[Thermodyne]

Tesco, I would have to say that the relationship with France has never been all that good. Sure we presented a united front to the Soviets, but the French were not full participants in NATO. At the end of the Second European experiment with modern warfare, France was handed back to the French and they went about trying to reacquire their colonial holdings. This put them at odds with America. And relations have been cool at best since then. While we were Allies, France has often opposed American activities that were not to France’s direct benefit. I have no problem with this; they are a self governing nation. But a look at their history will show that more than a few of the world’s problems since 1945 involved French diplomatic policy. Very few were solved by French intervention. They have not demonstrated the needed resolve in many years. They did not have the resolve to fight a tactical withdrawal against the Germans; instead they left several hundred thousand British troops holding the bag. Then they did not have the resolve to take their fleet to sea and scuttle it. Preferring to believe that they would be able to prevent the Germans from commandeering it. What would they do, just tell Hitler that he could not have it? Let’s not even talk about what they did in SE Asia, and the about turn they made after asking their Allies for help. And I think the Algerians would have a few points to make also.

But in the end it comes down to this. The French are self serving and benefit from appeasement. So if we do not appease them, then what influence do they have? I have always wondered why France had a permanent seat on the Security Council. There are many Nations that are more deserving. Actually, why are any of the seats permanent, should the dead wood be trimmed away now and again? The UN has not changed with the times; it has become a paper factory that rivals the US government. I fear that it has also had its day, much like the French. If France had come forward and stated that they were opposed to the war because of the economic damage it will do to France, then I think America would have had a lot of respect for their objection. But to say that they are concerned for the Iraqi people. Give me a break. Since when has France given a damn for anyone but themselves?