France, Iraq and the UN Security Council
The government of France has recently announced that it would veto any security council amendment to resolution 1441 to prevent force from being used against Iraq to cause the Iraqi government to disclose its caches of banned WMD. France also stated that it was saving the honor of Europe in doing so. The honor of all Europe you say. Is this the same France (and Europe) that the Kaiser overran in 1914 and left the French armed forces helpless to defend themselves. Or maybe its the France of 1940, overrun by the Third Reich.
Based on the last hundred years of European history in wartime, France and Europe have had little to find honor in. In both conflicts, it was American armed forces who had to come to the aid of France and Europe to restore democracy and freedom to their people. The French government has mainly played the part of an obstructionist in trying to reclaim its former glory and honor.
The French have continued to raise their noses at the world at large hoping to convince the world that they are a real player on the world stage. Rather than being a world player, they have become more of an irritant - like the mosquito that keeps buzzing and can't be shooed away. If France truly wants to be a world player, it needs to take a more serious look at the responsibilities incumbent on a world player and stop playing pretend with a "Our way can only be the right way" attitude.
03/08/03 ( 355 )
© Copyright 2000-03 www.mypov.org - All rights reserved.
Post Your Views On This Topic