You think Macron was playing nice??

@DudeistPriest The Iranian foreign Minister was there unannounced at the express invitation of Macron for the express purpose of opening a dialogue with a view to settling the Iranian conflict. Trump refused to meet or speak to the foreign Minister, who then left as he had no other purpose in being there.
Now the most basic rule of diplomacy would indicate to take the meeting, even if you only restated your position. This Trump would have been entitled to do, since he was set up and ambushed (beautifully). To do anything less would be churlish. So he did less. The expression "Hissy fit" is mine. But I think it is within the bounds of reasonable reportage.
So lets look at the chess board on this charade. Iran looks ready to talk. France looks like a Euro leader and steps up in Europe with Britain about to leave and keeps faith with Iran to keep its oil supply options open. And Macron slaps Trump with a fish. He got nothing out of turning up to this meeting and if he was interested had a chance to sell the thing as "secret negotiations" but he even blew that.

@whowasthatmaskedman Link please.

@DudeistPriest " The expression "Hissy fit" is mine. But I think it is within the bounds of reasonable reportage. "
See above.

@whowasthatmaskedman That's what I thought. Moving the goalposts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif didn't say he would, or would not, meet with Trump either. But as you would have it, injecting Zarif's out-of-the-blue arrival would make it seem like he was the [b][i]bigger man[/i][/b]. Presenting him along with a U.S. president as if they are of equal standing. They're not. Zarif is a dignitary from a known terrorist state.

I've roomated with Iranians for two years and can say from firsthand experience that appearances are everything and this is what you're trying to convey by using persuasive writing to create a false narrative not based in fact. In other words, an opinion piece.

And we all know what they say about opinions.

@DudeistPriest Like you I have dealt with Iranians, who are proud to be "Persians" and a cut above other Arabs. And I have no doubt the difference in Rank was calculated. Trump was placed in a no win situation. But he did not have to lose it as badly as he did. In all probability both Macron and Zarif counted on Trump doing exactly what he did. Trump is after all, all about appearances.

@DudeistPriest 'Otherwise it can also be said that nowhere does it state that Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif did or did not want to meet Trump either.'

It can be said , but it wouldn't be true. Zarif already turned down Trump's request for a meeting at the White House , and was summarily rewarded with being sanctioned. He had [b]zero[/b] intention likewise of wanting to meet with Trump in Biarritz. (The Iranians will [b]never[/b] go cap in hand to the Americans). He was there solely at the invitation of the French President who was hoping to act as interlocutor. Of course Trump and his cronies have nothing to offer but bluster and threats , so any attempt at a serious dialogue was doomed to failure.

@whowasthatmaskedman Iranians are humble folk, not conceitedly above Arabs nor anyone. That's projection.

About Macron 'blindsiding' Trump, he remarked "He asked me. I don't consider that disrespectful at all, especially when he asked me for approval."* So there was no 'situation' as you imply. They agreed beforehand. You proceed from a false assumption.

All political parties (i.e. Australian Labor Party) are about appearances, including the 7 prime ministers in just 10 years Australia has now had. That averages to about 1 year and 5 months per president. Trump's been in office only about a year more than that and in that time he's accomplished quite a bit.**

These flirtations with facts are not worth meaningful discussion. But go right ahead and push a false narrative which does work on feeble minds. Now excuse me while I go do something important like re-arrange my sock drawer.

* "Trump says France's Macron "asked me for approval" of Iranian envoy's G-7 visit." CBS News. August 26, 2019. Online at - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-france-emmanuel-macron-asked-for-approval-iran-foreign-minister-javad-zarif-g7/

** "Trump Administration Accomplishments." The White House. Online at - https://www.whitehouse.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/

• Almost 4 million jobs created since election.
• More Americans are now employed than ever recorded before in our history.
• We have created more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since my election.
• Manufacturing jobs growing at the fastest rate in more than THREE DECADES.
• Economic growth last quarter hit 4.2 percent.
• New unemployment claims recently hit a 49-year low.
• Median household income has hit highest level ever recorded.
• African-American unemployment has recently achieved the lowest rate ever recorded.
• Hispanic-American unemployment is at the lowest rate ever recorded.
• Asian-American unemployment recently achieved the lowest rate ever recorded.
• Women’s unemployment recently reached the lowest rate in 65 years.
• Youth unemployment has recently hit the lowest rate in nearly half a century.
• Lowest unemployment rate ever recorded for Americans without a high school diploma.
• Under my Administration, veterans’ unemployment recently reached its lowest rate in nearly 20 years.
• Almost 3.9 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps since the election.
• The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans. We are committed to VOCATIONAL education.
• 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future—the highest ever.
• Retail sales surged last month, up another 6 percent over last year.
• Signed the biggest package of tax cuts and reforms in history. After tax cuts, over $300 billion poured back in to the U.S. in the first quarter alone.

@DudeistPriest I'm sorry you bought the Trump show bag. As it is I dont see much point on talking facts with you. The one I will remind you of is that the entire economic miracle of Trump was set in place by previous administration and is based on false accounting. You are walking on extremely thin ice like the rest of the world only thinner because of the debt you owe. Take care.