From today’s edition of Canada’s National Post (Picture from Newseum):
French President Nicolas Sarkozy to the U.N. Security Council, “President Obama dreams of a world without weapons… but right in front of us two countries are doing the exact opposite.”
Perhaps before we disarm we need to be sure those who intend to do us harm are doing the same. Don’t you think?
UK Telegraph has the rest of his comments:
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, came close to mocking his American counterpart for the good intentions, which Mr Obama had heralded as an "historic" step towards nuclear abolition, even though it set no specific targets or fresh mandates.
"We live in a real world not a virtual world," the Frenchman told the 15-member council. "And the real world expects us to take decisions.
"President Obama dreams of a world without weapons … but right in front of us two countries are doing the exact opposite.
"Iran since 2005 has flouted five security council resolutions. North Korea has been defying council resolutions since 1993.
"I support the extended hand of the Americans, but what good has proposals for dialogue brought the international community? More uranium enrichment and declarations by the leaders of Iran to wipe a UN member state off the map," he continued, referring to Israel.
The sharp-tongued French leader even implied that Mr Obama’s resolution 1887 had used up valuable diplomatic energy.
"If we have courage to impose sanctions together it will lend viability to our commitment to reduce our own weapons and to making a world without nuke weapons," he said.
Mr Sarkozy has previously called the US president’s disarmament crusade "naïve".
Maura Flynn points out that no U.S. Newspaper features President Sarkozy’s remarks. Interesting.
HT: Memeorandum