If you thought things couldn’t get anymore idiotic, well hold onto your hats!

Janet Napolitano and some foreign governments are upset at the official name of the flu epidemic that is spreading around the globe.

Apparently it isn’t kosher to say swine especially when this strain of the flu has more human and avian components and it is not specifically caused by pork or pork food products.

I say – who cares?  Call it the Flying Meatball Virus for heaven’s sake – does it really matter?

What’s in a name? U.S. pork producers are finding that the name of the virus spreading from Mexico is affecting their business, prompting U.S. officials to argue for changing the name from swine flu.

At a news briefing, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack took pains to repeatedly refer to the flu as the “H1N1 virus.”

“This is not a food-borne illness, virus. It is not correct to refer to it as swine flu because really that’s not what this is about,” Vilsack said.

Israel has already rejected the name swine flu, and opted to call it “Mexico flu.” Jewish dietary laws forbid eating pork.

The Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health also objected to the name, saying the virus contains avian and human components and no pig so far has been found ill with the disease.

And there is growing sentiment in the farm sector to call it the North American virus — although disease expert Anthony Fauci told a Senate hearing the “swine flu” designation reflected scientific naming protocol.

Give me a break!

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America – are you listening?  Who ever though I would agree with a Frenchman?

Mr Sarkozy is pouring cold water on President Obama’s efforts to recast American leadership on the world stage, depicting them as unoriginal, unsubstantial and overrated.

The American President’s call “to free the world of the menace of a nuclear nightmare” was hot air, Mr Sarkozy’s diplomatic staff told him in a report. “It was rhetoric – not a speech on American security policy but an export model aimed at improving the image of the United States,” they said. Most of Mr Obama’s proposals had already been made by the Bush administration and Washington was dragging its feet on disarmament and treaties against nuclear proliferation, the leaked report said.

Personal pique and French politics are also behind the souring of Mr Sarkozy’s self-promoted honeymoon with the United States. On the personal side, the French President is needled by the adulation for an unproven US leader whose stardom has eclipsed what he sees as his established record as a world troubleshooter. “The President is annoyed by what he sees as the naivety and the herd mentality of the media,” said a journalist who is privy to Elysée thinking.

Mr Obama’s favour for Ankara has irked but also helped Mr Sarkozy as his Union for a Popular Movement campaigns for European Parliament elections in June. Mr Sarkozy slapped down the US President on French TV after he publicly called for Turkish entry to the European Union.

Permanent refusal of Turkish membership is one of Mr Sarkozy’s policy planks and one of his most popular with voters. Mr Obama’s venture into EU affairs has enabled Mr Sarkozy to make political capital. He has shown that France can still stand up to the United States despite rejoining the Nato command last week.

Looks like Obama is a Bush retread mixed with a Clinton retread and just politics as usual on the national and international stage.  That kool-aid must have been delicious for those sheeple thinking they would get change.  The only change that is coming is moving further over to the left by expanding the government, spending more, and not defending ourselves in a time of major global volatility.  If the French get that Obama is all talk and no substance why can’t the left?

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Obama’s last stop on his European tour was to Turkey.  During his brief stint in the country he gave another campaign/stump speech and pushed for Turkey’s acceptance into the European Union.

Some of Obama’s quotes:

“Let me say this as clearly as I can,” Obama said. “The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical … in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject.”

Calling for a greater partnership with the Islamic world in an address to the Turkish parliament, Obama called the country an important U.S. ally in many areas, including the fight against terrorism. He devoted much of his speech to urging a greater bond between Americans and Muslims.

I seem to remember that in March 2003, the Turks refused to allow the U.S. Army’s 4th infantry Division to disembark there and attack into Iraq from the north. That decision left Saddam and his cronies an escape route once Baghdad fell, and ultimately cost (at least) hundreds of American lives in the insurgency that broke out later that year.

“We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better, including my own country,” Obama said. (which country? Giggle…)

Al Jazeera and Al Arabiyia, two of the biggest Arabic satellite channels, carried Obama’s speech live.

