Obama In France: Sarkozy Pulls Out Red Carpet For President's Arrival (AP)

[jefferson_dem]

Obama In France: Sarkozy Pulls Out Red Carpet For President's Arrival
SLOBODAN LEKIC | April 3, 2009 06:51 AM EST |

STRASBOURG, France — President Barack Obama took his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan on Friday to NATO leaders reluctant to commit significant new forces.

The 28-nation alliance is eager to quickly repair relations with a resurgent Russia, whose president cautioned NATO against further eastward expansion in a warning ahead of the alliance's 60th anniversary summit.

Obama _ who arrived in Strasbourg from London on Friday morning _ was meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel before the formal start of the summit at a dinner at the German resort spa of Baden-Baden.

Sarkozy rolled out all the pomp possible for Obama's visit, with a red carpet arrival with full military honors from a company of soldiers dressed in camouflage at the majestic 18th-century Rohan Palace, once home to the bishops of Alsace. Church bells pealed at the stroke of noon from the nearby Strasbourg cathedral, while helicopters helping ensure security droned overhead.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/03/obama-in-france-sarkozy-p_n_182692.html