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| Libertaire, Egalitaire, Nausaire .. | |
Frogs are loud, slimy creatures which are hard to get a grip on, and shift
position quickly when frightened. Your ABC now reports that
recalcitrant French
President Jacques Chirac may be reconsidering his position on Iraq, and agree to a 30 day
deadline for weapons inspectors. That is - agree that the US could attack in 30 days. This
comes after the US have given strong indications that they have given up on UN negotiations, and
will just bypass the UN. Few things are as nauseating as a group of politicians acting in
their own selfish
interests while pretending they are acting for the common good. The French (socialist-leaning since
their bloody revolution
in the late 1700s) are champions at this game, and the French politicians are
the cream of the cream in an environment where slime floats to the top. Jacques' recent US-bashing tantrums in the UN have had their rewards. The
French President's popularity is at an all time high of 67%. Why? The French,
invaded and overcome by the Germans in both world wars after a pitiful resistance
hate to see real power and
strength. They identify quite strongly with terrorists - engaging in terrorism themselves against
New Zealand by murdering a Greenpeace member in their bombing of the Rainbow
Warrior in 1985. But while the US has culturally and economically moved ahead in leap-frogs and
bounds over the last few decades, the French puddle has stagnated after forcing 'cultural uniformity'
and 'lifestyle protection' on the people. Jacques' petulant strutting around the UN like the leader of a super-power
isn't going to last for long. France's veto power in the UN security council
won't exist if the structure collapses or undergoes 'significant review'. There
is no way that France would become one of five 'special' nations if a UN
style organization were formed in 2003, and Jacques knows it. Jacques has to decide between the short-term benefit (the boost to his
popularity) and the long-term cost (being remembered as the president who lost
France their veto power at the UN). The short-term euphoria is clearing, the
lily that Jacques is resting on is sinking, his feet are getting cold and he's
looking for somewhere else to jump - a way in which he can back-down and still
claim victory over the hated
and successful Americans. The US is saying 'jump!', and the Frogs are determined not be seen
asking 'how high?'
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