Chirac 'rejoices' as Saddam falls
French President Jacques Chirac says his country is "rejoicing" in the apparent collapse of the Iraqi dictatorship.
Chirac strongly opposed a U.S-led military attack on Iraq, preferring to work through the U.N. Security Council in supporting longer weapons inspections...
...The French daily newspaper La Liberation focused on the causes of the war, saying: "The successful military campaign in Iraq can only reassure the powerful U.S. that its vision of the world must be the right one."
"But its pretext for invading Iraq is... being proved wrong. For where are the weapons of mass destruction?"...
...Russian newspapers talked about Baghdad having been "taken and plundered," while there was disbelief that the Iraqi troops and regime could have dissolved so quickly.
Chirac, Schroeder and Russia's President Vladimir Putin are to meet this weekend to discuss a post-war Iraq, with the likely emphasis on pushing for an increased U.N. role.
Italy's La Repubblica criticized the anti-war grouping, saying in an editorial: "The battle lines are drawn and this time the countries that opposed the coalition war are ready to muscle in and demand a piece of the Iraqi pie."...more [CNN]
The Italians said it best. The three countries who had the most trade, who opposed the war, are now looking for ways to get back into the trade game. We lost the lives and we should get the benefit. The coalition members put it on the line and deserve to reap most of the rewardss.
I almost wet my pants reading Chirac. Given all the nasty things he and his Foreign Minister said about us, I find it the height of hypocrisy for them to stand there and say they applaud this. As usual the French are worth nothing more then disdain and amusement. I guess the reporters at La Liberation didn't notice the missiles that Iraq didn't have being shot, and I supposed they didn't notice the other things we've found. To sit there and ask where are they, at this point is a little bit premature. There are still battles being fought, and test to be done. Of course when that happens, they will hide behind the "Americans planted the evidence" theory.
It is all too typical of the press in this process to jump to conclusions. The desperation for story, and judgment has led to more stupid stories, questions, and comments then I have ever seen...mj
10:45:21 AM 
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