"French Connection"

John Kerry political cartoon.

May 17, 2004...

Kerry’s obsession with internationalization
by Roger Wm. Hughes

There continues to be a disturbing trend by Democrats to want to involve the French in the Iraq War. France -- the country, that provided a safe haven to the Ayatollah Khomeini... a country that has so socialized its economy that its continued economic decline is inevitable... a country that resents our hard work and what it calls the America's MacDonaldization of European culture.

Robert Kagan in his book, Paradise and Power, points out the deep resentment by France and Germany towards America and their stated goal of diminishing America’s power. According to Kagan’s book, the French Foreign Minister called on Europe -- that being France and Germany -- to create a joint military force that might offset America’s military strength. However, their weak economies would not support such a move.

These are not the words of allies.

Despite this, Sen. John Kerry called on Friday for greater participation from France:

"There are senators and … diplomats who have had conversations with other folks that I think indicate that — given the right equation, given the right statesmanship and leadership — it is possible to have a very different level of participation," Kerry said.

"I know what the public statements are today," the Democratic presidential nominee said. "It doesn't deter me one iota from saying what I say, based on what my private conversations have been."

Earlier this week, France's new foreign minister said his country would never send French troops to Iraq, even as part of a peacekeeping mission.

It is clear that America needs to do something about these wayward allies that resent us so much. It is clear that the U.S. and the EU must develop a common policy that recognizes their historical and strategic differences.

France and Germany, Kagan argues, have learned that nation-states must live together or die. America has come to rely on the blunt diplomacy of force; Europeans resent America for its raw power tactics. Americans, however, get fed up with whining Europeans who would not enjoy their freedom to moan but for the post-1945 umbrella of NATO security. Americans are not willing to make money off of terrorists or let a ‘Komeini’ live in their country -- even if it would later result in the harming of France at some future date.

Given all of this, it remains strange that Kerry continues to insist on France’s participation -- participation from a nation that is undoubtedly linked to the Food for Oil kickbacks to Saddam Hussein. A nation, along with Germany and Russia, that continued to build up Hussein’s military capabilities and defenses. These countries that supported the ending of embargoes against Hussein, despite his failure to comply with the terms of surrender.

We must continue to view Kerry’s obsession with selling out America with grave concerns. We have to wonder whether it is his hatred of the concept of American exceptionalism or a naive belief that if we all just talk things out people will no longer kill us because of who and what we are.