CBC: PM's troubles snagged D-Day invite: WikiLeaks

[tuvor]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was invited to the D-Day commemoration in France last year because his government was facing political instability, according to leaked U.S. diplomatic cables released by the WikiLeaks website.

In the cable, a U.S. diplomat says a French government official explained the invitation process for the event.

According to the U.S. diplomat, the French official said that President Nicolas Sarkozy had been "keen" on inviting German Chancellor Angela Merkel to participate. But the French officials apparently said that Sarkozy would then have to invite the heads of state of Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic.

"Moreover, all of those leaders would have to be given an opportunity to speak as well, which would lengthen an already long ceremony," the cable said.

The cable also added that "the cases of the U.K. and Canada were exceptional" because both former British prime minister Gordon Brown and Harper "were in such political trouble at home that the survival of their governments was at stake."

...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/11/30/wikileaks-harper.html

[daleo]

1. Well, we knew these were photo-ops

But it is interesting, nonetheless.

[EmilyKent]

2. A 'pity invitation'.

Nothing to do with the day, or the troops.

[Arrowhead2k1]

3. Harpy is utterly pathetic. nt