Upon hearing of Obama’s words, President Sarkozy of France, a long time opponent of Turkey’s acceptance, said “I have always been opposed to this entry and I remain opposed.”

Sarkozy’s love-in with Obama was brief if it was even true to begin with.  In layman’s terms he basically told Obama to mind his own business and leave Europe to deal with the European Union.

One of the issues that those in Europe, opposing Turkey’s acceptance, have is that Turkey would become the largest and most populated country in the Union.  Their Union acts in much the same way our states do.  The more populated the state, the more representatives you can have in Congress.  This could mean that Turkey would have more influence over Europe because it would have more MEPs and more power over European decisions and policy-making.

Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, have deep reservations about Turkey’s acceptance.  Austria and France are completely and openly against it.

Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rejected attempts to call Turkey the representative of moderate Islam. “It is unacceptable for us to agree with such a definition. Turkey has never been a country to represent such a concept. Moreover, Islam cannot be classified as moderate or not,”Erdoğan said, speaking at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies last Thursday.

Olli Rehn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, called last week on Turkey to renew its focus on reforms to meet Union entry criteria for democracy and workers’ rights. “The pace of negotiations depends on the pace and intensity of the reforms in your country,” he said.

The Turkish press said yesterday that the country had secured concessions for dropping its objections to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, becoming the next Nato Secretary-General.

I have actually met and smoked a hookah with a Turkish Diplomat while visiting Turkey last year.  He is stationed in Brussels and is an advocate for acceptance into the European Union.  He disclosed to me that the sentiment around Europe has changed and many have given up on ever being let in and don’t really mind.  He does; however,  believe it can still happen.  The difference is that he is modern, but he understands that many in the country are not.  When Europe speaks about meeting the qualifications and requirements for entry it means, in a roundabout way, that they must reform their views of women and treat them as equals.  There is also a lot of historic turmoil and controversy in regard to Turkey – i.e., calling for the genocide of Armenians and the amusing, but also serious, conflict with Greece that has lasted centuries.  They also would like for Turkey to become more economically advanced before letting them in and possibly devaluing their currency.

Turkey had reservations about Mr. Rasmussen becoming the next Secretary-General due to the fact that Denmark allows a pro-Kurdish television channel to air in their country.  This bigoted behavior is one of the main reasons why Europeans are still wary about letting them in.

Do you remember the cartoon controversy in Denmark as well?  There was a cartoon about the Prophet Muhammad and it became this huge uproar in the Middle East, and Turkey, being the passage way between Europe and the Middle East, was also upset by this.  They did not like how Rasmussen handled himself during the cartoon controversy and how he never directly apologized for it.

Finally, after a face-to-face meeting between Mr Rasmussen and Turkish President Abdullah Gul and a significant push from Mr Obama, the Turks gave way.

But it looks as though they have won a significant package of inducements.

Sources close to the Turkish delegation say that Turkey will secure not just the post of Nato assistant secretary general but also that of the alliance’s new civilian envoy to Afghanistan.

The key role of the US president is interesting here.

He is eager to reach out to the Muslim world, and Turkey’s enhanced role in Nato is clearly intended as part of that effort.

As a leader, Obama needs to remember that he cannot be all things to all people and appease everyone.  If you look at personal experiences with appeasement or speaking out both sides of your mouth, you will probably recall a falling out with a good friend or a fight that lasted a long time.  The same holds true for leaders who do the same thing and change direction and principles like the wind.  This could cause a lot of mis-communication and bad relations between us and some of our oldest allies if he keeps this up.

To end this let me provide you with a little anecdote about Turkey:

I’m not sure how many have actually been to Turkey, and I’m no expert, but my best friend from college is living there and I went to the country last summer.  When I arrived in Istanbul, transferring to another plane to Antalya, I found myself surrounded by a diverse culture, ranging from the traditional Muslim garb (burkas) to young urbanites dressed in modern European/punk clothing.

