"Trump misses cemetery visit as Macron and Merkel vow unity "
Kim Willsher in Compiegne Sat 10 Nov 2018 15.10 EST
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/10/macron-merkel-trump-armistice-compiegne
There is a pic I chose not to use showing Macron patting Tweety on the leg as the two sit for the standard chair by chair pics. I like the Merkel-Macron pic better. Tweety looks like e is pouting in the other pic because Macron reminded him that "nationalism" helped lead the world to WWI.
I am not sure what Tweety thought he was going to the ceremony to do and say, but he did not get what he wanted I am certain.
"In World War I Remembrance , France's Macron denounces nationalism as a 'betrayal of patriotism' "
By David Nakamura, Seung Min Kim, and James McAuley November 11 at 6:58 AM
"PARIS — In the shadow of a grand war memorial here, French President Emmanuel Macron marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I by delivering a forceful rebuke against rising nationalism, calling it a “betrayal of patriotism” and warning against “old demons coming back to wreak chaos and death.”"
Macron’s speech in French to more than 60 global leaders, including President Trump, aimed to draw a clear line between his belief that a global order based on liberal values is worth defending and those who have sought to disrupt that system.
Those millions of soldiers who died in the Great War fought to defend the “universal values” of France, Macron said, and to reject the “selfishness of nations only looking after their own interests. Because patriotism is exactly the opposite of nationalism.”"
Macron was repeating historic values of Charles DeGaulle for obvious reasons.
" . . . a pointed rebuke to Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and others in the audience."
"Ahead of the ceremony, dozens of world leaders dressed in black strode shoulder-to-shoulder along the Champs Elysees toward the Arc. Military jets streaked overhead, emitting red, white and blue smoke, the colors of France.
Yet Trump and Putin did not participate in the processions."
"But Trump and Putin took their own motorcades to the event and made separate entrances a few minutes after the main group. "
The "playmates," Tweety and Putin, appear to travel together, so why not use same limo? lol!
My comments on the Macron-Trump pic are these: Poor little Tweety, baby want a cookie? He looks like he is pouting sitting there with Macron. Macron looks like he feels sorry for Tweety as he pats his leg.
"Armistice Day: Macron and Merkel mark end of World War One"
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46165903
"French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have left their own mark of reconciliation at the start of events to mark the centenary of the end of World War One.
They signed a book of remembrance in a railway carriage identical to the one in which the 1918 Armistice was sealed.
US President Donald Trump is among world leaders attending the events.
But Mr Trump caused controversy by cancelling a trip to a US cemetery on Saturday because of bad weather."
Sad draft dodger Trump who often pretends like he loves military weapons and other "toys," disrespects American dead at WWI anniversary because of weather? Ha! No, more likely he just felt like being by himself. He is staying in his room rather than attending ceremonies to honor fallen soldiers. Sad old fart he is.
President Trump cannot or will not handle his duties to represent America. We are not a proud, respectful country with his as our "leader." Leading from behind, again.
"‘Real low energy’: Critics pile on after Trump cancels visit to U.S. military cemetery outside Paris"
David Nakamura, Seung Min Kim and, James McAuley 10 Nov 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trump-and-macron-meet-whats-left-to-talk-about/2018/11/10/680a014c-e1ec-11e8-ba30-a7ded04d8fac_story.html?utm_term=.2d321a390d32
"PARIS — President Trump flew 3,800 miles to this French capital city for ceremonies to honor the military sacrifice in World War I, hoping to take part in the kind of powerful ode to the bravery of the armed forces that he was unable to hold in Washington.
But on his first full day here, it rained on his substitute parade weekend.
Early Saturday, the White House announced Trump and the first lady had scuttled plans, due to bad weather, for their first stop in the weekend’s remembrance activities — a visit to the solemn Aisne Marne American Cemetery, marking the ferocious Battle of Belleau Wood.
It was not completely clear why the Trumps were unable to attend. The cemetery is 50 miles from Paris. Perhaps the president was planning to travel on Marine One, which is occasionally grounded by the Secret Service.
But the sight of dignitaries arriving at other sites outside Paris, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, led some foreign policy analysts to speculate the U.S. commander in chief just wasn’t up for it."
