March 29, 2003 7:43 AM

Say goodbye, Jacques

France Insists It Wants U.S. to Win War

(via Sean-Paul)

"We certainly would not imagine that any nation, even those who did not support our actions in the United Nations Security Council, could express anything other than that they hope that the coalition would be successful."

- Ari Flesicher

It figures that the same country that gave us Marie Antoinette would be making noises about having their cake and eating it too. Given the self-serving position that the French government has chosen to take regarding war with Iraq, I find myself inclined to react to anything coming from the French government with a healthy degree of skepticism.

PARIS (AP) -- France's government angrily insisted on Friday that it hopes U.S.-led forces win the war in Iraq, signaling fear in Paris that its image as an untrustworthy friend could seriously damage long-term relations with Washington.

In an extraordinary statement for a major U.S. ally, the Foreign Ministry said it was "indignant" at media suggestions that French support for the United States was ambiguous, and quoted Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin as saying he hoped for an American victory.

"I will remind you that the minister said on March 24 ... `The United States, we hope, will win this war quickly,'" ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said in the statement.

The ministry was protesting media coverage of Villepin's comments on Wednesday at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, where he reiterated his high-profile opposition to the war.

The statement did not specify which publications it was referring to, but at least two English-language newspapers reported that Villepin refused to say explicitly who he hoped would win the war.

"It is not acceptable that the positions of France be distorted in this way," Rivasseau said, declaring that France's stand on who should win the war was "totally devoid of ambiguity."

Villepin began his speech in London by calling for "a renewed close and trusting friendship with the United States." But later, he said U.S. policy could lead to instability and uncertainty.

When a reporter asked him after the speech if he wanted U.S.-led forces to win the war, he did not say "yes." Instead, he refused to answer, admonished reporters for not listening carefully and referred them to earlier remarks.

I can respect France's right to disagree, but their role has deteriorated into something closer to disrespect and outright contempt in attempting to undermine the US. To then turn around and expect to be afforded some sort of role in the reconstruction of Iraq is patently absurd. Don't stab us in the back and then expect us to simply let bygones be bygones.

France is to this Gulf War what Jordan was to the first Gulf War: a country that was stupid enough to put all of it's eggs in the wrong basket. While no one will suggest that they be drummed out of the international community as Jordan almost was, France needs to come to grips with the reality that it is a second-class world power whose credibility and influence are seriously waning. The sooner they admit to that fact, the sooner they will be accepted back into the international community.

French arrogance being what it is, though, I doubt that anyone in Jacques Chirac's government is man enough to admit that they are a superpower in name only. Having a Security Council veto is a status symbol rooted firmly in their past, and is certainly no reflection of their current or future status. France's 15 minutes has long since run out. The only weapon left in the French arsenal is self-righteous indignation and overarching arrogance. It's time to go, Jacques....

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on March 29, 2003 7:43 AM.

News from the Dracula Fedayeen convention was the previous entry in this blog.

In America, even stoopid speech is protected speech is the next entry in this blog.

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