Carla Bruni charms US as Sarkozy turns away

Here is Carla Bruni doing her bit on David Letterman's show in New York on Tuesday night. She also appeared on the NBC Today breakfast show (watch here). Madame Sarkozy is promoting her latest song album but she is more than earning her keep as goodwill ambassador for France.

As in all her interviews, she gave an excellent performance as beautiful and bland royal consort. But she also managed a couple of undiplomatic slaps at President Bush. Letterman asks her if Sarko and Bush got on together. "They have to, you know. There's no choice," she replies. Then, asked about Barack Obama's election, she says: "France is thrilled, delighted. I think the whole world is delighted."

The remarks in part reflect Bruni's own anti-Bush views as a leading member of the Parisian engagé, artsy crowd. She has been making herself heard on the leftwing front lately. She persuaded her husband last month to exempt a former Red Brigades activist from extradition to Italy on old murder charges. She also fired a round at Silvio Berlusconi, over his bad joke on Obama's sun-tan and she signed a manifesto for affirmative action to combat what she called France's entrenched racial discrimination. And don't forget that Sarko sent Bruni on his behalf to talk to the Dalai Lama last August. 

Le Nouvel Observateur notes today how Bruni has acquired power of her own. It puts her among what it calls "the real government of France". These are the palace advisers and political and business chums who wield more clout than the Prime Minister and Cabinet, according to the Nouvel Obs. It dubs Carla the Minister for Diversity, Humanitarian Causes and the Presidential Image.

 

But Bruni's swipe at Bush also reflects Sarkozy's recent renewal of France's old antagonism towards Washington. This is part of Sarko's move to use the economic crisis to stake out European leadership for France and a even a world role for himself. Talking like a good old leftist, he has been blaming the United States for starting the slump and castigating the greed of its financial world. 

His latest act has been to call a private summit in Paris in early January to push his project for "refounding capitalism". The Americans were annoyed when Sarkozy announced his gathering -- to be co-hosted by his friend Tony Blair --  as soon as he got back from the G20 summit in Washington last weekend. Obama is supposed to chair the follow-up to the Washington summit in April. As Mark Landler of the New York Times says today: "The dispute epitomizes what has become an increasingly tense trans-Atlantic contest over summitry and the global economy."

While officially delighted by Obama's election, Sarkozy is said by people close to him to be worried that he will be eclipsed by the new US President. He wants to make a maximum impact before the January inauguration. In so doing Sarkozy has become an advocate for strict new international regulation.

One of Sarkozy's staff told me that he expects the Obama administration to play tough with Europe despite all the good vibrations. Sarko is irked by Obama's refusal to meet him last weekend. He was keen to be the first foreign leader to see the President-elect and he  offered to make the hop to Chicago for the session with his "copain" (pal), as he calls Obama.

Sarkozy's strategy on world affairs has evolved. He subscribes to a new doctrine of "relative powers", devised by Jean-David Levitte, his diplomatic adviser (who is called the real Foreign Minister by the Nouvel Obs). This means that France can enhance its power by being close to all the big players, whatever their governing regime. We have seen this in action with Sarko's overtures to Moscow and Beijing.

In reality the policy is not very new. "Sarko l'Américain" as he was once proud to be known, is just reverting to classical French mode, performed by all leaders from Charles de Gaulle to Jacques Chirac. Keeping a distance from America helps give traction to French foreign policy. But Sarko remains in awe of the wounded super-power and must be thrilled with the gushing admiration that his latest wife receives from the likes of David Letterman.   

Comments

[Fernandez]

'Beautiful and bland' yes. Dave was his usual self. I thought her comments re Bush were very 'diplomatic'.

As for the rest, I agree entirely.

[Daisy]

Carla Bruni certainly knows where the spotlight is and she seems pathologically drawn to it. It is a bit cringe-making the way she is desperately kissing up to the Obamas. It reeks of desperation.

I'm glad Obama snubbed Sarko last week. Seems that Mr. O knows what a meal Sarko would have made of his photo-op. I could (genuinely) start to like Obama if he keeps this up. Sarko can hold all the summits he wants, it's still America that the world will be watching. Sarko better hang onto BHO's coattails.

[Dwayne]

Dave is the best on US late-night tellie.

[azloon]

letterman's sardonic style is perfect for interviewing the coy carlita. the 'pope' bit was vintage dave.

