France
Michael PortilloThe Times (U.K.)
The French are proving true to stereotype, said Michael Portillo in the London Times. It may be a bit excessive to paint them as cheese-eating surrender monkeys. But it is undeniable that they have an unattractive habit of “making impressive statements” while lacking the means to back them up. During the Yugoslav wars, it was a French general who promised that the U.N. would protect the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred while U.N. troops stood by. Now the “Gallic custom” of grandstanding is on display once again, this time in Lebanon. After having authored and pushed through a U.N. resolution authorizing a peacekeeping force, France began “bleating that there are no established rules of engagement” and that therefore it would contribute only a token contingent. Only the humiliation of Italy’s offer to lead the force got French President Jacques Chirac to increase his commitment. Say what you like about George W. Bush, but at least “the American does not fail to put his troops where his mouth is.”
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