<TRANSLATION THREAD>
So POLITICO has tried to pull a fast one on Macron's comments, as per usual.
Here's what the President of France *actually* said about America and China. As translated by me, a professional translator of 25+ years experience. lesechos.fr
So POLITICO has tried to pull a fast one on Macron's comments, as per usual.
Here's what the President of France *actually* said about America and China. As translated by me, a professional translator of 25+ years experience. lesechos.fr
First, some context. By way of credentials, I started my career in Paris almost 30 years ago.
Diplomatic-level French is very subtle . Basically, they can tell you to go f**k yourself without cursing, and their meaning is frequently the exact *opposite* of the words said.
Diplomatic-level French is very subtle . Basically, they can tell you to go f**k yourself without cursing, and their meaning is frequently the exact *opposite* of the words said.
For example, when Trump visited Macron, you'd need to have listened to Macron in French to notice that while he said a million nice things about America, he didn't mention Trump...at all.
Maybe he said his name once? Twice?
It's stuff like that.
Maybe he said his name once? Twice?
It's stuff like that.
So Macron is frequently targeted by media that really represents various corrupt foreign interests. Boy, they don't like this serious, pro-NATO French president much.
Meanwhile, Macron has raised up COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AGENTS FROM THE USA TO THE PANTHEON.
Meanwhile, Macron has raised up COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AGENTS FROM THE USA TO THE PANTHEON.
So POLITICO apparently did a little pick-and-choose and made it sound like Macron was weak on France.
Well, bullshit. So here are the quotes from the French press, properly translated and interpreted in terms of actual geopolitics:
Well, bullshit. So here are the quotes from the French press, properly translated and interpreted in terms of actual geopolitics:
"Pendant trop longtemps l'Europe n'a pas construit cette autonomie stratΓ©gique. Aujourd'hui, la bataille idΓ©ologique est gagnΓ©e."
>>
"For too long, Europe hasn't built strategic autonomy. Today, that battle has been won."
So Europe is going to act in a united front. Cool.
>>
"For too long, Europe hasn't built strategic autonomy. Today, that battle has been won."
So Europe is going to act in a united front. Cool.
"Le piège pour l'Europe..." etc.
>>
"The trap for Europe would be the moment when it clarifies its strategic position but then gets tangled up in world destabilization, or crises that arenβt Europeβs.
Macron is looking to the implications of a *United Europe.*
>>
"The trap for Europe would be the moment when it clarifies its strategic position but then gets tangled up in world destabilization, or crises that arenβt Europeβs.
Macron is looking to the implications of a *United Europe.*
Now, what's the backdrop there? Well, Europe has a European Union and a European Parliament, but it's flooded with money and intel operatives from Russia, China, Saudi, Israel, Emirates, et al., who all keep Europe from making very good policy.
Macron sees beyond that.
Macron sees beyond that.
So we're only two *sentences* in, and this is a real policy discussion.
Macron is forecasting that as soon as Europe starts acting in concert, it could get sidetracked by world crises - so it needs to remain stable and focused on its own policy goals.
Pretty reasonable, right?
Macron is forecasting that as soon as Europe starts acting in concert, it could get sidetracked by world crises - so it needs to remain stable and focused on its own policy goals.
Pretty reasonable, right?
"For the President of France, strategic autonomy is crucial to avoid European countries being just 'vassal states' rather than a third strategic axis, on the same level as the U.S. and China."
So Macron sees Europe as standing on its own two feet.
So Macron sees Europe as standing on its own two feet.
Can you see how much the English-language press has been bullshitting its readers with these translations?
I've read a bunch, and they're not close. It's pretty embarrassing, actually.
I've read a bunch, and they're not close. It's pretty embarrassing, actually.
"After your talk with Xi Jinping, what can we expect from China on Ukraine?"
"I think China's on the same page as us, that Ukraine is at war. They're fighting and we're helping them. It's not time for negotiations, though we should start down that path and plant milestones..."
"I think China's on the same page as us, that Ukraine is at war. They're fighting and we're helping them. It's not time for negotiations, though we should start down that path and plant milestones..."
Macron: "That's the point of this dialogue with China: to come together with our common approaches. First, supporting the principles of the U.N. Charter. Second, a clear reminder about nuclear power, that China should be accountable for Russia's move..."
!!!
!!!
Wait, I thought the line from these media outlets is that Macron is all soft on China, and here Macron is suggesting (albeit subtly) that maybe CHINA needs to take account of *ahem* the responsibility for, uh, Putin going to Belarus with nukes?
Whoa.
Whoa.
See, I'm not doing this for my health - it's that outlets like POLITICO are so misleading, someone needs to explain this.
Outside of intel circles, not that many people suggest that maybe China is behind the Ukraine war.
But...it seems like Macron just did.
Outside of intel circles, not that many people suggest that maybe China is behind the Ukraine war.
But...it seems like Macron just did.
OK, HERE'S SOME TOP SHELF PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE FRENCH STUFF: "Is Ukraine a Chinese diplomatic priority? *Maybe not.* But this dialogue helps us temper the comments of some about China's complacency with regards to Russia."
BWAAAAAH HAHA HAHA HAHAAAA
BRUTAL.
BWAAAAAH HAHA HAHA HAHAAAA
BRUTAL.
Let me translate-translate, for real, because that sounds all nice - and it ain't.
