| No! Reeeaaallly? Who'da thunkit? |
The No. 2 American diplomat has suggested French President Jacques Chirac wants the United States to fail in Iraq, in a sign the two countries are far from healing their rift due to the war. "I think he's fearful that we'll be successful," Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in an interview with the Arab-language television network Al Jazeera on Friday. "Since he's made the decision not to be involved in Iraq, maybe he thinks that we won't be successful." Last week, Chirac, who was the fiercest critic of the invasion among traditional U.S. allies, accused Washington of making the world a more dangerous place. What a self centered schlub!
He reignited the bitter dispute despite President George W. Bush's pledge to seek to mend ties with Europe in his second term.
When he is out of office
A French Embassy official sought to downplay the spat, noting Foreign Minister Michel Barnier had spoken to Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice this week and that France was attending an international conference next week on helping Iraq. "The mood is not one of conflict," said the diplomat, who asked not to be named.
Oh no, of course not...
| It's more like pie-throwing... |