Paris bans protests ahead of Bush's visi

[Robbien]

Demonstrations have been banned in central Paris throughout this week to ensure no hostile protests are in evidence to disturb President George W. Bush's brief presence in the French capital on Saturday, where he will be dining with President Jacques Chirac.

This blanket ban cannot conceal the groundswell of French hostility to the US president and the unpopularity of his policies on Iraq and the broader Middle East.

It nevertheless underscores Mr Chirac's determination to make Mr Bush's stay in France for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day celebrations a friendly occasion and a chance to improve the chilly state of Franco-American relations.

At the beginning of the year Mr Bush had yet to confirm his attendance at the D-Day celebrations of June 6, such was the residue of accumulated mistrust after France's opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq. Even when confirmation came, it seemed his time on French soil would be limited to a diplomatic minimum.

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1085944467743

[truthspeaker]

1. What the fuck happened to Liberte?!

I hope patriotic Frenchman disobey the ban and tell Bush where to stick it.

[FlemingsGhost]

8. What about patriotic Americans? (n/t)

Dems

[schultzee]

12. The French have a history of ignoring orders. Liberty! Go French go.

[Dover]

30. 'D' is for DEMONSTRATION Day

Making History once again as thousands storm the Bushes at Normandy!

[demnan]

2. There is this last vestige of good will and regard

left over from WWII. Bush is the recipient of this regard. The arrogant little bastard won't appreciate it either.

[Just Me]

3. NO WAY!!! Ewwwwww,....THAT makes me so angry!!!!

I wonder what the French citizens make of that!?!?!

:argh:

[truthspeaker]

4. I hope they make barricades in the streets!

[FlemingsGhost]

7. "You first," says the French

The world knows exactly where the French people stand, regarding Bush and his imperialistic endeavors.

[PartyPooper]

5. Free-from-speech zones in Paris?

:wtf:

[femmecahors]

6. Incroyable!

Bush destroys takes away democracy and free speech wherever he goes.

[Snellius]

9. Grovels to the U.N. Cuts and runs in Fallujah. Dines with the French.

Next thing you know he's going to be eating Brie and hot-tubbing in Marin County.

[Richardo]

11. The proper term is "brie and cheese"...

"Brie and cheese." — (Bush) taunting a reporter who recently spent time on the West Coast, Crawford, Texas, Aug. 23, 2001


:eyes: Idiot.

[progressivebydesign]

15. Ah.. 'potatoes and Freedom Fries', I get it! N/T

[FleshCartoon]

10. No wonder...

...he's suddenly calling Chirac his friend.

[Voltaire99]

13. According to the French press...

Liberation says there will be 5,000 police and 1,600 soldiers on hand to protect Bush, forming two cordons around the meeting.

Bush: Boy Fascist in the Bubble.

[PaDUer]

14. The most HATED puke

in the world...Wonder if he's still going to have constant SS until the day he croaks!?

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. All former Presidents are given Secrect Service protection

for the rest of their lives.

[Dover]

31. yeah, and hopefull they've hired some SS guys with the same amount

of dedication and training that George got while in the Reserves.

[Malva Zebrina]

16. Yippee--may the French stick their finger at Bush

they have suffered a lot of humiliation from Bush and his minions as well as from the Republican idiots--as in "freedom fries" and the rest of the adolescent reaction to the French not approving of Bush's slaughter like little obedient puppets, and pre-emptive invasion of an already devastated country.

How cheap--Bush would deserve every bit of protest that they could muster and I say the more power to them since we here in this country who want to protest are put into pens that are far away from the -pressence of the person we are protesting0-the war criminal, George Bush, our so called president, who was not elected.

Let them protest and I will salute the French every chance I get. I will buy French wine and French cheese and everything else French.

Do it. Go to it you French.

[lebkuchen]

17. Relax. Munich tried to do the same thing three years ago

during the Defense Ministers conference.

Marienplatz was packed with people who had red tape across their mouths carrying shopping bags. Riot police were everywhere, and yet the protest march went on. A handful of arrests, but otherwise peaceful.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

18. exactly

The Surete is just covering their culs.

[Rochambeau]

19. Honestly I don't know if the ban will be broken or not...

I think(right or wrong) that it will be far more quiet than in Italy because of the incredible amount of security and military forces. And in Normandy do not expect Bu$h's speech to be booed because the audience will be very, very, very selected. Outside the ceremonies maybe...but for exemple, the mayor of one of the cities (Coleville I think) is the only non-veteran inhabitant invited to the celebrations in his city (!!) and he will have to go to Arromanches(45km) to take a bus under survey that will bring him back to where he's coming from, his own city.
All those celebrations, because of the paranoia (fear of terror and fear to see Bu$h under a rain of tomatoes and rotten eggs (wich is the very obvious scenario without all those precautions and bans)) are becoming laughable and/or very sad. And the one responsible is GWB. Too bad for the veterans and the memory of the heros...Collateral damages....

[Paschall]

20. There WILL be an anti-Bush protest in Paris

The local police have already authorized the demo. Rally and speeches at 5:30pm on Saturday at the Bastille, march to follow (route still in negotiation).

We're in the midst of European parlement elections here, so at least one--if not two--labor demonstrations are also planned earlier on Saturday.

This ban concerns only central Paris. Join us at the Bastille! Over 30 anti-war groups are participating, and bringing members from all over the country for this national demo. It should be big.

See Americans Against the War (France) http://www.aawfrance.net -> Events

[Jack from Charlotte]

21. Where in Paris will AWOL/Moron be?

I just returned from Paris (at a flat at rue de Richelieu. Arr 01) and wondered where political talks/meeting are held there? In the central part of the city or out where the gov offices are?

Also, was in Normandy. The Omaha Beach area is VERY rural and can and will be controlled completely from any protests.

[Joanne98]

22. Goody. I love the French. Give him Hell. :)

[Jack from Charlotte]

26. Wish I could be there to join you. Was at The Bastille area ....

just a few days ago.

[lebkuchen]

29. I remember talking to a handful of French protesters in Munich

Italians were there, too. They came from all over. It was energizing.

[Judi Lynn]

23. Gee, maybe he can drop in and say "hey" to Richard Perle

Maybe they can prop their boots up on Perle's table and pop open a couple.

Perle has a vacation home in the South of France.

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?030317fa_fact



Maybe Perle leans more toward a glass of blood.

[Stockholm]

24. Bush hates French farmers (they really know how to demonstrate) n/t

McDonald's employees pick up thousands of apples thrown by farmers angry at tariffs slapped on several French products by the U.S. early Wednesday, August 25, 1999, in Cavaillon, southern France. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)



Chickens, geese and turkeys brought by angry farmers stand in a McDonald's restaurant in Salon de Provence Saturday, September 4, 1999. The farmers occupied the restaurant to protest the jailing of farmers union leader Jose Bove, arrested after the destruction of a McDonald's restaurant under construction. French farmers have been protesting American trade muscle, globalization and its effects on agriculture for the past two weeks. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

[Aidoneus]

25. a million should flaunt this bullshit

I would hope this at least attacks the misconceptions that American liberals have about the right-wing regime ruling France.

[Dover]

28. I think the protestors should do a 'demonstration' of a D-Day event!

D = Democracy this time around.

[Betty The Younger]

32. Ah you know those French! They will protest anyway! or

¡Ah usted sabe a esos francés! ¡Ellos protestarán de todos modos!