By Paul Corrigan
At the United Nations Minister de Villepin reminded us that France is “an old country.” His theory was the older the country, the smarter the politicians. Another theory is that France is suffering from senility.
France is making a lot of the fact they were America’s first ally in our revolution. They fail to mention their assistance had little to do with a love of democracy. It had more to do with a French king who wanted to make life tough for an English king.
The French Revolution, replacing a monarchy with a democracy didn’t take place until years after America declared independence. Instead of democracy, it turned into one of the most violent and tragic examples of mob rule ever seen. France was pretty old when that happened too.
In 1936 Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland. He had given the order that if France showed any resistance the troops were to pull back. France, reluctant to act and ready to delay a confrontation, did nothing. The last chance to stop Hitler was lost. An old country that according to Minister de Villepin, “has known war, occupation, barbarity” should also remember the horror of not acting.
Jacques Chirac insists his criticism of U.S. policy is nothing but “friendly advice.” Yet, at the recent European Union summit he went on a tirade that belied his true goal, telling the countries of Eastern Europe that they “lost a good opportunity to keep quiet.” He is not interested in opposing points of view or debate. He is interested in dominating Europe.
Jacques Chirac is demanding that his be the voice that speaks for Europe. By insinuating that these countries may have jeopardized their chance to join the European Union he is blackmailing and bullying smaller countries into allowing France to act unilaterally in the name of Europe.
The countries that are supporting the U.S. are also old countries. They have similar memories as France. But it’s no coincidence that most of them have recently been freed from Soviet domination by a strong U.S. military presence in Europe. A presence that has often been the subject of protests in France and Germany.
Economically, militarily and culturally France has been on the decline for generations. Controlling a Europe that is united in competition against the United States is France’s only hope of remaining a world power. Unfortunately for Mr. Chirac once countries are free to make decisions on their own they rarely want to go back to being dominated by another country — even one with a stellar Bordeaux vintage shipping right now.
France’s desire to encourage dissent at the U.N. and its tantrum when dissent surfaced at the E.U. will be remembered for what it is — desperate actions by a nation desperate to hold onto its past. And to do that, France appears to be willing to sacrifice the remaining credibility and usefulness of the United Nations.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 26, 2003. Read the original PDF.