-Caveat Lector-
Why France Is America's True Friend
By Eric Margolis
Contributing Foreign Editor
Toronto Star
3-9-3
http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/margolis_mar9.html
"Outrageous dereliction of duty over Korea, obsessive
warmongering against Iraq, crude, aggressive behaviour
worthy of Leonid Brezhnev's Soviet Union, threats against
the UN, a $400-billion deficit that will infect the world
with inflation, and damage to America's reputation - such
are Bush's "accomplishments" to date. Who needs enemies
with world-class blunderers like this in charge?"
MIAMI -- Watching American TV can be a surreal experience.
Sandwiched between ads for instant weight loss products,
predigested fast food, and incontinence panties, cable TV
commentators bay like rabid dogs for war against Iraq, and
subject nations daring to oppose President Bush's crusade to
venomous abuse or sneering disdain.
France, which speaks with the strongest, most logical voice
of those opposing war, has become the special target of
vituperation and hatred in America's leading neo-conservative
media - Fox TV, the Wall Street Journal, New York Post - and
the Bush administration's bete noire. Particularly so, now
that France, Germany, and Russia vow to veto U.S. attempts to
ram a war-enabling resolution through the UN Security Council.
France, many Americans claim, should do whatever Washington
orders out of gratitude for the U.S. "saving" it in two world
wars. U.S. television features angry veterans standing in
American military cemeteries in Normandy, denouncing France
for "stabbing America in the back" - as if invading Iraq to
grab its oil and crushing Israel's enemies had anything to do
with World War II.
Few flag-waving pundits mention America sat out almost 40% of
WWII until attacked by Japan. In 1940, the German armed forces
were the equivalent of the U.S. armed forces today - a full
military generation ahead of other nations. France's entire
army was destroyed in battle by the invincible Germans; had the
U.S. fought Germany in 1940, it too would have been routed. The
Soviet Union, not the U.S., defeated Germany, destroying over
100 Nazi divisions.
So enough with all the bombast about Word War II. In the eyes
of Europeans and most of the world, George Bush's administration
looks dangerously aggressive, dominated as it is by petrohawks
and neo-conservative ideologues linked to Israel's far right.
These little Mussolinis have no time for diplomacy or multi-
nationalism. No wonder a recent Pew Research poll found that
formerly favourable ratings of the U.S. have plummeted in 19
of 27 nations surveyed.
It seems at times that President Bush is even more eager to bomb
Paris than Baghdad. In fact, the administration has been treating
France like an enemy, rather than America's oldest ally and
intimate friend. Neo-conservatives even accuse France of anti-
Semitism, a disgusting slander.
Doing the right thing
Far from being an enemy, France has been doing what a true good
friend should do: telling Washington its policy is wrong and
dangerous, unlike the handkissing leaders of Britain, Spain and
Italy, who crave Bush's political support, or the East European
coalition of the shilling, ex-communist politicians pandering
to Washington for cash. Seventy percent of British, and 90% of
Italians and Spaniards oppose Bush's crusade.
France's President Jacques Chirac speaks for an overwhelming
majority of Europeans and, indeed, the world's people, in urging
the U.S. to opt for diplomacy and UN inspections over a war that
will not be worth the loss of a single American soldier, not to
mention tens of thousands of Iraqis and chaos across Mesopotamia.
So, too, warns the great and wise Pope John Paul II.
The contrast between France's reasoned diplomatic response and
Bush's belligerent behaviour could not be more stark. As is the
dignified, logical tone set by President Chirac and Foreign
Minister Dominique de Villepin compared to the bullying, low-
brow, locker-room talk issuing from the White House that has
seriously damaged America's reputation and image around the
globe.
Last week Turkey's new parliament, chosen in the first truly
democratic election in memory, followed Europe, courageously
rejecting Washington's bribes and demands that U.S. ground
forces be allowed to attack Iraq from Turkish territory.
Washington's churlish response - withdrawing its bribes,
threatening punishment - contrasted curiously to Bush's claims
his goal in Iraq is bringing democracy to the Mideast.
Democracy, its seems, is fine so long as it does U.S. bidding.
Inconveniently, Turkey's people and democratic government voted
a resounding no to war. How long the Turks can resist intense
pressure from the U.S. and its friends, Turkey's hard right
generals, remains to be seen.
Bush's crusade against Iraq will go on with or without Turkey.
The war will be akin to throwing a grenade into a huge hornet's
nest. France, which lives next to the Arab world and has 5
million Muslim citizens, warns an invasion and occupation of Iraq
will roil the entire region, spark more terrorism, and hit Europe
with a dangerous backblast. But Bush couldn't care less, as he
would say.
While Bush prepares war against demolished Iraq, he is ducking
the surging nuclear confrontation with North Korea, which, unlike
Iraq, truly threatens North America. Outrageous dereliction of
duty over Korea, obsessive warmongering against Iraq, crude,
aggressive behaviour worthy of Leonid Brezhnev's Soviet Union,
threats against the UN, a $400-billion deficit that will infect
the world with inflation, and damage to America's reputation -
such are Bush's "accomplishments" to date. Who needs enemies
with world-class blunderers like this in charge?
America's friends and neighbours, led by France, the mother of
diplomacy, rightly warn the steroidal Bush administration to
halt its rush to war. President Chirac and Foreign Minister de
Villepin deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. Americans owe France an
apology, and a hearty "merci mon ami."
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