Aww, Trump felt like he might be upstaged! A megalomaniac, narcissist, sociopath!
“It’s incredible that a president would travel to France for this significant anniversary — and then remain in his hotel room watching TV rather than pay in person his respects to the Americans who gave their lives in France for the victory gained 100 years ago tomorrow,” David Frum, who served as a speechwriter to former president George W. Bush, wrote in tweets. Trump is actually staying at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Paris."
There is no good reason to skip the ceremony. Maybe Trump is sick? It is a long trip for an old man to make.
"“There is always a rain option. Always,” he wrote in a tweet. “Trump will use the U.S. military for a pre election political stunt but sits in his hotel instead of honoring those who fought and died for America.”
The cemetery has 2,288 gravesites honoring those who died, including many Americans. The names of 1,060 more Americans who went missing and whose bodies were not recovered are engraved on the walls of the site."
Trump's body language suggested he is sad and distracted. Maybe his feelings got hurt somewhere along the way or in the election results? I feel so sorry for him.
"Trump held [attended?] a bilateral meeting with Macron, but the U.S. president appeared subdued, almost sullen, as Macron tried to mask growing tensions between them. [Trump looks like a little boy . . . child-like. Strangely somber, sullen, and likely thinking of some mean, ugly thing to say and do in America, by tweet as usual.]
When Macron tried to pat Trump’s thigh, the president ignored him and didn’t acknowledge the touch or reciprocate it — a marked difference from their demonstrative power-grip handshakes and back slaps during previous meetings.
Trump is still planning to attend the featured ceremony under the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday where more than 100 world leaders will pay homage to the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the Great War."
No military parade in France this trip . . . maybe THAT is why Tweety is upset? There will be a "Peace Forum" and maybe THAT is why Trump is upset?
"The Peace Forum was intended “a bit as a counterpoint to ‘America First,’ ” Wright said, referring to Trump’s nationalist foreign policy in which he has unsettled allies on trade and defense. “Now they have this weird situation of Trump being there [in Paris] but the forum going against everything he and [National Security Adviser John] Bolton stand for. . . . My impression is that he’s going to pretend like it’s not happening.”"
Payback from some of Obama's folks . . . by tweet no less . . . read it.
"“Real low energy, @realDonaldTrump to not bother to honor the sacrifice of American soldiers in WWI due to some rain. Somehow everyone else was able to do so today. Obama never had this problem. He also visited our troops in war zones,” Kelly Magsamen, who served as a high-ranking Pentagon official on Asia affairs, wrote on Twitter."
Maybe Trump was upset by Macron talking about European defense?
"Fearful of waning U.S. commitment, Macron hinted at a new path forward for Europe during a radio interview this week in which he touted the “project of a sovereign Europe” and argued the continent would not be protected “if we don’t decide to have a true European army.”
“We have to have a Europe that can defend itself alone — and without only relying on the United States — in a more sovereign manner,” he said.
That prompted an angry response from Trump in a tweet he sent as Air Force One touched down in Paris late Friday. Trump revived his frustration over countries in the NATO alliance that do not spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on their militaries."
The dialogue exists, however, between Macron and his buddy Tweety.
"[Macron] Calling Trump “my good friend,” Macron proclaimed “great solidarity” between the two nations and said the leaders will discuss a litany of issues during their one-on-one meeting, including Iran, Syria, Yemen, trade and climate change.
Trump reciprocated Macron’s warm tone, telling the French leader that we “have become very good friends” and that the two countries “have much in common in many ways.”
“I appreciate what you’re saying about burden sharing. You know my view,” Trump said. Later, he added: “We want to help Europe, but it has to be fair.”
Even as their words aimed to gloss over their differences, their body language betrayed the growing tensions.
Foreign policy analysts said Macron and other European leaders have felt burned by Trump, who pulled the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord, both negotiated by the Obama administration.
“I think he has shed any illusion about Trump that flattering him will be a way of getting concessions,” said Wright, the Brookings expert. “But he is hesitant to push back hard because he’s not sure what that will get him. It’s cautious realism.”
OK. that's it.
