[ggekko]

"France acts in her interests....."

Relations between nations have longer term and shorter term components they also tend to be heavily influenced, at times, by domestic politics. The idea that nations act only out of pure calculations of Realpolitik is risible. Nations often act of pride, a sense of historical aggrievement or fear of the actions of a rival nation.

I strongly believe that France is not acting in its own best interests in the case of the Iraq situation. What appears to be the impetus behind French actions is their perception of their role in World Politics as the "third force". That this role has been superannuated by the end of Cold War seems to have eluded French diplomats and politicians. This delusional vision is only serving to uncover French impotency.

Nations share common interests with other nations. It is rational that nations will cooperate with another over such interests. What is grating about current French behavior is not that thay have forgotten previous episodes of cooperation with the US but that they mulishly refuse to recognize the commonality interest they should have with the rest of the Free World in neutralizing State sponsors of terror.

[Burkeman1]

Pyscho babble aside- France acted with us (as did nearly every major power) in the first gulf war. There are reasons now they are not. And chief among them is not a wrong perception of US Hegemoney over the entire Mid East. If you think otherwise then we disagree. If I were France or another continetal power like Germany I can easily see why they oppose this US action in Iraq.

Powers stopped acting on emotion since WWI (except the USA)- in fact- the study of Europeon diplomacy in the last 50 years is a study in self interest and realpolitik- which this Country needs to be schooled in.