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Chirac the hero as nation unites
The Gulf conflict split Europe and soured many countries' relations with the US. What is the mood now?
From Al-Guardian. Surprise, surprise...
Opinion polls in France show that approval for Jacques Chirac's anti-war policy have reached 90%, the highest recorded rating for any government programme since surveys started here in 1938. The rising support, which has united rival political parties and strengthened links between Christians and Muslims, follows the president's public commitment to persuading Britain and the US to accept United Nations administration for postwar Iraq.
Persuading? Try begging.
Paris has shrugged off continued acrimony towards France in America and Britain, which has included threats of a US boycott of French goods and articles in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph hinting that the French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, implicitly supported an Iraqi victory during his visit to London. That there has been no review of the French line became clear when Mr de Villepin repeated almost word for word a statement made by Mr Chirac a week ago implying a readiness for a showdown over the postwar issue in the UN - a reflection of confidence in the rightwing president's popularity at home.
OOOhhhhh, a "showdown" at the UN! He'll show zose Americains!
But, after almost daily street demonstrations in the president's favour, signs of internal friction have arisen.
The only outspoken voices against France's refusal to join the coalition have come from the Jewish community, where the philosopher André Glucksmann and the popular actor Roger Hanin have led opposition to the government line at a time when the national human rights commission, CNCDH, reported "an explosion of anti-semitic acts" linked to Middle East conflicts. The report said violent anti-semitism aimed at France's 600,000 Jews had risen by 60% last year and the trend was continuing.
Think this might have something to do with what follows?
At the same time there has been a swing in support for Mr Chirac from the country's 5 million Muslims who are now at the forefront of marches. Outside a rundown highrise block in the suburb of Drancy, Mohamed Abdoulaye, 18, surrounded by a group of friends, pointed to the array of satellite dishes on balconies picking up Arab TV stations. "Lots of those have appeared in the last few days," he said. "They're all tuned to al-Jazeera and other Arab stations. If we weren't convinced that Chirac was right, we certainly get the message from Arab TV which treats him like a hero."
Commenting on attacks on some American businesses, he said violence was discouraged but "we are anti-American here and refuse to buy anything from the US."
...he said, while smoking a Marlboro, which he then stomped out with his Nike sneaker.
Generally speaking, British troops get a better press in the French media than their American allies. On the purely military aspect, analysts have been pessimistic, emphasising the strength of Iraqi resistance and implying that France was well out of a war that was badly planned, a view shared by Admiral Jacques Lanxade, a former defence chief. "There has been a real patriotic resurgence in Iraq which has drawn in the traditional enemies of Saddam Hussein," he said."The American command does not have enough troops to hold the country. Perhaps General Tommy Franks does not have the freedom of action he needs. The climate between Franks and Rumsfeld is not what it should be."
HAHAHAHAHA! The French offer military advice..."Vere is ze plan for ze surrender ceremony..."
But the problems facing the Anglo-American advance had the sympathy of officers at the Ecole Militaire in the Invalides. "It upsets me that the advance appears to have bogged down," a captain who fought in the first Gulf war said. "The trend of events is very worrying, particularly as Saddam has been referring to Stalingrad. I'm glad the French army is not involved, but don't count on us to gloat over coalition setbacks."
When will they be renaming it "Frogistan"?
Posted by: tu3031 2003-04-02
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=12319