[rocket]

I know many people in the USA who are interested in Carla Bruni. They keep asking me to send the nude photo links.

[rocket]

As far as Dave being the best on Late night. A comedian is only as funny as his writers and over the past 15 years American writers have exploited the "stupid" effect. KSS. Keep it Simple Stupid. Kind of a Jerry Springer effect. What the hell, it gets audience right?

I don't find this guy funny. He can't hold a candle to Carson and late night tv is really for the feeble minded. The monologues suck big time.

[azloon]

Roquet

that you mention letterman in the same sentence with jerry springer makes me wonder about you. :)

[razatork]

i hate her, and so does everybody i know, someone just tells her to shut up please. The "melange des genres", enough already, I don't want to see the first lady of france do some lousy promotion on some cheap late night show in the us. no i don't, and nobody here does.

Someone tells her where her place is please, she's first lady and she just doesn't seem to know it.

You know how french political commentators like to link politicians with figures of the past, she is the new marie antoinette, i hope the americans like her too.

Anybody knows where we stored that guillotine again ??

and i agree with ROCKET: letterman isn't funny and late night tv is retarded; as first lady of france, she should NOT BE THERE.

[Romain]

Have you seen Medvediev's imitation of Sarkozy ? Hilarious, pity its too short.

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ACflMRlvQ3w

I am not sure Sarko is reviving the so-called De Gaulle's anti-atlantist stance. More voices in the world call for multirateralism, as opposed to Bush administrations' unilateralism.

[Don]

]CB wrote: “ France can enhance its power by being close to all the big players, whatever their governing regime. We have seen this in action with Sarko's overtures to Moscow and Beijing. In reality the policy is not very new. "Sarko l'Américain" as he was once proud to be known, is just reverting to classical French mode, performed by all leaders from Charles de Gaulle to Jacques Chirac. Keeping a distance from America helps give traction to French foreign policy.”]

If I might add, it is nice to see my view confirmed about the direction of French foreign policy since WW II.

On this blog I wrote about a week ago (Nov. 13):
“During the Cold War France played Russia (USSR) off against the U.S. with their belief in a multi-polar world ever since DeGaulle kicked NATO out of France (1959). [DeGaulle kicked out all foreign nuclear forces in 1959 which was the only true deterrent to the Soviet Union at that time because of the Warsaw pact's overwhelming conventional superiority.]

Pursuing this multi-polar world and not feeling comfortable with the "hyper-power" (Vedrine - Foreing Minister of France) they continue to play Russia off against the U.S. The U.S. cautioned Europe not to become dependent on the then USSR (now Russia) for their energy but this was not in keeping with the multi-polar world that France advocated. Since the late 1980's France and other EU countries have become more and more dependent on Russia for energy.”

Playing this multi-polar foreign policy game is making France ever more dependent on Russia for their energy needs (recent Nice Summit meeting with Russia was all about trade and energy). It will be very interesting to see the fruit of this French policy as France has to dance with the Russian Bear for the next 10 to 20 years at least becasue they are dependent on them for a vital resource. No one should be surprised if the foreign policy of France is tilted towards Russia during those years. Given the position they have put themselves in, it is only to be expected they would be biased in favor of Russia - but at what price to their integrity and to their stated view on human rights?

[rocket]

RAZATORK

"and i agree with ROCKET: letterman isn't funny and late night tv is retarded; as first lady of france, she should NOT BE THERE."

"Late night tv is retarded"

That makes her presence all the more relevant.

Notice how she didn't sing. Praise the Lord!

Notice how they were speaking about "dating" It's funny but in the cat houses of Nevada they also call it dating.

[Arto]

Mon pauvre DON si tu espère faire avaler aux Français qu'il serait mieux pour tout le monde qu'il n'y ait qu'une seule grande puissance sur terre, et que ce soit les USA, bien entendu, et bien t'es pas couché ! Bon courage quand même !

[rocket]

Heres the Sarkozy -Medvediev press conference

Notice Charles Bremner at 3:03. Front row at that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wdz0QY-h74&NR=1

[Rick]

Poor ARTO, if there’s one unstable element with whom the world might well dispense, it’s that hyperactive little man whose name escapes me. According to a former chief economist of the IMF, he ‘claimed he put a bell on the American cat’: America had been so convinced by the brilliance of his ideas that its agreement had been forthcoming without the tiresome process of negotiation!!