I found myself on a shuttle from one terminal to the other to make my next flight.  The shuttle was over crowded and they jammed on as many people as they could.  I wound up needing to grab onto a pole just to keep my balance and when I looked down there was a cute boy (around 8 years old) standing next to me holding on to the same pole.  I looked in front of me and saw his family. They were traditional Muslims and the mother and daughter sat quietly wearing their burkas.  The father saw me standing next to his son and quickly pulled him away from the pole and held onto him. He gave me a look as if to say, ‘you are a woman and my son has more right to that pole than you do. I won’t have him standing near a woman holding the same tainted object.’

My bags never made it through Istanbul.  I had to borrow some clothing from a British woman with whom I became friends with during my stay.  My bags had been held at customs for nearly 2 days and I was wearing the same borrowed outfit for that time.  Let me tell you, Turkey near the Mediterranean in the August heat does not create a pleasantly scented atmosphere… I was definitely ripe at this point!

Luckily there was a caravan heading toward the airport and the owner of the hostel was going as well.  He spoke to me briefly and acknowledged my presence but most of the time he was on the phone with his friends and customs agents.  I was not privy to what they were discussing as it was spoken in Turkish only.

When I arrived at customs no-one would speak to me.  They spoke to the owner through me, but even then, he barely acknowledged my presence.  I was nearly crapping myself, because this reminded me of Midnight Express and I figured I was heading for a Turkish prison although not having done anything wrong.  I sat in the customs office for 6 hours.  The men were offered drinks like tea and booze while I was offered nothing and told to sit the in the corner.  I said nothing the entire 6 hours and couldn’t understand anything anyway.

Finally, I was released with my bags and surprised when I didn’t have to pay anything.  Nobody seemed to care all of the sudden.  Meanwhile, I found out I was held because I had vitamins, from the Vitamin Shoppe, in my bag (dumb? Maybe… but they aren’t illegal – especially when steroids are legal in Turkey).

I was fortunate to have a guy friend I was visiting in Turkey, we stayed together the entire time.  I was advised to steer clear of the Turkish men at night while people were consuming beverages – there were stories of rape that took place at this particular summer hostel.  I also went to a Turkish bath but only did so w/ my male friend.  Many of the females who have gone by themselves or with other females, have come back with frightful stories.  Two British women, who actually showed up at the same bath as my friend and I, left abruptly and incredibly upset after being touched inappropriately by one of the workers.

I was also told that many of the Turkish women who vacation in the area look for “western” men to hook-up with.  So many of them want to get out of the country and away from that objectified, male-dominated culture, they desperately search for love and a “western” boyfriend.  That’s why my friend was so popular with the ladies

I’ll put it to you this way.  I did have a lot of fun – but I would never want to live there.  Turkey may be a great place for men, but it’s certainly not for women.

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Obama calls ‘Austrian’ a language – last time I checked Austrians spoke German… If this were Bush or Palin they would be replaying this gaffe over and over again!

The other gaffe to report on, which may be more aptly called a snub was while the Obama’s were in Prague.

The charms of a wonderful woman and a beautiful city are hard to beat.

So much so that Barack Obama will snub his hosts after arriving in Prague this evening in favour of a romantic Saturday night dinner with his wife, Michelle.

The Czech Republic is a stopover on the US President’s first tour of Europe because it currently holds the presidency of the European Union, which rotates every six months.

But rather than meet the country’s conservative leaders, with whom the President has little in common and who have been rather rude about the United States recently, the Obamas have decided to spend their only night in Prague soaking up the atmosphere.

Correct me if I am wrong here, but isn’t it a president’s duty to meet with leaders and isn’t that the point of this entire trip abroad?  This isn’t some temporary gig – this is a full-time 24/7 job – I hope he begins to get that through his head at some point – but I won’t hold my breath.

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STRASBOURG, France – Black-clad protesters attacked police and set a customs station ablaze Saturday on a bridge linking France and Germany that served hours earlier as the backdrop for a show of unity by NATO leaders.

