Queen Elizabeth appeals for France, Britain to set aside dispute over Iraq

[Barrett808]

PARIS (AFP) - Queen Elizabeth II urged France and Britain to put aside their differences over the Iraq war as she began a three-day state visit to France to mark the centenary of the Entente Cordial agreement that ended the two countries' ancient rivalry.

"We cannot allow current political tensions, whatever the feelings they create on one side or the other, divide us over the long term," she said in a speech -- delivered in French -- at a banquet hosted by President Jacques Chirac in her honour.

"We know that neither our two great nations, nor Europe, nor the Atlantic alliance, can allow themselves to be shaken apart or to have disputes in the face of the threats which confront all of us and our safety and our prosperity," she said.

Although couched in diplomatic language that avoided direct mention of Iraq, the audience of British and French dignitaries at Chirac's official residence were left in no doubt as to the thrust of queen's message.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040405/wl_afp/france_britain_royal&cid=1512&ncid=1480

[ChompySnack]

1. Let's quit arguing

Just agree with us...

[AJ BENDER]

2. Blow it Out Your Ass Lizzie !

:mad:

Who the Hell elected you

[goforit]

14. Tooo funnny and well said!!!.Betcha Princess Diane's laughing up there

in Heaven!!!

The Old Bag's getting a little worried about this
European Union Obstacle.
It's ruining her Imperialistic party!!!!

Tisk-tisk-tisk-

[PartyPooper]

17. At least, Elizabeth II is a well-bred royal...and, a reigning monarch!

Junior only thinks he is!

BTW, when I say "well-bred", I mean to say she's got manners-Junior is sorely lacking in that department as well!

:eyes:

[DulceDecorum]

44. Well-bred or in-bred?

She is her own kith AND kin.

[lumpy]

29. Some asses are located

in the area of the face.

[andy12]

13. tony writes for betty

Keep in mind that the office of the Prime Minister writes all of Betty's speeches

[lumpy]

27. Prime Minister's office writes "Betty's" speeches?

Hardly. Queen Elizabeth knows perfectly well the restrictions placed on her politicizing. She is well schooled in the limitations of her role as queen. She is experienced in doing her duty in balancing her role with that of politicos. She doesn't deserve infantile aspersions and insults carelessly thrown her way.

[jmcgowanjm]

31. what does England get from the Royalty

The kneeling subjects give their hard earned
quid to an incestuous fascist family.

Spencers (Diana) should be there according to
english rules.

In exchange for what.

[lumpy]

33. Best to ask an Englishman, jmc, why

they love their country and traditions just like those who kneel to Bush and contribute to his miltary peccadillos. The difference, Queen Elizabeth doesn't advocate bombing innocent people and privately did not support the Iraq invasion . What are we getting out of contributing to Bush's War in Iraq? Huge debt and the disgrace and unconsciencness of causing untold human death including our own. Incestuous fascist family? Take a gander at the Bush dynasty. Bushco is the closest thing to fascism we have ever experienced.
What has Diana got to do with it. She couldn't handle the princess role knowing full well that her melding with Charles was not a love match.

[jmcgowanjm]

37. We're on the same page lumpy, I'm with you 100%.

Hey, is it true that Prince Phillip is in charge of
both MI5 and 6?

[SemperEadem]

47. No kidding

She needed to learn from the example of Queen Alexandra.

[Stella_Artois]

41. A huge profit

Apart from the fact that most Brits just plain don't want the country to be without a Royal Family and don't see why we should throw away over a thousand years of tradition just because some Americans don't understand the meaning of the word the Royals cost the taxpayer around £130 million a year which is dwarfed by the over £7 billion that foreign tourists spend in the UK each year.

Thats even before you work out how much the business they bring to the country by attending various trade fairs accross the world, meeting with foreign buisness men, their work as apolitical diplomats and patronage of many many charities.

They are worth their weight in gold, literally.

[supernova]

50. The Foreign Office writes the queen's speeches

when she needs to say something diplomatic.

The BBC told me so last night! ;-)

[Sagan]

3. I hate this fait accompli crap..

The Chimpministration pulls it all the time.

