French president Sarkozy looks for dividends of pro-American policy in Washington visit

The International Herald Tribune ^ | November 6, 2007 | staff

[Cincinna]

As Nicolas Sarkozy begins his first official visit to Washington as French president Tuesday, he will seek to show that he has healed relations with the United States that were strained by the Iraq war.

The visit may also reveal how eager the White House will be to reciprocate Sarkozy's entreaties for working together on problems ranging from Iran to global warming.

The man known in France as "Sarko the American" is set to arrive Tuesday afternoon in Washington for a White House dinner. On Wednesday, he plans to tour Mount Vernon, home of the first U.S. president, George Washington, with President George W. Bush. He will also address a joint session of Congress intended to evoke the two centuries of ties between the two nations.

The Bush administration has welcomed Sarkozy's overture for better relations after rancorous relations with his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Sarkozy's effort at reconciliation has been both symbolic and substantive — from vacationing in New Hampshire to backing up the Bush administration's hard line on Iran.

His address to Congress will highlight the improved relations. In 1996, many U.S. lawmakers boycotted a similar appearance by Chirac to protest France's nuclear testing in the South Pacific.

Sarkozy will reflect broadly on his vision for French-American relations but will not to make great policy announcements, according to the French Embassy in Washington.

[Cincinna]

This will be a short, but heavily charged visit.

Sarko is certain to take huge hits from the Left and from the more traditional Gaullists in his own party. We have the feeling he is strong enough to stand up and take it.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Cincinna.

The visit may also reveal how eager the White House will be to reciprocate Sarkozy's entreaties for working together on problems ranging from Iran to global warming... He will also address a joint session of Congress intended to evoke the two centuries of ties between the two nations... Sarkozy's effort at reconciliation has been both symbolic and substantive -- from vacationing in New Hampshire to backing up the Bush administration's hard line on Iran. His address to Congress will highlight the improved relations. In 1996, many U.S. lawmakers boycotted a similar appearance by Chirac to protest France's nuclear testing in the South Pacific. Sarkozy will reflect broadly on his vision for French-American relations but will not to make great policy announcements, according to the French Embassy in Washington.

I hope he has the sense to not mention so-called global warming.

[bruinbirdman]

"The man known in France as "Sarko the American" "

The man labeled by the embarrassingly and totally defeated French socialist machine as . . . .

yitbos