Good to be free !

arnaudherve wrote:

Now that's a female remark!!

I was watching the hands. As a guy should.

Are we seeing the birth of a power couple to rival Sarbruni?

Cherchez les mains as opposed to cherchez la femme?

Hmmm.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote

Quote :

Are we seeing the birth of a power couple to rival Sarbruni?

Please no.

And apart from all that, what difference has she made?

Kate P wrote:

Quote :

Are we seeing the birth of a power couple to rival Sarbruni?

Please no.

Why not? It'll be fun, Colombia and France can be united in a new empire.

The woman has barely had time for a shower and people are discussing her political future. What's all that about? I heard Karen Coleman (I think) asking what do people think IB will do now - will she go into colombian politics, have another crack at the Presidency, or will she go into French politics. It was fast-food low-attention-span commentary at its worst.

I checked and Villepin is not on the list of Carla's former lovers.

The up to date list for Carla is:

Mick Jagger
Eric Clapton
Vincent Perez
Charles Berling
Louis Bertignac
Jean-Jacques Goldman
Arno Klarsfeld
Jean-Paul Enthoven
Raphaël Enthoven
Donald Trump
Stephane Freiss
Laurent Fabius
Kevin Costner
Gonzague Saint Bris
Luc Ferry

The ones you don't know are national celebrities. Two of them share the same name, because she had a child with the son while living with the father.

So, basically, Ingrid is safe there.

Kate P wrote:

And apart from all that, what difference has she made?

I think she rose the price of hostages in favour of the FARC.

I'm not that interested in her political future, that will reveal itself with time.

But I'm curious as to whether she has achieved whatever it is that she set out to do - in other words, has she made a difference? She went in against all good judgement and advice, I'm not sure what she hoped to achieve - maybe someone can help me out here and tell me was it worth it? Politically.

Quote :

I think she rose the price of hostages in favour of the FARC.

I'm not sure what you mean by that, arnaudherve...

I mean the FARC can probably now demand higher ransoms, than when they were unknown outside of Columbia. Probably it will give ideas to kidnappers elsewhere in the world too.

Basic policies in those cases is that you don't make the victims famous.

arnaudherve wrote:

I checked and Villepin is not on the list of Carla's former lovers.

The up to date list for Carla is:

Mick Jagger
Eric Clapton
Vincent Perez
Charles Berling
Louis Bertignac
Jean-Jacques Goldman
Arno Klarsfeld
Jean-Paul Enthoven
Raphaël Enthoven
Donald Trump
Stephane Freiss
Laurent Fabius
Kevin Costner
Gonzague Saint Bris
Luc Ferry

The ones you don't know are national celebrities. Two of them share the same name, because she had a child with the son while living with the father.

So, basically, Ingrid is safe there.

Mon Dieu! Where did she find the time to be with so many people?

They didn't get a ransom for her - over the course of almost seven years. Maybe they'll learn that kidnapping doesn't pay? It's hardly good PR to have the world know you've been infiltrated and discredited - and that you lost the girl.

Basic policy is that you don't get caught.

Quote :

Mon Dieu! Where did she find the time to be with so many people?

Time is probably not the determining factor, A-T.

A more pressing question, worthy of a thesis in itself is
Carla Bruni, Kevin Costner - Why? Discuss.

On second thoughts, don't.

FARC have been roundly whipped by Alvaro Uribe. He's a great president of Colombia and I hope he gets a constitutional amendment to run for a third term. He's reduced murders and kidnappings in Colombia to a level of tolerance.

FARC's stock has fallen hard in the last 6 years. I don't think they'll easily capitalise on Ingrid Betancourt.

You must be right Kate P. The only achievement I can see is that IB became famous. Formerly she was just a 1% candidate in Columbia, with a fake green party just for herself.

Kate P wrote:

Time is probably not the determining factor, A-T.

She uses SAP software for more productivity-driven schedules.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

FARC have been roundly whipped by Alvaro Uribe. He's a great president of Colombia and I hope he gets a constitutional amendment to run for a third term. He's reduced murders and kidnappings in Colombia to a level of tolerance.

FARC's stock has fallen hard in the last 6 years. I don't think they'll easily capitalise on Ingrid Betancourt.

I thought Colombia was a country with nearly the worst civil rights record in the world and is riven with poverty and civil war. In any event, isn't it a golden rule in domocratic politics never to trust the guy who tries to change the Constitution so he can hold onto power?

Zhou_Enlai wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

FARC have been roundly whipped by Alvaro Uribe. He's a great president of Colombia and I hope he gets a constitutional amendment to run for a third term. He's reduced murders and kidnappings in Colombia to a level of tolerance.