"Is Ukraine a priority for China? Maybe not." = CHINA IS BEHIND A LOT OF THIS FUCKERY, AND WE FUCKING WELL KNOW AND WE'RE TIRED OF THESE GAMES.
But, in French, it's more sophisticated.
"Is Ukraine a priority for China? Maybe not." = CHINA IS BEHIND A LOT OF THIS FUCKERY, AND WE FUCKING WELL KNOW AND WE'RE TIRED OF THESE GAMES.
But, in French, it's more sophisticated.
"this dialogue helps us temper the comments of some about China's complacency with regards to Russia" = WE KNOW YOU ARE BACKING RUSSIA IN THIS SHIT. "PEOPLE" ARE TALKING ABOUT IT. AND BY PEOPLE, WE MEAN US. SO STOP HELPING RUSSIA, YOU ASSHOLES.
(Linguistics is actually fun.)
(Linguistics is actually fun.)
I could go on. But point is, it's a damn shame none of the media companies employ people (almost with no exceptions) who know a damn thing about what's happening, and certainly nobody that has language skills.
Anyhow, Macron is pro-democracy, and he's very effective. π«π·
</FIL>
Anyhow, Macron is pro-democracy, and he's very effective. π«π·
</FIL>
Gotta do a couple more.
"Mais d'un point de vue doctrinal, juridique et politique, je pense qu'il n'y a jamais eu une telle accΓ©lΓ©ration de l'Europe-puissance."
"From policy, legal, and doctrine point of view, there's never been this kind of acceleration of European power."
"Mais d'un point de vue doctrinal, juridique et politique, je pense qu'il n'y a jamais eu une telle accΓ©lΓ©ration de l'Europe-puissance."
"From policy, legal, and doctrine point of view, there's never been this kind of acceleration of European power."
Guys, All of Western European AND Central Europe AND Eastern Europe are beating the Russians back, and their Chinese and Likud and Saudi allies with them.
This *is* a huge moment for European power, one that is a HUGE benefit for the United States.
This *is* a huge moment for European power, one that is a HUGE benefit for the United States.
What do you think the implications of the AUKUS alliance really are? And "The Quad" (U.S., Australia, India, China) alliance to beat the Chinese in rare earth mining for national security purposes?
The U.S. is setting up Europe to take care of itself.
With France as leader.
The U.S. is setting up Europe to take care of itself.
With France as leader.
The United States is going to anchor the North Atlantic, South America, Africa, and Asian security with Australia and the U.K. The U.S. will lead.
But there needs to be focus on Europe. Germany can't do it. The U.K. is coming with us.
That leaves France.
But there needs to be focus on Europe. Germany can't do it. The U.K. is coming with us.
That leaves France.
Who else has the capacity to lead security policy in Europe? Italy? (LOLZ) Um...Hungary is out...Greece would need help.
Yeah. It's France. Which Macron knows. And he's moving toward.
And that's why the bad guys don't like Macron. He's the end of their European plays.
Yeah. It's France. Which Macron knows. And he's moving toward.
And that's why the bad guys don't like Macron. He's the end of their European plays.
If I had to wager a guess, Ukraine and Poland will anchor Eastern European security, France (and Germany, kinda) will anchor the West and...France will be the seat of political, doctrinal, intelligence, and financial power.
The most since...Napoleon.
The most since...Napoleon.
Notice that Macron ain't spending any time on Vladimir Putin - that dude is toast.
Macron is reaching out to Xi Jinping, who is likely very isolated in China right now. Like his pal Netanyahu, Xi held onto power at the price of pissing off everyone else on earth.
Macron is reaching out to Xi Jinping, who is likely very isolated in China right now. Like his pal Netanyahu, Xi held onto power at the price of pissing off everyone else on earth.
So the bad guys are making it sound like Macron is kissing up to these Mobbed-up dictators when, in reality, it's like when your new boss stops by your desk for a chat.
Xi Jinping needs Macron's attention and understanding WAY more than the other way around.
Xi Jinping needs Macron's attention and understanding WAY more than the other way around.
Since this Op keeps running, I'll keep doing the real quotes:
Q: "Is Biden just a more polite Donald Trump?"
A: "Biden has a transpartisan logic that makes America his #1 priority - and China #2. It's beyond critique. (!) We should adopt that policy."
Q: "Is Biden just a more polite Donald Trump?"
A: "Biden has a transpartisan logic that makes America his #1 priority - and China #2. It's beyond critique. (!) We should adopt that policy."
Now, are all the disinformation agents gonna sit here and read that *actual* translation and tell me Macron is weak on China? When he's actively cheerleading Biden's policy of opposing China as America's #1 foreign policy objective?
Get what POLITICO tried to pull here?
Get what POLITICO tried to pull here?
On China's influence in Africa and the Middle East:
"When Europe disengages, we shouldn't be shocked when others fill the vacuum. The U.S. turned inward in 2010...naturally, China advanced its pawns in the game of strategic chess..."
Macron is arguing to push China BACK.
"When Europe disengages, we shouldn't be shocked when others fill the vacuum. The U.S. turned inward in 2010...naturally, China advanced its pawns in the game of strategic chess..."
Macron is arguing to push China BACK.
Also, note that Macron threw some shade on Obama's policies, which he (correctly) believes allowed Russia, China, and Saudi to advance on the world.
Only the Bad Guys are trying to spin Macron's comments as weakness.
Keep an eye out for who's making those comments...
Only the Bad Guys are trying to spin Macron's comments as weakness.
Keep an eye out for who's making those comments...
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