- "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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- http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/margolis_mar9.html
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