Like the French, you miscalculate the importance of Iraq to our national security.
Complicated statement, which, if properly analyzed, would require a complicated response. But the short of it is, I do agree that the Bush administration thinks it's so. I don't agree, as I've typed repeatedly here, that Iraq was a threat at the level projected by the Bush folk and sufficiently so to enrage world opinion and endanger long term alliances. No.
Even if it were Bush who has in fact miscalculated the importance of Iraq to our secuirty, France failed to acknowledge that such a miscalculation was reasonable and to act accordingly. Instead, it acted precipitously and aggressively. It must now be prepared to suffer the consequences.
That's the point of my disagreement. Far better to treat it as a policy disagreement between friends and allies. By doing so, it comes to be believed as such, treated as such, and the alliance is the better for it because it withstood this moment of profound disagreement. It is also the best way to undermine the Chirac argument. To punish the French only reinforces the view of the Bush administration's arrogance. But if I'm asked for a prediction and have to base such a prediction on past behavior and statement, I expect a genuinely petty negative act from the Bush folk. |