"Oh, I know we were wrong, I know you disagreed with us, I know we fucked things up in a spectacular fashion. Can't you stop arguing and come get into my mess with me?"

[stellanoir]

4. translation. . . "Now children. . .

. . .let's not embellish or over emphisize all the droves of scorched & limbless bodies stuff.

Stiff upper lip. . .we've colossally botched global imperialism before.

Carry on. . .nevermind. . ."

[otohara]

10. LOL -

I was thinking of something similar to post. Can't possbily top this.

[0007]

15. Great!!

[lumpy]

34. Be prepared to stiffen

your upper lip. It will be needed.

[rjbcar27]

5. I agree with you Your Majesty.

[stellanoir]

9. rjbcar27. . .

consider yourself knighted dahhh-rling.

[Aidoneus]

11. Why do you still even have a Queen?

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Because we know what your president is like

and the presidential elections ;-)

I always tell people in the UK we could aim for a president like Ireland or Germany (ie outside day-to-day politics), but few people listen. The echo of empire is still too loud - people here like the ceremony (and the tabloid gossip).

[Guy_Montag]

23. We could try to have a fairly non-political president...

... like the Germans, Irish or Israelis, but how long would it be before someone like Blair or Thatcher usurps it into a position of power.

I believe that a president would become more & more like the American one.

A constitutional monarchy is a bit democratically dodgy, but if I didn't live in Blighty, I would want to live in one of the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway or Finland (ie. good standard of living, good social care etc.) 4/5 of them are constitutional monarchies.

Also worth remembering Betty's not just head of state for the UK, but also most of the Commonwealth, which makes changing things here difficult until every other Commonwealth country does.

[lumpy]

35. The same reason we

have an idiot running the Oval Office. American tradition.

[SemperEadem]

48. because it's their choice

no one but Bush and those who are in cahoots with him think that they are royalty in this country.

[lumpy]

28. Are you sure you know what you

are agreeing with rjbcar27?

[utopian]

6. Was this before or after her drum solo?

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. If she slapped Tony in the side of the head

.
.
.

THAT would get my respect.

[yellowcanine]

8. I hope they gave her the right height lecturn this time

A few years back when Lizzie visited the U.S. she was dubbed the "talking hat" by the British Press when some dimwit put her behind a lectern that was too tall for her.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

19. That was during the first Bush Administration

In about 1990 -I remember it well

[CO Liberal]

12. But Does Queen Elizabeth Truly Appeal to Anybody???

:shrug:

[T_i_B]

21. British traditionalists

Conservative British types who like tradition and a bit of pomp n' ceremony. That's whom the Queen appeals to most.

[Guy_Montag]

24. And tourists!! £££ n/t

[CO Liberal]

39. I Meant Physical Attraction

Let's face it - Her Majesty ain't the most attractive person on the planet.

[T_i_B]

43. Ahem

Being a monarchist does not mean that you want to give the Queen a shag! It means that you want the Queen as a ceremonial head of state.

Still, could be worse, could be Charles. :eyes:

[CO Liberal]

46. You Mean "Dumbo"?

:-)

[SemperEadem]

49. gawd, how utterly pedestrian

she's 80+ years old, the supreme governor of the Church of England---how sexy, exactly, do you need the head of your church to be?

What do her looks have to do with anything? Immature.

[MasonJar]

16. Why are y'all so fond of monarchy bashing? If you study the

history of France and England through history, you will find that they have fought many wars. It is a sensible attitude to express. Did she ask them to support the war? I think not. Please have some sympathy for the Queen; good, grief, she had to put up with our undistinguished pResident for several days and his entourage. Think how he undoubtedly embarrassed us all with his ignorance and arrogance. The British are used to a different kind of guest. If this country elects Bush again, the world will know we are indeed "the Ugly American."

[Sannum]

18. Actually,

Her Majesty is quite liberal in her personal politics, (not that she can come out and say it). She opposed the war in Iraq. She and Blair, who once got along fantastically, only exchange formalities these days. From what I have heard, she loathes the Bushes. She is only saying these things because, lets face it...she has to.

I am an american, but I like and admire QE2. She has served her country well for over 50 years, despite all of the nutty in-laws and other things she has had to deal with. I am certain that she could out-talk and debate any politician with her experience. She is above politics in her position, but she is very shrewd. She wants Blair and Bush out as much as we do.

