A somewhat backhanded blow at 'Old Europe' today from the US Secretary of the Treasury John Snow.. He's been reviewing the reconstruction scenario's for post-war Iraq.. analysed the debt the country labours under.. and has suggested that Germany, France, and Russia, as their part in paying for the freedom of the Iraqi's, might seriously consider forgiving all outstanding debts..
Both France and Russia are thought to be owed substantial sums by the former Ba'ath government.. a regeme that's left unpaid bills around the world that total between $100 and $300 billion..
Not that much actually.. say the pundits.. but consider the continuing investment that must pour into the country while the oil infrastructure is rebuilt.. technology replaced and upgraded..
Jaques himself is beginning to feel the backlash in his own country, indeed from within his own Party..The French president, described by the newspaper Liberation as the "king of peace without a crown", was criticised by leaders of his UMP party for three weeks of silence since the invasion..UMP chairman, Alain Juppé, a former prime minister, has spoken privately on several occasions to Mr Chirac to warn that France risked international isolation by standing up to the Americans and refusing to support Britain's attempt to ensure a security council resolution legitimising the war...Yesterday it became clear that Mr Juppé's feelings were shared by other party managers, including the parliamentary leader, Jacques Barrot. He complained about Mr Chirac's lack of enthusiasm for the coalition victory and called on him "to show his public support for the courage of the Americans and British in bringing down a dictatorship"...
While there are no reliable quotes from that statement.. Jaques is rumoured to have exclaimed '..zut alors..ce n'est pas ma faute..maudit Anglais..'
Officially, it was only yesterday, after the fall of Saddam..was issued a comment to the effect of "France, like all democracies, rejoices.."
Not quite the eloquent rhetoric Jaques called up to condemn the action..
Mr Chirac called Tony Blair on Wednesday night to ask if France could be included in the immediate supply of humanitarian aid which he said was "the absolute priority". Mr Blair, who has been one of the targets of Mr Chirac's attacks, did notrelease his reply...
Jaques also asked the Tony to raise the issue of French cooperation in Iraq with George, whom the French president hasn't called yet... Chirac advisers said they were convinced the US would resist a "central role for the UN" which Jaques has demanded.
Hopes had now been placed on British influence with the US leader.
No bloody wonder Tony's looking haggard these days.. dealing with George between prayer meetings on the one side.. and Jaques many faces on the other..
And still remains the lingering questions..
What will happen in the immediate aftermath getting food and water to the Iraqi man on the street..
And how many countries will now be lining up, eager after the fact to get their slice of the reconstruction pie..
If it wasn't politics.. one would consider it blatant hypocrisy.. Seeing it is politics.. one borrows an expression from the French.. and shrugs..