AP photographers saw other protesters storm a nearby Ibis hotel, setting fires and pilfering alcohol from its bar.

Stacks of old tires were also set ablaze, unleashing thick plumes of black smoke that could be seen from across the river. Near the bonfire was a sign welcoming visitors to Strasbourg.

First lady Michelle Obama and other spouses canceled a visit to a cancer hospital out of concern for security, the French president’s office said. Some 1,000 protesters were staked out near the hospital they were to visit.

Some of the protesters say they want an end to war and call NATO a tool of Western imperialism. Others simply appear bent on causing chaos.

But…But… I thought if we elected Obama we would have a new era of peace and love across the world?  Everyone would love each other and the United States? 

I know – liberals will never get it – they will just continue to point the finger and blame Bush…

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Obama lost his place while yet again, reading off the teleprompter at the town hall held in Strasbourg, France.  Will this guy ever give a speech without his binky?

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President Sarkozy yesterday threatened to wreck the London summit if France’s demands for tougher financial regulation are not met.

France will not accept a G20 that produces a “false success with language that sounds good but contains no commitments”, his advisers said.

How much does that second paragraph sound like President Obama himself? LMAO!

Asked if this meant a possible walk-out, Xavier Musca, Mr Sarkozy’s deputy chief of staff for economic affairs, said: “A basic rule with nuclear deterrence is that you do not say at what point you will use the weapon.”

The French threat dramatically raised the temperature hours before President Obama arrives in London today. If carried through, it would ruin a summit for which Mr Brown and Mr Obama have high ambitions, believing it vital to international recovery.

I think it would be amusing because Obama, as many of us have known for quite some time, has never had any executive leadership or foreign policy under his belt… This could get real interesting real quick.  He has already made several foreign affairs blunders that have been covered up or spun differently by the media, but when you give 25 DVDs to the PM of the UK, meet behind NATO’s back with Russia and the old leader, Gorbachev at that, and send a letter to former President of France, Chirac, rather than Sarkozy – that’s bound to cause some hostility. 

Mr Sarkozy, who blames the “Anglo-Saxons” for causing the economic crisis, told his ministers last week that he would leave Mr Brown’s summit “if it does not work out”.

A deal to tighten regulation will be one of the key features of the G20 accord but France wants a global financial regulator, an idea fiercely opposed by the United States and Britain. Mr Brown has described the notion as ridiculous.

I don’t agree with what Mr. Sarkozy is doing – I don’t think more regulation will work or help the situation but will hinder it or halt it all together.  Plus, there is no telling of whether or not those in charge of regulation are competent enough to handle the job – I have my doubt.  I can understand his frustrations though, but I’m also upset at his discriminatory comments towards Anglo-Saxons.  I would gather that it was not meant as Silva’s reference to white men with blue eyes, but rather the English Speaking population.  Anglo and Saxon however, stem from two countries, Anglo from England and Saxon from Germany. 

In contemporary usage, Anglo-Saxon is sometimes used to denote modern peoples or groups considered largely descended from the English, as in White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, and is sometimes used by non-English speakers, especially the French, to denote the Anglosphere.

Now we have had our history lesson of the day…

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Obama recently pledged his friendship to France by sending a letter that said the following:

“I am certain that we will be able to work together, in the coming four years, in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world.”

The issue is not what was in the letter or Obama reaching out to France, but the fact that Obama sent that letter to former President Chirac, not to the current President, Sarkozy. 

Many believe this gaffe was actually intentionaldue to Sarkozy’s pro- War on Terror stances when compared to Chirac’s.

Nicolas Sarkozy is both offended and unamused.  He has been trying to get a sit-down with President Obama for months, to no avail, and now this obvious snub.

Whether this was intentional or just a simple gaffe - it proves that Obama is either incompetent, rude or both.  Ironically enough, Obama accused President Bush of burning bridges with allies and causing a lot of anti-American sentiment.  It would appear that Obama is doing a very good job of that in just a couple months.

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