Sarkozy to Obama: Je T’aime, Man

At a joint press conference in Strasbourg, President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy waxed poetic on each others' talents—and pledged mutual military and economic support. Obama praised Sarkozy's "initiative, imagination, creativity" and called France American's "oldest ally, our first ally." Sarkozy praised Obama's desire to "change the world" and his interest in the world as a whole—not just American interests. But the cheery sentiment came with some serious demands: Obama encouraged European intervention in Afghanistan. Sarkozy also praised Obama's choice to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, which he characterized as a place that treated "terrorists with terrorist methods." The French leader noted that, since his nation had implored the United States to close the notorious prison, it was now their responsibility to help America deal with the prison's aftermath.