FARC's stock has fallen hard in the last 6 years. I don't think they'll easily capitalise on Ingrid Betancourt.

I thought Colombia was a country with nearly the worst civil rights record in the world and is riven with poverty and civil war. In any event, isn't it a golden rule in domocratic politics never to trust the guy who tries to change the Constitution so he can hold onto power?

Uribe is putting a stop to that and the economy has recovered. I think that he should be allowed run in the next presidential election. Murders and kidnappings have become much less potent forces on his watch. He's given Colombia a chance for peace and is working to build trading links with the US.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Uribe is putting a stop to that and the economy has recovered. I think that he should be allowed run in the next presidential election. Murders and kidnappings have become much less potent forces on his watch. He's given Colombia a chance for peace and is working to build trading links with the US.

My knowledge is limited so I'm going to take your word for it (for the moment ).

We are now six days after her liberation, and she continues without proper rest, with the schedules and efficiency of a top notch executive woman.

And she shows no sign of weakening, since she is overbooked meeting all kinds of officials for the rest of the week. She can even afford to tire herself more by lack of sleep and travelling.

Not even a 5 minutes nap on a sofa.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

FARC have been roundly whipped by Alvaro Uribe. He's a great president of Colombia and I hope he gets a constitutional amendment to run for a third term. He's reduced murders and kidnappings in Colombia to a level of tolerance.

FARC's stock has fallen hard in the last 6 years. I don't think they'll easily capitalise on Ingrid Betancourt.

I'm with Zhou_Enlai on this - if he's been doing a good job, surely there's a worthy successor lined up. A constitutional amendment to run for third time undermines democracy in numerous ways, no matter how wonderful the job he has been doing.

arnaudherve wrote:

We are now six days after her liberation, and she continues without proper rest, with the schedules and efficiency of a top notch executive woman.

And she shows no sign of weakening, since she is overbooked meeting all kinds of officials for the rest of the week. She can even afford to tire herself more by lack of sleep and travelling.

Not even a 5 minutes nap on a sofa.

You seem to be quite fascinated by her stamina, arnaudherve.What exactly are you getting at? I'm not sensing admiration...

We are facing an avalanche of pathos from the unanimous media here.

I'm still in the mood of communion over a common subject from referendum's time. I'll be more considerate over country differences from now on.

Quote :

We are facing an avalanche of pathos from the unanimous media here.

I like that expression. I could use it everyday here.

What exactly is the basis for that unanimous pathos? Simply that she's a daughter of France who has survived a kidnapping (maybe that should be enough - am I being hard on her?) or because she has done something worthwhile in putting herself in harm's way; something that benefits Colombia?

arnaudherve wrote:

We are facing an avalanche of pathos from the unanimous media here.

I'm still in the mood of communion over a common subject from referendum's time. I'll be more considerate over country differences from now on.

Well here I am in Paris, and looking forward to picking up a Paris Match or Canard Enchaine to check out the latest gossip on all this. Please maintain the mood of communion - whilst we may not pick up all the nuances, we are avidly absorbing the French perspective: please don't want to water it down.

Colombia's Human Rights record (torture and murder of trade unonists)is so bad that even the US have complained - although they have a free-trade arrangement, buy virtually all of Colombia's exports and provide all kinds of assistance. Most reputable politicians don't want to be seen alive or dead with Ulribe or his men - hence -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/11/colombia.humanrights

Paris is looking good - with quite a few of those little bikes around: met some 'sans papiers' yesterday who were also members of a new trade union. They seemed to be mostly Senegalese graduates.

I'm keeping my eye open for Ms. Betancourt - anything anyone wants me to ask her if I see her ?

Pronsias de Rossa walked past me at the airport and I was anxious to speak to him about his curious anti Irish position in the EP, but I was in the middle of having a back and shoulder massage and couldn't get out of the chair quickly enough.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

arnaudherve wrote:

I checked and Villepin is not on the list of Carla's former lovers.

The up to date list for Carla is:

Mick Jagger
Eric Clapton
Vincent Perez
Charles Berling
Louis Bertignac
Jean-Jacques Goldman
Arno Klarsfeld
Jean-Paul Enthoven
Raphaël Enthoven
Donald Trump
Stephane Freiss
Laurent Fabius
Kevin Costner
Gonzague Saint Bris
Luc Ferry

The ones you don't know are national celebrities. Two of them share the same name, because she had a child with the son while living with the father.

So, basically, Ingrid is safe there.

Mon Dieu! Where did she find the time to be with so many people?

Perhaps not really that many, as she is at least 40 and has had a lot of leisure time - the life of a model and singer-songwriter is full of waiting around. I expect most of the men on that list have had far more lovers. The father son incident was notable enough to be reported in Ireland though arnaudherve.