadership.  Number four seems familiar.

One point I do find remarkable is that France has no extradition treaty with the US. How did they manage that?

Tweet

Sarkozy Refuses to Send More Troops to Afghanistan

As well as Germany intending to publicly reveal their new strategy for the Afghanistan war, President Sarkozy has stated France will not be sending any more front line troops.

Didn't Bob (Ainsworth) say he had assurances from European countries that they would contribute towards the extra military the US desire?

On Monday President Sarkozy reaffirmed he will send groups of 'trainers'. "If we want to reinforce the training force for the Afghan army, to regulate Afghan police, to realise the work of civil security, then why not," he said.

There are around 3,500 French soldiers fighting Taliban militants in Afghanistan. There are over 10,000 British troops.

It appears Mr Brown's international conference on Afghanistan, taking place tomorrow in London, is already slowly disintegrating although the outcome has already been decided. He may decided to stay out of the way in Northern Ireland and leave the hosting to one of his ministers.

source

Tweet

Nepotism French Style

British politicians aren't the flavour of the month at present, especially with all the 'I followed the rules' and 'Why should I pay it back?'

Think how you would feel about this if you lived in France.

According to Sarkozy's political party office, Jean Sarkozy 23,(pictured above), who is in his second year of a law degree at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, is 'the most legitimate' candidate to run Europe's largest office development

His possible - or even probable - appointment has caused a storm of protest and mockery in France, including an 8,000-name petition on the internet.

He'll get the job, no doubt about it.

Tweet

Is Another War in the Offing?

I found this staged announcement, from Obama, Brown and Sarkozy, chilling when I watched it live last week. In fact I'd go as far to say the presentation had a sinister aura.

First thought that sprang to mind was 'this is a precursor speech to war with Iran' and I'm not the only person to think so.

Of course there are always other opinions and James Cusick provides one:

Over the next few crucial months, Obama may need to look to Brown as his “global” ally and Brown will be more than happy to take the role as international global statesman as they both focus on the crisis of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

By accident, and certainly not by any choreography, Brown has been handed a global crisis that could transform his last months in office. The crisis centres on a secret Iranian nuclear enrichment plant and demands that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors be given access to the hidden plant at Qom in Iran. In the absence of co-operation by the Iranians, a new regime of sanctions will be imposed with the potential backing of Russia.

The worrying part is that, when questioned, David Miliband immediately refused to rule out the option of military action.

Iain MacWhirter contributed to this subject today too:

Perhaps a small new war might save Gordon’s bacon. The refusal by the foreign secretary, David Miliband, to rule out military action against Iran for developing a second uranium enrichment plant, suggests that Britain is not going to complain too loudly if Israel bombs it, as they did the Osirak plant in Iraq in 1981. There is nothing like heightened international tension to bolster a political leader.

Once I read that when politicians get the taste for war they never stop being warmongers. I do wish I could remember who wrote that because it becomes more believable each day.

Tweet

Burka is a Tomb for Women says French Minister

There was a short piece on Radio 4 at teatime about Nicolas Sarkozy's government wishing to ban the burka and other Islamic clothing.

In the dead tree version of Saturday's Telegraph there was an article by Henry Samuel about this subject, where he states French MPs claim the reason for this decision is because such clothing is degrading to women.

In a call that won support from senior figures in Mr Sarkozy's government, they demanded that a parliamentary commission considers the fate in France of the burka, where eyes are covered by a fabric mesh and the niqab which has an eye slit.

While France's Muslim Council said the proposal 'stigmatised' Islam, a commission is now expected to be established on the urging of the group of 65 politicians, led by Andre Gerin a communist politician. Many of the group are members of Mr Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party.

Mr Gerin is also mayor of Venissieux which has a high immigrant population and where he complains women cover themselves in 'mobile prisons.' "Our politicians need to stop acting so blind," he said, describing the burka as the mark of Islamic fundamentalism which was not in tune with secular France. A government spokesman said that all options were open, including a ban.

However Eric Besson, the immigration minister, said that France - home to five million Muslims - had already managed to 'strike a balance' between secularism and religious freedoms that it would be 'dangerous' to call into question. In 2004 the country passed a controversial law forbidding conspicuous religious symbols from state schools, including veils, which are banned in government offices.

Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of the Paris mosque, said he approved of a commission 'on condition that they listen to what the experts on Islam have to say". He said many women chose to wear the covering to assert their Muslim identity in a society which they believed was hostile to any type of Islamic headscarf.

Tweet

Can Someone Enlighten Me Please

I've been rather confused the past couple of days. Nothing unusual some of my regular readers may think and I can't condemn them, but I should think many would be confused with these two headlines this week.

First there is this report that Gordon Brown 'could be the EU's first president', then a day later comes another article 'David Cameron would not oppose Blair becoming first president of the EU'.

Which article is true or are both an attempt to promote their own preference? France's Sarkozy seems to be making more mischief but that's his forte, changing his mind to impress his latest best friend. I strongly feel neither man should be president of the EU and although my reasons are far too numerous to list here, they are possibly in line with the majority of the population.

Tweet

Brown's Snub to the Queen

Sometimes if I waken in the night I listen to TalkSport, mainly for its soporific value, but on occasion the main topic is quite interesting.  That was the case yesterday morning when Mike Graham's anger was evident.  What was his topic?  The fact that the Queen has not been invited to the 65th commemorations of the D-Day Landings.

He strongly felt that Gordon Brown had acted improperly by ignoring the Royal Family.  As I said in this post, protocol requires the government to invite royalty to such occasions.  No such invitation has been received by Buckingham Palace.

It has been said that Mr Sarkozy wanted the event to be primarily a Franco-American ceremony. Once Mr Brown heard this he ought to have contacted Mr Sarkozy and informed him that British and Canadian forces were the majority and he must include a royal representative from Britain.  It has been reported France said it was not up to France to determine the British representation.  Then, if you remember, when France announced Barack Obama would be present, Gordon Brown decided he would attend.

As some of you may know, I'm not an avid royalist but I am a fervent support of HM Forces and those few remaining veterans who will be attending this ceremony are of a generation which hold the Queen in the highest regard.  That is why I think she should have been invited.

Gordon Brown has proved himself to be possibly the worst PM in history but he'll certainly also be recorded as the least diplomatic.  We pay a fortune for him to have advisers - what do they do for their massive salaries?

Update:  After the intervention of the White House, it now appears Prince Charles will attend and represent the Queen.  Now Brown needs the help of the US with his basic PR.  Shameful.

Tweet