WHAT'S THE FRENCH FOR KNEEPADS?:

A new balancing act by France on Iraq: Chirac tempers criticism of U.S. policy (Katrin Bennhold, January 14, 2005, International Herald Tribune)

President Jacques Chirac met his Iraqi counterpart for two hours of talks Thursday that were rich in symbolism but seemed to be poor in actual results.

The meeting with Ghazi al-Yawar gave Chirac the opportunity to signal that despite his vocal opposition to the U.S.-led war, France wants to help rebuild Iraq's institutions alongside America, government officials said.

Coming less than three weeks before elections in Iraq, Yawar's four-day visit in Paris showcases France's aim to restore its influence in a country with which it used to have significant trade links, as well as mend strained relations with both Baghdad and Washington.

But even though the French president reminded his guest of his country's long-standing offer to train Iraqi police forces outside Iraq, Yawar gave no indication that the offer would be taken up, an official close to Chirac said.

Only took three years to figure out they were hurting themselves, not us?

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 14, 2005 8:02 AM