HILLARY LOVES FRANCE

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner take part in a joint news conference at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)



 "I have been to France many times, and I always have a good impression. I enjoy visiting in France. I have – in fact, I met the foreign minister’s wife many years ago on a trip to France back – longer than either Christine* or I would care to admit.

And during the trip that you’re referring to that was sponsored by the French-American Foundation, I visited a number of facilities that were really impressive in the way that France provides for preschool care for French children, and came back and made the argument in writing and in many speeches that we could benefit from that kind of commitment to our own young children.

So I not only have enjoyed my time in France, but I have learned a lot from my visits and from my ongoing associations with friends. And I look forward to returning whenever I have the opportunity. "

Hillary paid this fantastic tribute to our country yesterday, and she seemed indeed to get on well with the French foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.


Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, walks out with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, before their joint news conference at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)



What is funny is that she praised our country’s education system as a model for America at the very moment when this system is threatened by Sarkozy's destructive policy and repeated attacks against all our public services !

Hillary has always been impressed by our country’s preschool facilities, but what she probably does not know is that these preschool facilities are daily endangered by the French government's decisions to reduce the number of civil servants, and particularly school teachers.

At the end of the conference she said she is looking forward to returning to France "as soon as possible" : that's a big piece of news for us ! Maybe we will see Hillary here in coming months...

Finally, what struck me yesterday was the relaxed atmosphere between Hillary and Kouchner : this time France and America seemed totally reconciled, and that is comforting.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner share a laugh during their joint news conference at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Feb.5, 2009 (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Forgotten is the time when the Bush administration had a prickly relationship with France at the time of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, to the extent that in congressional cafeteria the words “French fries” were changed to “Freedom fries” on menus !

Thank you, Hillary : France loves you too !