Rationalizing the French

It has been suggested that the French are reluctant to take effective action in Iraq because of fear of antaganizing a large muslim population. I do not think the French are intimidated by their own muslim population. Certainly the Dutch have not been intimidated by a similarly large muslim population; they are supporting the US. The French calculation appears to be based on what they believe will be a negative fallout from the US liberation of Iraq. This calculation is made in the face of much less resistance to the US move in the Arab world than in the streets of Europe. We need to also remember that the US dispute with France is mostly over the means of disarming Iraq. It comes down to the French wanting Iraq disarmed with Saddam still in power, while the US wants Iraq disarmed after Saddam's removal. One reason the French position makes no sense to the US is that Saddam is a recedivest builder of WMD. Completely cleaning WMD from Iraq would just mean he would start development again. The only way to stop redevelopment is to remove Saddam and the Bathe party from power. Another issue with the French wishing to keep the status quo is that they are not paying any of the cost of patroling the no fly zones or defending Kuwait. They are free riding on US defense cost in much the same way they did during the cold war. Free riders should not get to decide the direction of policy. That is why France and Europe is so weak and has so little influence in Washington.

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