jeudi 7 mai 2009, par Thierry Leterre
Both impersonate their country in a way
Both are lawyers
Both are (post ?) cold war generation
Both have fathers who were foreigners
Both are charismatic leaders
Prestige of Pdt. Obama
Intense interest for the American ballot in France
Pdt. Obama Impersonates “soft power”
A model for Minorities in France
First vacations of the French president : New Hampshire where he visited the Bush family
Personally met the American candidates in 2008
Adopts a “bossy type” of leadership centered on the presidency… While displaying a rather Mediterranean temper
“Sarko the American” (does not speak English but has a colorful French)
Full reintegration of France in NATO
Not seen any more as opposed to a European autonomous defense
Sent troops to Afghanistan to more dangerous missions
More compatible views on Iran and on the middle East despite criticism over what is still felt as American bilateralism
A greater role of the UN
Firm leadership
More awareness of the diversity of the world
More concern about the world stability multiple and more watchful of its stability
A weak interest of the US administration for France
As a candidate, B. Obama chose Berlin, not Paris to talk
As a candidate, did not address the French opposition
Ignored repetitive requests for a meeting with Pdt. Sarkozy
Sent a letter to Pdt… Chirac
The traditional “special relation” with the UK dominates
over the interest for the “oldest ally of the Us”
Pdt Obama did not respond
immediately to the reintegration
of France in NATO