MIAMI -- Watching American TV can be a surreal experience. Sandwiched
between ads for instant weight loss products, predigested fast food, and
incontinence panties, cable TV commentators bay like rabid dogs for war
against Iraq, and subject nations daring to oppose President Bush's
crusade to venomous abuse or sneering disdain.
France, which speaks with the strongest, most logical voice of those
opposing war, has become the special target of vituperation and hatred in
America's leading neo-conservative media - Fox TV, the Wall Street
Journal, New York Post - and the Bush administration's bete noire.
Particularly so, now that France, Germany, and Russia vow to veto U.S.
attempts to ram a war-enabling resolution through the UN Security
Council.
France, many Americans claim, should do whatever Washington orders out of
gratitude for the U.S. "saving" it in two world wars. U.S.
television features angry veterans standing in American military
cemeteries in Normandy, denouncing France for "stabbing America in
the back" - as if invading Iraq to grab its oil and crushing
Israel's enemies had anything to do with World War II.
Few flag-waving pundits mention America sat out almost 40% of WWII until
attacked by Japan. In 1940, the German armed forces were the equivalent
of the U.S. armed forces today - a full military generation ahead of
other nations. France's entire army was destroyed in battle by the
invincible Germans; had the U.S. fought Germany in 1940, it too would
have been routed. The Soviet Union, not the U.S., defeated Germany,
destroying over 100 Nazi divisions.
So enough with all the bombast about Word War II. In the eyes of
Europeans and most of the world, George Bush's administration looks
dangerously aggressive, dominated as it is by petrohawks and
neo-conservative ideologues linked to Israel's far right. These little
Mussolinis have no time for diplomacy or multi-nationalism. No wonder a
recent Pew Research poll found that formerly favourable ratings of the
U.S. have plummeted in 19 of 27 nations surveyed.
It seems at times that President Bush is even more eager to bomb Paris
than Baghdad. In fact, the administration has been treating France like
an enemy, rather than America's oldest ally and intimate friend.
Neo-conservatives even accuse France of anti-Semitism, a disgusting
slander.
Doing the right thing
Far from being an enemy, France has been doing what a true good friend
should do: telling Washington its policy is wrong and dangerous, unlike
the handkissing leaders of Britain, Spain and Italy, who crave Bush's
political support, or the East European coalition of the shilling,
ex-communist politicians pandering to Washington for cash. Seventy
percent of British, and 90% of Italians and Spaniards oppose Bush's
crusade.
France's President Jacques Chirac speaks for an overwhelming majority of
Europeans and, indeed, the world's people, in urging the U.S. to opt for
diplomacy and UN inspections over a war that will not be worth the loss
of a single American soldier, not to mention tens of thousands of Iraqis
and chaos across Mesopotamia. So, too, warns the great and wise Pope John
Paul II.
The contrast between France's reasoned diplomatic response and Bush's
belligerent behaviour could not be more stark. As is the dignified,
logical tone set by President Chirac and Foreign Minister Dominique de
Villepin compared to the bullying, low-brow, locker-room talk issuing
from the White House that has seriously damaged America's reputation and
image around the globe.
Last week Turkey's new parliament, chosen in the first truly democratic
election in memory, followed Europe, courageously rejecting Washington's
bribes and demands that U.S. ground forces be allowed to attack Iraq from
Turkish territory. Washington's churlish response - withdrawing its
bribes, threatening punishment - contrasted curiously to Bush's claims
his goal in Iraq is bringing democracy to the Mideast. Democracy, its
seems, is fine so long as it does U.S. bidding. Inconveniently, Turkey's
people and democratic government voted a resounding no to war. How long
the Turks can resist intense pressure from the U.S. and its friends,
Turkey's hard right generals, remains to be seen.
Bush's crusade against Iraq will go on with or without Turkey. The war
will be akin to throwing a grenade into a huge hornet's nest. France,
which lives next to the Arab world and has 5 million Muslim citizens,
warns an invasion and occupation of Iraq will roil the entire region,
spark more terrorism, and hit Europe with a dangerous backblast. But Bush
couldn't care less, as he would say.
While Bush prepares war against demolished Iraq, he is ducking the
surging nuclear confrontation with North Korea, which, unlike Iraq, truly
threatens North America. Outrageous dereliction of duty over Korea,
obsessive warmongering against Iraq, crude, aggressive behaviour worthy
of Leonid Brezhnev's Soviet Union, threats against the UN, a $400-billion
deficit that will infect the world with inflation, and damage to
America's reputation - such are Bush's "accomplishments" to
date. Who needs enemies with world-class blunderers like this in charge?
America's friends and neighbours, led by France, the mother of diplomacy,
rightly warn the steroidal Bush administration to halt its rush to war.
President Chirac and Foreign Minister de Villepin deserve the Nobel Peace
Prize. Americans owe France an apology, and a hearty "merci mon
ami."
http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/margolis_mar9.html
