March 9, 2003
Seeking Glory in Death:
Diplomacy Pour la France! (Elaine Sciolino, New York Times, 3/8/2003)
If Mr. de Villepin has a vision, it is to revive the greatness of France — a romantic view he articulated in his book, "The Hundred Days," the first published volume of a biography of Napoleon that tells the story of the emperor's return from exile, his triumphant march across France and his final defeat at Waterloo.Describing Napoleon's philosophy as "Victory or death, but glory whatever happens," Mr. de Villepin added, "There is not a day that goes by without me feeling the imperious need to remember so as not to yield in the face of indifference, laughter or gibes" in order to "advance further in the name of a French ambition." . . .
Indeed, members of Mr. Chirac's political circle who believe in the sanctity of the trans-Atlantic alliance complain bitterly that party operatives, the Defense Ministry and the armed forces have been pushed aside and that no one but the president and Mr. de Villepin are defining French foreign policy.
Those Europeans who fear Bush's Christianity would be better advised to fear this Napoleonic pursuit of "glory" and "ambition" regardless of consequences. That French government action on great matters of war and peace is decided by the private policy of two men, who do not explain themselves and who cannot be held to account, suggests that French democracy is currently in a sorry state, with few checks upon power. Coupled with the long friendship and alliance between Chirac and Saddam, and Chirac's key role in France's sale of weapons-grade uranium to Saddam, this news disturbs me.
On the other hand, it is heartening that Mr. de Villepin feels himself the object of laughter and gibes. Ridicule may be America's most effective weapon.
Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 9, 2003 1:25 PMIt is frustrating that the American media (in contrast to the European one) has yet to address the degree of dissent that exists not only across the political spectrum in both countries, but even within each of the governing coalitions. I believe that both Schroeder and Chirac could have dug a hole for themselves, and that the real Left in both countries (Socialists and Greens) are not going to bail them out.
Posted by: MG at March 9, 2003 4:51 PMOne heartening comment made by Sciolino is that there is dissent within the French government about Chirac and de Villepin's actions. Not that it will amount to much in the end. The media in Europe and the USA will see to that.
Posted by: Bart Rhodes at March 9, 2003 7:16 PMWhere I live, the archetypical lunatic is depicted as someone who believes to be Napoleon (and who dresses up as the French emperor). From what I read in this post, I can only conclude that the French minister of foreign affairs is indeed a madman.
Posted by: Peter at March 10, 2003 3:49 AMI read or heard somewhere the day before
yesterday that the French do not get the
insults -- that to call someone a worm or a
weasel does not strike them as insults. Hmmm.
I have been busily drawing comparisons between
today and the late 1930s, but here is a
disconnect. Instead of a France whose
government falls every other month, we are
now presented with a France whose
government cannot fall at all. Strange.