In Paris to consult with France on Mali and with France, Britain, and Germany on Syria, John Kerry switched to French during a press conference with his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius.
While calling Europe "un ami de confiance, un allié fidèle et un partenaire apprécié" ("a trusted friend, a faithful ally, and a valued partner", 00:43) — just like France was 10 years ago, when the Massachusetts Democrat's 2004 opponent was embroiled in the Iraq war — John ("if…you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well [and not] get stuck [like a soldier] in Iraq") Kerry took a dig at America's clueless conservatives, ending with a quip to the understanding mocking laughter of France's crème de la crème:
And now I will switch over to English, for otherwise I will not be allowed home in the United States.
(Et maintenant je parle en anglais, parce qu'autrement on ne me laisse pas rentrer chez moi.)
