Friday, April 11, 2003

Defeat brings about introspection and soul searching. But will shame lead to a better answer or more sneering powerless condescension?

French leaders said Thursday they "rejoiced" in the collapse of Saddam's regime, and political analysts said the French people now wonder whether their country was right to oppose the war so staunchly.

"The French are discovering the truth - that the coalition was efficient," said Francois Gere, director of the Paris-based Diplomatic and Defense Institute.

Before the fighting began last month, newspapers and politicians portrayed the United States and Britain as "invaders" opposed by the Iraqi people, Gere said.

"Instead we see pictures of Iraqi people celebrating - not only the arrival of British and U.S. forces, but celebrating the end of a regime," Gere said.

His words were echoed by Philippe Moreau Defarges of the French Institute of International Relations.

"We're seeing a subtle shift," Defarges said. "We are starting to hear a more dissonant voice in France. The U.S. victory has made the debate more complex."

While the French government stopped short of saying so, leading politicians insisted Thursday that France was right to oppose the war.

"Two weeks ago, everyone was taking their hats off to France," said former Prime Minister Alain Juppe. "Today they're starting to say we were wrong. We have nothing to regret.">While the French government stopped short of saying so, leading politicians insisted Thursday that France was right to oppose the war.

"Two weeks ago, everyone was taking their hats off to France," said former Prime Minister Alain Juppe. "Today they're starting to say we were wrong. We have nothing to regret."

Of course you have nothing to regret. You sat and did nothing while Brits, Australians, Poles, Americans and Iraqis shed blood and spent treasure to liberate the people of Iraq and assure that Saddam would never use WMD against us (and by extension you) and now you are prepared to jump in and try to claim as much booty as you can. What need for regret? Only someone with a conscience would regret leaving a people in bondage for the sake of 'stability' and profit.

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