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Diplomacy is war by other means
An unexpected 'ambush' was how London's Daily Telegraph described it. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who launched an impassioned tirade at French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and his country's position on Iraq, was the starring act of the latest instalment of the Security Council drama, said the BBC. Staring Mr de Villepin in the eye, Mr Straw called him repeatedly by his first name, a not-so-subtle putdown in international diplomacy. Laughter erupted the first time Mr Straw referred to Mr de Villepin as simply 'Dominique'. First, you stick your thumb in his eye. If he's good, you pull it out... Citing Mr de Villepin's speech, Mr Straw heaped scorn on the logic of countries - especially France — that are set on giving Iraq more time. 'Dominique, you said that the choice before us was disarmament by peace or disarmament by war,' Mr Straw said. 'Dominique... with due respect to my good friend and colleague, I think it's gone the other way around. Dominique, that's a false choice.' Dominique, you been dissed... Mr Straw's tirade drew murmurs, and eventually, applause from ministerial staff members in the balcony. Mr de Villepin, by far the most charismatic spokesman for the anti-war camp, had no option but to sit through his reprimand, said the Daily Telegraph. But the report noted that the expression on his face — and its colour — betrayed rage at the treatment. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-03-08 |
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