France's view on the US President Bush

Résumé du document

He is known as an execrable communicator, with a crippled syntax, reputed for his multiple blunders which the French media are only too eager to report: At the time of his visit to Europe in June 2001, the press thus awaited Bush resolutely, attentive even to the minutest blunder that the president would commit. The press presented this European tour like a test for Bush. He should have received "an accelerated training and revised his cards of international politics in company of his national adviser for safety Condoleezza Rice". His dad also should have set the record straight on "the European mentality".

His blunders are directly bound to his obvious lack of knowledge with regard to international relations. The press did not fail to report that Bush appeared unable to quote the names of the Heads of State mentioned in the press and, in the "Puppets of Information", Bush is shown not knowing who Jacques Chirac is.

Extraits

[...] Le Monde says such allegations may turn out to be part of one of the biggest national lies of recent years. Journalists and newspaper editors like Serge July, editor of Liberation, has also often denounced the manipulation of Bush to make accept the war in Iraq and the use of the fear in order to legitimate it. But the French media seem to have recourse to the same behavior in order to arouse fear of the policy of Bush and the consequences which Europe and more directly France could undergo. [...]

[...] Why do they convey this image? Defense of the French and European Interests At an economic, diplomatic or military level, nothing of what decide the United States is indifferent to Europe. Our growth and our safety are closely related to the American political choices. But with the collapse of the communist threat, Europeans are free today to liberate themselves of the American protection. "To be distinguished from the United States is a means to define an European identity", Le Monde underlines. [...]

[...] One could wonder if the press has not forgotten its duty of impartiality. It is obvious that the press has gone well beyond its duty of information relating to Bush and his policy. In conclusion Bush has been torn to pieces by the French media. Headlines of press between 2000 and 2004 "Portrait of a president badly elected" (14/12/2000) L'Express worrying president" (12/2000) L'Express "Worrying Mr. Bush" (29/08/2002) L'Express "Bush, the imperial president" (14/11/2002) L'Express "GWB and the djihad in the American style" (03/2003) Le Figaro "The shock of two fundamentalisms" (04/2003) Le Monde "George W Bush - the man who spoiled us the year" (12/2003) L'Express "How to help the Americans to get rid of Bush", (28/08/04) Marianne "Why it is necessary to beat Bush" (16/09/04) Le Nouvel Observateur "America yes, Bush No" (16/10/04) Le Monde "Goddammit four years! [...]

[...] Hassner affirms that "Bush settled in a great lie, effective". am pessimistic relating to Bush 2. I think that it will be worse". But by questioning the author of the book "terror and the empire", the searched remarks are obviously partisans. So in addition to being a threat for the world, the head of American State is often portrayed as an arrogant cow-boy, warmonger, ignorant, irresponsible, in love with firearms, oil lobby, death penalty, anti- abortion fight, Church and a fool known for his multiple blunders. [...]

[...] They do not reach however the level of certain striking titles, "GWB and the jihad in the American style" in Le Figaro of March 29-30 or "the shock of two fundamentalisms" in Le Monde of April 1". For the media Bush is not an intellectual; he likes on the contrary the simple ideas and is Manichean. But L'Express outlines that "his lack of complexity stuck perfectly with the after-11september", and that "in the current situation, it is an asset for him to be simplistic and moralist". The image of Bush was severely tarnished by his unilateral standpoint on the environment and the anti-missile shield. [...]