Sarkozy brands Netanyahu a 'liar'

[Huguenot]

This reminds me of that West Wing episode where President Bartlett 'accidentally' leaves his microphone on so that he can communicate what he thinks about another politician whilst giving himself room to 'apologise for the gaffe'.

It was magic television, and I suspect it was a similar kind of 'accident' that publically branded Netanyahu a global political pariah.

Really pleased to hear it - particularly Obama's comic resignation about having to speak to him every day...

Whereas Brown, of course...

[HAL9000]

It is not clear but the journalists reporting this story may not have heard the actual conversation. The story may be based on a real-time French-language translation overheard on headsets provided to journalists who were not in the same room as Obama and Sarkozy at the time.

The story was suppressed by French journalists but widely published by the Israelis. As far as I can tell, neither of the subjects has commented on the allegations.

ETA: If the facts are as above, this may be a rare case where a published libel is based on hearsay evidence.

[Huguenot]

I think to be a libel it has to be untrue.

I would enjoy watching Netanyahu trying to argue that, and I encourage you wholeheartedly to persuade him to attempt it! :))

[HAL9000]

'Liar' is a serious slur - one would normally expect a Head of State to sue on an allegation of that magnitude, but in this case Netanyahu may just have to swallow.

In theory, Obama and Sarkozy could claim that they have been libelled - a 'lost in translation'-type argument, perhaps? That would be funny.

[Chippy Minton]

It's an interesting contrast with regard to how the French press have chosen largely to ignore this, seemingly because they regard it as a private conversation and how the British press reported Brown's 'bigoted woman' remark last year, that was also made in private.

[????]

mmmm....equally as well I'm pretty convinced that, thanks to our press, a man that at absolute best can be described as an extremley agressive sexual predator would get anywhere near being our pm unlike Strauss Kohn, who, thanks in part to theie cosy and supplicant press was favourite to be next President. Or indeed let the pretty disgusting levels of , er, ahem 'patronage' that French presidents have handed out to relatives, lovers, etc etc.....Vive la difference etc.

Makes me laugh how people on here and in general metropolitan types ae so disparagiing about our country and think Germany, France, italy etc are such beacons of deceny and morality

[david_carnell]

I don't think anyone has held up those three countries to be anything of the sort. I think most of us would be able to highlight the good and bad in most societies.

Germany

Good: economics, cars, pickled cabbage, beer

Bad: sense of humour, hair, exports (should the Italians and Greeks leave the Euro)

Italy

Good: pasta sauce, cars, fashion, football

Bad: economics, sex lives, moral fortitude

But you know, I'm not keen on branding entire nations with stereotypes, Quids. Nor putting words in others mouths. Something you've been quick to moan about in the past.

[????]

There's a massive, massive difference between generalisations, however lazy, and actually saying in writing on a public forum what you believe other named individual politics are and what they think presumably based on nothing more than a rather assumptive perception that anyone who crticies your sacred cows is some sort of crytpo-fascist.

David as you've bought this up I 'm going to get this off my chest. I live and work in this community, many of my friends and neighbour are doctors, nurses and teachers, my Wife works in the Public Sector as did my mum. My kids are educated in the Public Sector, were born in it and my families health depends on it. You stated as fact that I wanted to dismantle it and far worse just becuase I posed a question about Public Sector Pensions sustainability. That was a slur and and an absolute fabrication based on no facts just presumably (and I give you the respect of presumption raher than making an assumption) your simplistic black and white view of my politics.

I guess it it annoys you that I poke fun at the Guardian, I guess it annoys you that I tug at the smug hypocracy middle class liberals. Poke fun at some of my 'scared cows', if you can find them but don't tell a public forum what I actually think based on your world view, because you don't know and that's actually putting words in others mouths.

I can generalise about the po-faced Guardian because there's some truth in it; I can generalise about Middle Class liberal guilt because there's some truth in it; i can argue about the danger of governments overspending becuase I believe that it is dangerous, and these things all get a reaction....but I can never say what Mr David Carnell thinks, because only he can....and that would be putting words in his mouth.

DUCY?

[Huguenot]

Who 'think Germany, France, italy etc are such beacons of deceny and morality'?

[Ridgley]

I think Mr.Sarkozy (akka) Mr lover Man has the Napoleon syndrome;-)