WHEN IN DOUBT, THREATEN TO CUT OFF YOUR OWN NOSE:

Diplomatic deadlock leaves deep wounds (Financial Times, 3/17/2003)

With one short stab on Monday, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain's United Nations ambassador ... inflicted a wound that may take far longer to heal....

"One country in particular has underlined its intention to veto any ultimatum 'no matter what the circumstances'. That country rejected our compromise before even the Iraqi government itself, and has put forward suggestions that would row back on the unanimous agreement of the council in 1441."...

French officials were stung. "So it is our fault? This is just untrue," one said. "They did not get the majority in the council. That is just a matter of fact."

While Paris was unlikely to renege on its humanitarian responsibilities to Iraq, the official said Sir Jeremy's words could have implications for future attempts by the allies to return to the UN. "In three days we'll need each other. This makes things more difficult."

If French foreign policy has been predicated on the notion that the U.S. "needs" French support at the U.N., France has badly miscalculated. And if the U.S. does go to the U.N. (whether "in three days" or, more likely, much later) and France withholds its support in retaliation for a few words of criticism from the British ambassador, then France is encouraging us to avoid this forum and diminishing the importance of its U.N. veto.

Amazingly, some people think that France's diplomacy is more sophisticated than ours.

UPDATE--DOGPILE ON THE LAPIN (from OJ):

This is from the President's address tonight:

Today, no nation can possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed. And it will not disarm so long as Saddam Hussein holds power. For the last four-and-a-half months, the United States and our allies have worked within the Security Council to enforce that Council's long-standing demands. Yet, some permanent members of the Security Council have publicly announced they will veto any resolution that compels the disarmament of Iraq. These governments share our assessment of the danger, but not our resolve to meet it. Many nations, however, do have the resolve and fortitude to act against this threat to peace, and a broad coalition is now gathering to enforce the just demands of the world. The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours.

Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 17, 2003 10:45 PM