Rumsfeld dismisses French, German opposition to war
It's funny, almost, watching the frustration rise within the Shrub Administration as the rest of the world balks at beating the drums of war. You can hear the petulance in the bleatings of Cabinet officials. I suppose I shouldn't be enjoying it as much as I am, but being the despicable human being that I am, I don't care.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Wednesday dismissed French and German insistence that "everything must be done to avoid war" with Iraq, saying most European countries stand with the United States in its campaign to force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to disarm.
"Germany has been a problem, and France has been a problem," said Rumsfeld, a former NATO ambassador. "But you look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe. They're not with France and Germany on this, they're with the United States."
Germany and France represent "old Europe," and NATO's expansion in recent years means "the center of gravity is shifting to the east," Rumsfeld said.
"Besides," Rumsfeld went on to add after the microphones had been cut off, "we bailed their sorry French asses out in WWII, and we beat the hell out of the Nazis as well. You'd think they'd be willing to show at least a smidgen of gratitude. We'll see what happens the NEXT time a monomaniacal tyrant grabs their populace by the short hairs, won't we??"