Mon pauvre ARTO, ça fait 63 ans que les États-Unis vous protègent – que vous le vouliez ou non. Grand temps que vous l’avaliez, ce petit fait si nuisible à tous vos partis pris, hein ?

[christopher muir]

Well, I found her presentation quite impressive. She had worked out the target audience nicely, wanted to sell her CDs and give an impression of loyalty to her official position while enjoying eternal independence. One day her two roles may well collide - with a bang.

[qwerty]

"playing this multi-polar foreign policy game is making France ever more dependent on Russia for their energy needs" (don)

The whole of Europe and not just France depends on Russia for its gas. France thanks to nuclear energy is self sufficient for electricity.

Daisy: duh...

[dot king]

"Notice Charles Bremner at 3:03. Front row at that!"

Rocket

Normal, c'est le type du Times de Londres!
Could be Jean Durry though . . .

;D

[dot king]

"While officially delighted by Obama's election, Sarkozy is said by people close to him to be worried that he will be eclipsed by the new US President."

CB

Hmm, the whole world is in crisis, the banks are crashing, the stock markets drop even further with every passing day; people are losing their homes, their jobs; war is being waged, refugees are on the march; the weather is doing its bit to add to the general climate of disaster - and Sarkozy is worried about his image and his popularity.

Dream on Nicolas - I think for the rest of the world, you are good entertainment value, not much else.
It doesn't bode well that you're already eclipsed by Carla Bruni.

[richard.jones]

Since 1945 the USA has been paying a considerable portion of Japan's and Europe's (EU+) defence bill. There is probably a decline in the amount after 1990 but the proportion has probably not diminished very much.

[rocket]

OT

Obama's phone records breached

Some time ago CB did a piece on Sarkozy's bank records being breached.

Please read below

http://tinyurl.com/6pe8wm

At the time I suggested that the bank employees who breached Sarkozy's records would not be fired.

Does anyone have any follow up on this.

[azloon]

[I don't want to see the first lady of france do some lousy promotion on some cheap late night show in the us.] Razortork

and she's not cheap???

it's all show biz, mon ami.

the last time she was in NY, she and napolean2 we posing for freaking fashion photos in their waldorf-asrtoria hotel room.

and now i see from the Dati ring story that 'bling' shots are officially a no-no. oh my god, my head hurts.

marshall mcluhan and andy warhol predicted all this many years ago.

the medium is the message and it your time is limited.

as far as i know, the french royal couple weren't exempted from these 'laws.'

[Do-re-mi]

I read this summer in the French Marie Claire that she wanted a career like Eva Peron. Rahm Emanuel forbid his staff to appear on Colbert, do you think someone could have told Carla not to appear on Dave Letterman as he would have made fun of her ever so subtly?
I am starting to be hypnotised by her cheekbones, she must be sharing her botox surgeon with Nicole Kidman. Bitching over.

[dot king]

Dear Jean Durrie,
How clever of you to find a clip of Carla Bruni being interviewed by Lionel Jospin - in English too.

;D

[Arto]

" ça fait 63 ans que les États-Unis vous protègent "

Heureux de l'apprendre ! Tu vis dans quel film ?

Dans tous les cas je te souhaite bonne chance et bon courage si tu espères convaincre les français des bienfaits d'une hyper-puissance et d'un monde uni-polaire.

[Mauvezin]

>> RICK
"Mon pauvre ARTO, ça fait 63 ans que les États-Unis vous protègent – que vous le vouliez ou non."
*****************
Serait-ce uniquement pour nos beaux yeux !?
Connaissant les americains , s'ils nous ont aidé c'est bien qu'ils y ont trouvé avantage.
Nous n'oublierons jamais les mots de Miss C Rice "Punish France".
NB: Soit dit en passant,si les USA sont ce qu'ils sont la France n'y fut pas pour rien, aidant à son independance et vendant pour une bouchée de pain,en 1803, la moitié de son territoire actuel .

[Toma]

To Rick: The USA helped Europe because its stability is essential for them.
I would like also to point out that the french secret service did warn the CIA about a large scale terrorist plot several month before september 11th. What did the CIA? Nothing.
Sometimes it might be useful to listen to people that think differently. That could be the point of "multipolarity", no ?

