as a european (italian) i'm very concerned about the increasing role of France inside the EU. By her ability to undermine alliances (NATO) and to hijack EU on an antiamerican course, France is revealing as the most dangerous enemy of the US (and of US' friends also). Chirac's project is very clear indeed: to separate EU and US (Great Britain will stay with US anyway) in order to remain the only nuclear power in Europe and the only european country having veto right at the UN: the perfect conditions to play an hegemonic role. For the US the problem is: how to deal with this country? Examining the past 2 years we remark that:
1) France has (likely) exercitated huge political pressure on Turkey (read: blackmailed Turkey about her request of joining the EU), to convince the governmment to deny passage to american troops bound for northern Iraq
2) Seriously undermined NATO credibility for years to come: when, immediately before the US attack to Iraq, Turkey asked for NATO assistance, France managed to stop this
3) When a group of countries - GB, Italy, Spain (before Zapatero), Portugal, Poland, Czech republic and so on - took position supporting US against Saddam Hussein, Chirac bluntly told the east european countries to SHUT UP (and, again, blackmailed them)
4)During the whole Iraqi crisis France has tried to politically isolate those countries (as GB, Italy and Poland) who are militarily involved
5) France Has also tried to prevent other countries to give assistance of any kind to the new Iraqi provisional government. Thanks to Mr Chirac, NATO will not employ troops to support Iraqi government. Chirac also tried to deny assistance in training security forces, proposing that the job could be done out of Iraqi borders, for example in ...Rome.
5) Just last week France succeded totally in organizing the european vote against Israeli fence: another little rift between EU and US.
How to deal with this ever repeating sabotage? What do you think about it, from your american point of view?
Please don't write crap like "war against France", "kill Chirac" or others. Thanks
Alex Marra |