• Let's go back in history !

           After the twin towers attacks, the entire world was mourning and bringing its support to America. Indeed one of the most powerful nations on Earth had been attacked by forces that threatened the American ideologies of freedom and liberty. In the months, following the attacks, government announced its vow to fight against terrorism. These plans were immediately met by an overwhelming support from European countries, even France, who was far from a booster for American hegemony. However, France's most popular newspaper Le monde displayed the headline "we are all Americans!" Moreover within a week of the attacks, French president Jacques Chirac flew to the US, the first foreign head of state to meet with President George W. Bush, in the wake of the attacks.                                                                                            

            Let's go back in history !                      Let's go back in history !                         Let's go back in history !                                George W. Bush                                                Le monde's cover                                               Jacques Chirac

                                                                                                                           

              After a few years the American-European solidarity began to fade, as it was clear that President Bush wanted to create a full-scale military invasion of Iraq, yet the relationship between these two world powers has remained friendly, despite their differing political policies. Things started to get slightly different when in 2003 the US introduced a invasion plan of Iraq to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with the goals to rid the country (under Saddam Hussein's government) of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). France wanted to avoid a war, so Jacques Chirac announced in a televised speech that his “position is that whatever the circumstances, France will vote no”, he made clear his choice to veto Bush's plan, if the resolution passed (it had to get 9 votes out of 15 for that). But later on, even if the UN did not gave its approval on the American plan, on March 20th, 2003 the Pentagon threw the mission "operation Iraqi freedom" and invaded the country. The Iraq War had started. The onset of military action in the Middle East drastically changed the relationship between France and the United States. Cultural tensions and boycott started to appear. Indeed, after France refused to be involved in the Iraq war, the US began to mock the country as it was now considered as a place full of “ Cheese-eating surrender monkeys” (expression used in an episode of the Simpsons then used by the tabloids and media.)

    Résultat de recherche d'images pour "cheese eating surrender monkeys"

           This phenomenon is called the Francophobia. One of the most notable example of this anti-french feeling, is the renaming of the famous “French fries” to “Freedom fries.” Some people would even buy French wine, just to pour it in the gutter. This emphasizes the popular opinion of the American people on the  French opposition on the American diplomatic position. France was then considered as a traitor. Moreover, for numerous politicians, the major reason for Francophobia was linked to France’s desire to create a more powerful European Union, that will challenge the power and influence of the United States. On France’s side, people strongly supported Chirac’s choice not to join the war, but we cannot speak of a strong anti-americanism.        

    Let's go back in history !

                                                                  Menu from a Congressional cafeteria featuring freedom fries.   

               The second major event that took place during this period of time, was France’s reintegration into NATO. The country had quit the alliance back in 1966, and then, under the mandate of Nicolas Sarkozy, it became part of it again. Indeed, on June 2008, the then current President announced his desire to be a part of NATO, which have been voted the following year by the National Assembly, and have been approved. The main reasons why Sarkozy wanted to join the organization again were to increase France’s presence and influence in the Alliance and to boost the European army. At the  occasion of the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on June 2009, France reintegrated it.                                                                                                                                                                                                        Also, more recently, France has faced three tragical events that respectively took place in 2015 and 2016. On January 7th, the satirical journal Charlie Hebdo has been attacked by a group of terrorists, killing 12 people. Right after the attack, President Obama made a speech where he announced this : “ France is America's oldest ally, and has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the fight against terrorists who threaten our shared security and the world. Time and again, the French people have stood up for the universal values that generations of our people have defended.” Moreover, on November 13th 2015, the Paris attacks took place, killing about 130 people. Again, President Obama, came back on the event with a speech where he said : “This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.” Finally, after the attack in Nice on July 14th 2016, Obama also made a speech where he claimed : “We stand in solidarity and partnership with France, our oldest ally, as they respond to and recover from this attack.”                                                                                                                                                                       As we can see, the United States always offered their support to the French people when needed. The spontaneous solidarity between those two nations just show that Francophobia and anti-americanism are just short term phenomenon, and it is really unlikely that the powers would reach a point of total hatred.  

     

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