Word: delafons
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...harm. And Sarkozy's plans for a Mediterranean union and criticisms of the Frankfurt-based European Central Bank have irked German Chancellor Angela Merkel. But "to do anything major in Europe, France needs the support and solidarity of Germany - at times, in the face of British resistance," says Delafon. "It's fantasy to believe that the U.K. would somehow take the place or join Germany as France's principal partner in Europe...
...Delafon says it already has. "The Socialist opposition is already reminding people of Sarkozy's campaign comment that he didn't favor additional French forces because he couldn't see how it would be 'decisive'," Delafon notes, adding that few analysts see how a modest reinforcement could possibly prove "decisive" now. "This is a political move following through on Sarkozy's pledge to improve Franco-American cooperation. Making a political decision on a military matter, and without a clear military strategy for victory behind it, carries very significant political risks: The French public may sour on an Afghanistan going from...
...French will back troop deployment to combat zones and will tolerate significant death counts as an occupational military hazard," notes political commentator Gilles Delafon. "What they won't tolerate are soldiers being sent to their deaths because officials didn't have a real strategy or plan for how to win the conflict. And that looks to be the case with this new deployment to Afghanistan...
...both leaders, the pledges marked a "historic" summit; and stacked against the 2003 squabbles over the Iraq war, no one would begrudge some brotherly love. But amid the love-in, Sarkozy "didn't propose anything you can put into policy or take to the bank," notes Gilles Delafon, an author and French political commentator. So while his powerful speech to Parliament "made people take notice, listen attentively, and feel positive and hopeful," Delafon says, "that's what he does. Look for the beef, and you won't find any." Sure enough, there was no firm talk of testy topics like...
...popularity a boost. While Sarkozy's approval rating has tumbled to 38% from 64% last fall, "we'll probably see Sarkozy's number jump anywhere from 5% to 10% thanks to the coverage of this visit to London - even though it won't actually produce anything concrete," says Delafon. That will only get Sarkozy so far, though. Amid the castle walls, fudge shops and quaint tearooms of Windsor, the fairytale town just outside London where Sarkozy was hosted by Britain's Queen, one visiting French schoolgirl recognized a "great president" in Sarkozy, let down only by "promises...
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