Rock, tell me... When was the last time Israeli PM Sharon dropped by Crawford?
June 4, 2004, 10:32PM
Bush denies blame for rift with France
By BENNETT ROTH
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
ROME -- President Bush accepts no blame for a bitter diplomatic rift with France, but he may finally offer French President Jacques Chirac a little Texas hospitality.
Bush, scheduled to meet with Chirac tonight in Paris, was asked in an interview with Paris Match magazine what went wrong with the U.S.-French alliance that was first forged during the American Revolutionary War.
"You need to talk to the French leadership," Bush responded tersely in the May 28 interview.
The White House released the text on Friday.
Last year, Bush clashed with Chirac, who led the effort on the United Nations Security Council to block support for the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Relations between the countries have been cool since then, as encapsulated in America with references to "freedom fries" rather than french fries.
But the president told the French magazine: "I've never been angry at the French. France has been a long-time ally. I made a difficult decision, and not everybody agreed with it."
The president also indicated Chirac might be asked to visit to his Crawford ranch, an invitation extended only to favored leaders.
On the other hand, the potential invitation was hinted out with minimal enthusiasm.
"If he wants to come and see some cows, he's welcome to come out there and see some cows," Bush said.
Bush suggested that he didn't take offense that the influential Cannes Film Festival in France recently gave a top award to American film maker Michael Moore for his anti-Bush documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11.
"I didn't pay any attention to it," Bush said.
Bush has been trying to repair relations with France on his four-day trip to Europe. He is scheduled to meet with Chirac today at Elysee Palace in Paris. The two leaders will speak to reporters and discuss policy during dinner.
On Sunday, Chirac will host Bush and other leaders at the 60th anniversary ceremony of the D-Day invasion at Arromanches-les-Bains, one of the five beaches that the Allies stormed on June 6, 1944.
Bush will also speak at the American cemetery at Normandy.
chron.com
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