[thinknoworpaylater]

RICK - It was63 years ago as you say- do yoy wantto live in yhe past, the present or the future. The E.U. is already big (maybe too big). China, India, (and who knows Africa?) Will destabilize American authority. I Heard today that a major U.S. Intelligence Organization which predicts the future (?) every four years suggests that American domination will not last - tough - would you prefer it continued? ( Irak Afghanistan Guantanomo rendition torture ?) Patronise as you like there is a contemporary problem coming out of America. The America you speak of (which I can admire - 45 years ago ) is not he same America that exists today. Coming to terms. Coming to terms with that is the next problem for Americans. Azlloon = I like your posts generally but the last is a bit bizarre (or over-condensed). Marshall Mcluhan was talking about the Global Village produced by media change - how right he was- but he imagined a media change not the econo-political changes that have occurred - he didnt imagine the power of global capitalism (especially financial Capitalism) to invade all time and space. Now we see the unregulated consequences. Warhol is a better case since he spoke of `15 minutes of fame for everyone reflecting the triviality of much media presentation. However the *the Royal Couple* are there for another 3.5 years. Actually poor old Nick S. will have to put up with lots of problems because he set in train many legislative programmes, lots of cuts in pulic services etc. which he will have to reverse (difficult to slow down or stop) or the economic crisis in France will be even worse than is necessary. If he doesnt his image will be pretty bleak. Many Governments are now spending not saving. His whole policy programme was based on savings by cutting public expenditure and assuming the the private sector would stay on an even keel. This is clearly not the case - look at he problems in the car industry (and world-wide). His future image - real , virtual, or photographic is problematic.

[thinknoworpaylater]

RICK - It was63 years ago as you say- do yoy wantto live in yhe past, the present or the future. The E.U. is already big (maybe too big). China, India, (and who knows Africa?) Will destabilize American authority. I Heard today that a major U.S. Intelligence Organization which predicts the future (?) every four years suggests that American domination will not last - tough - would you prefer it continued? ( Irak Afghanistan Guantanomo rendition torture ?) Patronise as you like there is a contemporary problem coming out of America. The America you speak of (which I can admire - 45 years ago ) is not he same America that exists today. Coming to terms. Coming to terms with that is the next problem for Americans. Azlloon = I like your posts generally but the last is a bit bizarre (or over-condensed). Marshall Mcluhan was talking about the Global Village produced by media change - how right he was- but he imagined a media change not the econo-political changes that have occurred - he didnt imagine the power of global capitalism (especially financial Capitalism) to invade all time and space. Now we see the unregulated consequences. Warhol is a better case since he spoke of `15 minutes of fame for everyone reflecting the triviality of much media presentation. However the *the Royal Couple* are there for another 3.5 years. Actually poor old Nick S. will have to put up with lots of problems because he set in train many legislative programmes, lots of cuts in pulic services etc. which he will have to reverse (difficult to slow down or stop) or the economic crisis in France will be even worse than is necessary. If he doesnt his image will be pretty bleak. Many Governments are now spending not saving. His whole policy programme was based on savings by cutting public expenditure and assuming the the private sector would stay on an even keel. This is clearly not the case - look at he problems in the car industry (and world-wide). His future image - real , virtual, or photographic is problematic.

[Rick]

And why was France so short of money that she sold off Louisiana etc? Because 1776+ France had pauperised herself helping to bring the United States into this world. ‘Quelle ingratitude! Never has midwife been so inconsiderately treated! And to put the cherry on the cake, those bl**dy people came along to liberate and then protect us!’

[richard.jones]

@Do-re-mi,

In this day and age you do not need a surgeon to administer Botox, any dermatologist, neurological physician will do.

[richard.jones]

@Do-re-mi,

In this day and age you do not need a surgeon to administer Botox, any dermatologist, neurological physician will do.

[Lex Stevens]

"Since 1945 the USA has been paying a considerable portion of Japan's and Europe's (EU+) defence bill." -- R. Jones

At this time, after entitlements (social security, medicare, medicaid and the like) are taken out of the US budget, SIXTY PERCENT of all budget dollars go to defense. Sixty cents of every dollar! Now, if we stopped paying for a bunch of that, we could afford to have free health care, free higher education, kindergeld, safe bridges, etc.

Hmmm....

[laure]

La france , les Etats-unis ...blablabla ...Arrêtez avec ce jeu stupide de qui a tord qui a raison! C'est ridicule!

[Romain]

I am afraid there is a bug : some comments appear on the recent comments list, but not on the posts themselves.