[PartyPooper]

20. Thank you. And, so does Charles III, too!

;-)

[lumpy]

30. Thank you, Sannum

This country should have such an example to look up to. Elizabeth has done an admirable job of trying to hold the people united for the sake of the Commonwealth through war and peace. It is quite likely that Britain would be less united if it weren't for the tradition of the Royal family.

[chelsea0011]

25. Pawn the jewels and help them yourself you figurehead

[lumpy]

26. Queen Elizabeth's role is to be apolitical,

at least publically. She has the right to exhibit diplomacy and mosty likely her message concerned continuing the Entente Cordial agreement between France and Great Britain as stated in the article. It is incorrect to assume she is in agreement with the Bush War or is interfering in political games playing out in the British Parliament.

[jmcgowanjm]

32. Queen's wealth is based on Opium

Hong Kong Shanghai Bank or HSBC now.

http://china.candidemedia.com/html/dispatches/thirteen/13featurea.html

Opium cultivation has reached record levels in Afghanistan, World Bank president James Wolfensohn warned yesterday.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,915127,00.html

Guess who's subjects will be consuming
this windfall of the War on Terror.

[lumpy]

36. Bush's terrorist enemies

will benefit most likely. Bush wealth is based on Grandpa's dealing with Hitler and oil exploitation.

[jmcgowanjm]

38. lumpenproletariat

For modernist users of the term lumpenproletariat, the
more colloquial use of the term to mean the
chronically unemployed "dangerous class" whose
members refuse to participate in the economic system,
go to the polls to vote for handouts, and generally will
not help themselves through legitimate means even
when offered assistance has some overlap with Marx's
and Engels' usage, but lacks the specific meaning that
Marx's usage had in the context of his theory of class-consciousness and materialist theory of
history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumpenproletariat

So if I think that Bush is not my leader
then can I assume that the Queen is not yours?

Or put another way, would you die for the Queen?

BTW-Bush and the British Monarchy have been joined at the
hip for decades if not longer.

http://www.themedianews.com/DAGGER/Middle-Finger/middle_03_14.htm

[lumpy]

40. Lumpenproletariat

I have to assume that Elizabeth is neither a prostitute, begger nor homeless. Neither am I. I have to assume that you find it fascinating also that my board name might be a match for the expression lumpenproletariat. Actually Lumpy was a pet name I bestowed on my long deceased family dog.
If your questions are directed at me I feel it is my obligation to answer as best I can considering I find them rather confusing.
You can assume the Queen is not my leader and I do not consider Bush a true leader of anyone.
No I would not die for the Queen.
I realize that the Duke of Winsor and his wife admired Herr Hitler in the hightest degree as did several of British aristocracy. I'm sure the royal family would be happy to shove that particular chapter of history into the dumpster.
Also I am not aware of Prince Phillip's connection to M16 or any other black cape orgs.
I try to not be soley taken in by conspiracy mongers such as Sherman Skolnick and look to all sources to come to conclusions as to the validity of conspiracy theories. The problem with conspiracy theories is that it is difficult to come to any conclusion since every conspiracy theory has many different interpretations. So it is more expedient to look at the here and the now without fogging up the scenario with tidbits of unverified information.
In other words it doesn't take a rocket scientist and an all consuming exploration into history to know that Bush and his evil connections are power hungry charlatans and have done great harm to this world of terrible confusion and conflict.

[jmcgowanjm]

42. A late reply, lumpy. I appreciate your response.

I didn't -consciously make the connection until after I
posted. But I did catch it.

We're making acquaintence on the fly. I like your
candor. My opinion of British royalty has been formed
from ancestors-Sottish, Irish, and French.

I admire the British, and try to keep up with their
opinions on world events. Your press is alot more
informative right now than ours.

On my sources, I like to think that I have the ability
to discern the Realpolitik of a situation by
triangulating info from across the political
spectrum. An article must have some truth
or it's boring.

If you miss this post, I'm sure we'll see each other later.
I look forward to it.
Peace
James

[Freddie Stubbs]

45. At least France and the US have buried the hatchet and are cooperating

in places like Haiti.