Firstly because I am polite.
Jack,
explaining why he would not criticize PM Tony Blair's judgment
PARIS November 16, 2004 (Guardian)
ELYSÉE [SIC] PALACE DENIES CHIRAC INSULTED TUOMIOJA
September 9, 2006 (Helsingin Sanomat) - According to the French weekly L'Express, French President Jaques Chirac has questioned the competence of Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. On Thursday, the magazine reported that Chirac had sharply criticised Finland's performance as the holder of the EU Presidency.According to the story, Chirac had asked Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy* during a government meeting last week, if Blazy had told Tuomioja that he is "a zero, and incompetent".
Douste-Blazy reportedly responded "I did, but not in so many words".
"Are you sure that he understood?" Chirac asked.
"Yes, at least the Prime Minister did", was the Foreign Minister's response. To that, Chirac is said to have commented that the Finns have one thing going for them: "they are far away."
On Thursday, the office of the French President said that it "absolutely denies" the report in L'Express.
Chirac is on record as looking down on Finland before. Last summer he said that Finland had the worst food in the world. His comments were not intended for publication, but he was overheard by a journalist from the newspaper Libération, which published them.
Putting aside the comic brilliance of M. Douste-Blazy as a messenger of incompetence, does petulant Jack feel there is nothing worth an expenditure of his fabled charm to be had from Finland? Is an Élysée denial even needed when Jack's reputation for politesse and tact is defense enough?
Jack, you may recall, is on record lamenting "mal élevé" state representatives and poor manners among the international community.
You have been very rude and I have never been spoken to like this before. You have been very badly brought up.
Jack,
in a disagreement with Tony Blair over agricultural reform,
BRUSSELS October 30, 2002 (Guardian/BBC)
These countries have been not very well behaved and rather reckless of the danger of aligning themselves too rapidly with the American position. ... It is not really responsible behavior. It is not well brought-up behavior. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet.Jack,
commenting on nation-states forgetting to check in with France,
BRUSSELS February 16, 2003 (CNN)
* The dimmest bulb in the dark Chirac marquee™.
PFFT (What is this?): Ironies abound 5 | Choice of messenger 5 | Rayonnement français 0