[Pierre Bernardi]

Dot King, just because Charles says that people near Nicholas say that the president is worried about what people will think about Barack doesn't necessarily make it so. If you brush up on style, you may have a chance at the Canard Enchaîné.

Nicolas Sarkozy has done rather more than a few other "leaders" to coordinate a global response to a global problem. For instance, did you notice the pound drop to 1.16 euros this week? Before matters deteriorate further (and they will), a quick note on France's strategic position: 1) in the west, but connected to the east; 2) north of the mediterranean, but connected to the south; 3) rather less dependent on external sources of energy than a few other countries. Here's a quote from "Dial M for Merde" by Paul West: "It would take a nuclear holocaust that wiped out all of country's vineyards, mineral water springs, car plants, oil refineries, art collections and picturesqe châteaux to make a dent in its fundamental stability."

[Ianys]

Que d'inepties .... et de clichés ..
France is one of the country of Europe the LESS dependant on Russian gas .. don't mix with Germany

Secondly , France is not trying to play "Russia against USA" , c'est ridicule ...

It's the other way around ... USA is acting as a divider of EU countries and wants European countries to play their game ( enlarge Nato to Russia neighbours , plant missiles at their borders , undermine and divide UE everytime it can and not only politically .

Remember well the CNN and Fox news anti-French bashing for 2 years , We will NEVER forget this , same as we will NEVER forget "punish France" by Bush's black puppet Rice nor we will forget what was written on US tank in Bagdad against us and showed on CNN , French people have an excellent memory and sense of dignity , we honour WWII veterans every year (perhaps even more than American themselves proportionally), but that doesn't mean we'll act as lackeys of their sons , especially if they go against UN . Death toll in Iraq is increasing , but of course no one here cares .. they are muslims right... better to blame France for being worried about neo-cons imperialism and impunity and wanting an independant and strong Europe . Better scare everyone with Russia (that you treated with shame in the 90's when Yeltsin was ruining his country , toyour great joy ) whereas UK is first investor there right ? talking about hypocrisy ..

[Do-re-mi]

@ Richard.jones
In this day and age you do not need a surgeon to administer Botox, any dermatologist, neurological physician will do.

I know, I was saying that because Carla's face is looking particulierement figée, like Nicole Kidman's. If you watch the trailer for Australia ( the new movie by Baz Luhrmann, I was concentrating on Hugh Jackman's chest but..) or the OTT ad for Chanel.5, her face is not moving at all, just her eyes are used to convey emotions ( a bit limiting). It's not simple bitchiness, I am getting on, looking on and looking around for aging faces of known women getting I see " frozen faces" and it's depressing.

[dot king]

"@ Richard.jones
In this day and age you do not need a surgeon to administer Botox, any dermatologist, neurological physician will do."

Do-Ré-Mi

I'm with you on this - how an actress can allow anyone to take away her capacity for facial expression is beyond me.
I was shocked the other evening to see an advert on TV for what I presume were Botox face-lifting "virtues". I couldn't take it in at first, but the final shot showed a syringe next to the box containing the product.
Incredible.

[Rocket]

Lex

"we could afford to have free health care..."

Free health care. Surely you jest. Could you explain what free health care is and don't say France. I pay over 8K€ per year in France.

You are beginning to sound like Michael Moore who once said that the French had free health care. So if it's free why is there always a deficit that needs to be financed and how is that financing carried out.

By the hand of God!

[Daniel Strohl]

THINKNOWORPLAYLATER

"I Heard today that a major U.S. Intelligence Organization which predicts the future (?) every four years suggests that American domination will not last"

This organization is called "National Intelligence Council" and the name of its report is "Global trends 2005".

I read an article in the "spiegel on line" commenting this report - I saw also one or two comments on this report in the French press.

If one believes the Spiegel, the report describes a multi-polar world, the main poles (besides the US, still present but in regression) being China, India, Iran, Turkey, Indonesia. The journalist didn't mention Europe in this list - may be the authors of the report noticed that some European minds are still full busy fighting the 1940 battles ... Therefore, no need to worry with European competition in world matters :)

Herafter a link to the spiegel article :

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,591748,00.html

[azloon]

[same as we will NEVER forget "punish France" by Bush's black puppet Rice] IANYS

[Death toll in Iraq is increasing , but of course no one here cares .. they are muslims right...] IANYS

you reveal your own racist thinking in mentioning ms. rice's color. ce qui pertinence? does her race magnify or detract from her 'puppetness?"

you are pointing out a truth in your suggestion that war against another race or religion generally is more palatable that against one's own race/nationality.

[azloon]

THINKNOW

my only point about mcluhan is that 'it's all about image' (the 'medium,' not substance, is the message.....

and that one only has a very short moment in time to get that image across, as andy reminds us.

hence, the many pitiful examples of celebrities/politicians, often the same people, vying for public approval.

[azloon]

"National Intelligence Council"

hhhmmmmm.....

now there's a name of an organization i am inclined not to give any credence to whatsoever (i read quite a bit and have never seen it mentioned).

the u.s. may be declining (as is most everybody else), but this group is probably not the people who are going to 'break' the story.

i think the WMD info may have come from these people.

[Do-re-mi]

Dot

That actress go insane about their looks is quite understandable but the madness is spreading to ordinary women. I think we have escaped one conformity and are sliding towards another because centuries of oppression can't be eradicated by a session of bra burning. We are bombarded with images and reality is becoming unappealing.

The sister of a friend has had a facelift and nobody has the courage to tell her she looks like a freak, obviously the rest of her body looks odd now.
The fact that Madonna is looking like a drag queen is scary to me, her gyrating and showing her cougar skills on Justin on the " 4 minutes" video even more so, very Valley of the Dolls.

[dot king]

"National Intelligence Council"

Hmm, shades of "The Navy Lark" :)

[isobel]

To Lex following on from Rocket- re "free" health care in France there's an interesting article in this week's French Elle on the subject.It points out that the Michael Moore view of the French system doesn't actually bear much relation to reality.
Anyone who earns more than 600 euros a month doesn't qualify for free health care.They then have to pay between 40 and 150 euros per month to get a "mutuelle" a type of top up insurance (which doesn't necessarily cover all the costs of treatment).A dentist from a Paris suburb is quoted saying that he often finds 15 year olds who have lost all their teeth. Although the French have an excellent health care system , as Rocket says it doesn't come cheap.

[azloon]

[A dentist from a Paris suburb is quoted saying that he often finds 15 year olds who have lost all their teeth.]

teeth have never been europe's strong suit, though that must be changing over there by now.

i don't imagine that we'd have 'smiley faces' [ :) ] if it had been up to europeans. their version might have looked like this :I

and that's not all about bad teeth. but good dental hygiene and a liberal dose of (faux?) cheerfulness were key to american invention of the smiley face.

[dot king]

"Anyone who earns more than 600 euros a month doesn't qualify for free health care.They then have to pay between 40 and 150 euros per month to get a "mutuelle" a type of top up insurance"

Isobel

Everyone pays for health care in their social security contributions. The "mutuelle" is optional, but it's better to have it of course.
Holders of a Carte Vitale have their consultancy and pharmacy costs reimbursed for a proportion by the CPAM and for the rest by their "mutuelle" - in that way, one can say that's it's free, in that the full cost is reimbursed.
It's correct though to say that these reimbursements don't cover expensive dental work, or glasses which are also very expensive.
Sometimes a specialist will charge a supplement to the normal fee, some mutuelles cover this, but not all, and the amount can vary, but it should always be on display in the waiting room (I really must get a new keyboard - I'd typed "toom" - the doctor's waiting-toom :)).

As for the very poor, those without contributions paid into the system, I don't know how that works, but I do know there's been a campaign recently to stop doctors refusing to treat them (sorry I can't remember the set of letters that gives this a name - someone will know and supply it).
Of course it's the very poor who are often the ones most in need of easily accessible health-care, and I believe that when such systems were set up, it was considered that those who could pay into the system would help those who couldn't, so the most disadvantaged would at least get the care they needed.
Times have changed.

[Anna]

Dot King is referring to the CMU (Couverture Maladie Universelle).

[Daniel Strohl]

AZLOON,

"i think the WMD info may have come from these people"

LOL !

This reminds me of a famous American "futurologue" called Herman Kahn who made similar projections in the sixties, saying that France due to its many assets would climb steadily to become the first economical power in Europe (at that time, Germany was still separated in two countries).

However, and of course, he didn't include in his calculations May 68, then the two oil shocks of the seventies (which did of course also hit France's competitors), then May 1981, Mitterrand and so on ... All these events had consequences, mainly negative consequences :).

PS : May be it would be safer to rely upon Nostradamus' predictions :). However, they are a bit ancient since Nostradamus was born in 1503 and died in 1566 ...