Boomerang Diplomacy [WashPost Wants France and Germany to get Iraqi Business- "Puerile Taunt"].

Washington Post ^ | 12/12/03 | Editors

[TastyManatees]

Boomerang Diplomacy
Friday, December 12, 2003; Page A36

YES, OF COURSE, President Bush's latest initiative on Iraq is arrogant and self-defeating. But that's not the most remarkable aspect of his decision to exclude companies from a number of countries that are important U.S. allies from bidding on reconstruction contracts. After all, a spiteful unilateralism has characterized the administration's handling of postwar Iraq all along, and it's an important reason why the United States must now face daunting military and political challenges nearly on its own. What's really strange about the administration's latest slap at Germany, France, Canada and other countries it seems intent on treating as adversaries is that it reverses at a stroke months of patient efforts by that same administration to overcome the divisions its Iraq policy created.

Mr. Bush recently delivered a carefully prepared speech in London extolling the value of international institutions and alliances. In New York, he held a meticulously orchestrated meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at which the two men agreed to put their disputes behind them. Last week Secretary of State Colin L. Powell appealed to the NATO alliance to involve itself more deeply in Iraq, and was pleased to hear no immediate dissent from Berlin or Paris. Yet now the president has consented to a policy that goes out of its way to reopen the wounds of the prewar debate. When told yesterday that Mr. Schroeder believed Mr. Bush's contract decision might violate international law, the president responded with a sarcastic gibe: "International law? I better call my lawyer." Like other puerile taunts delivered by administration officials, the president's words will merely serve to further erode support for his policies in countries that historically have stood with the United States.

The incoherence of Mr. Bush's action was matched by the hamhanded manner of its announcement...

[TastyManatees]

Too rich, you really should read the whole thing. The Washington Post's editors try to take the President in hand for not exhibiting enough diplomacy in excluding France, Germany, and Russia (almost forgot Canada, but who can blame me?) from bidding on new Iraq construction contracts as freely as the did with their old friend, Saddam. The Washington Post begins with:

YES, OF COURSE, President Bush's latest initiative on Iraq is arrogant and self-defeating.

Oh yes, of course.

When confronted with a statement by Germany's socialist chancellor to the effect that excluding Germany from Iraqi contracts was in violation of international law, the President said, "International law? I better call my lawyer." Hilarious, witty, and directly on point. There is no such thing as "international law" in this case, and the Washington Post and its allies in Germany couldn't point to a single instance of it if their lives depended on it. Germany's chancellor confronted our President with flimsy argument and veiled threat, and the Washington Post's editors immediately jumped to spout the German party line, calling the President of the United States' response a "puerile taunt".

The Washington Post couldn't be more of a joke if it tried. By the way, speaking of those who should moderate their tone, I wonder how insulting the President of the United States with childish editorial tirades on behalf of foreign powers affects the ability of a paper's reporters to get access to the White House?

Tasty Manatees

[Petronski]

"...puerile taunt..."

Sounds like a great title for the WashPost editorial page.

[Loyal Buckeye]

There is no linkage between the debt and the contracts. The contracts total only $18 billion and will be spread among many countries. France, Germany & Russia are claiming hundreds of billions in loans.

The loans are tied to their participation in the war and contributions to reconstruction, which they have all declined participation. Given that, they aren't entitled to any contracts.

[Coop]

the administration's latest slap at Germany, France, Canada and other countries it seems intent on treating as adversaries

Pssstt!!!! Hey, ComPost writers, they are adversaries!

[ladtx]

...President Bush's latest initiative on Iraq is arrogant and self-defeating.

A gratuitous assertion if I ever heard one. I can just as easily assert that: President Bush's latest initiative is expected, justified and totally correct.

[tractorman]

Typical liberal mentality: your don’t have to work for anything, just get in line for the freebies.

[RonF]

A bit off topic, perhaps, but given that this announcement is supposedly interfering with Jim Baker's mission, can someone please tell me why one of the first acts of a new Iraqi government wouldn't be to send the following memo to Berlin, Paris, etc.?

To: France, Germany, etc.

From: Iraq

Subject: Debt

It has come to our attention that you are under the impression that we are going to honor debts contracted with the previous government. Well, we're not. What are you going to do about it?

Invade?

Try to ruin the credit rating of a country with the 2nd highest amount of proven oil reserves on the planet?

Fuggedaboutit! True, it'll take a little time to get the oil pumping, but once we do (and the big guy on the block will make sure it happens) I believe we'll find plenty of takers without worrying about you. Saddam's debts died with Saddam (which is real enough politically even if the body's still breathing).

Doing business with mass murderers is common enough in the world, but it's not risk free. So take any of those bills you've got left and wipe your ass with them, boys, because that's all they're good for now.

[Broadside Joe]

Well it seems to me that the editors at the compost should first ask themselves one question. Does GWB represent the EU or the US?

[hankbrown]

Why do these papers think it is better to give these contracts to France or Germany rather than American companies? If the contracts went to France, Bush would be roundly condemned (or maybe not)

[Damocles]

"International law? I better call my lawyer."

Quite possibly one of the best presidential quotes ever...

[ladtx]

The French, Germans, Russkies and to a lesser extent the Canadians seem to having a hard time grasping the obvious; that they are in no position to demand, request or ask for anything. Must be a tremendous blow to their little egos--tsk-tsk.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

The familiar children's story, The Little Red Hen comes to mind as I hear these do nothings in France and Germany whine about not getting a seat at the table.

[Drango]

From now on, Germany, France, Canada and the Washington Post are banned from contracts in Iraq.

[roses of sharon]

The Liberal Media are simple contrarians, nothing more.

I can imagine an equally scathing editorial if Bush had decided the opposite.

[Labyrinthos]

The editors of the Waaaashington Post have obviously never heard of the golden rule: "He who has the gold makes the rules." We have the gold, we make the rules. If France, Germany, Russia, and Canada don't like it, then they should find their own sand box to play in.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

This reminds me of the children's tale where Henny Penny tries to get the rest of the animals to help her prepare a meal. All the other animals are too busy help with the preparation. But when it comes time to eat....

Guess the folks at the quaint alternative newspaper in DC never had that story read to them.

[polemikos]

Anti-Bush/pro-Saddam governments have a conflict of interest.
They should NOT be allowed to participate in Iraqi contracts.

[squidly]

exclude companies from a number of countries that are important U.S. allies

Important U.S. allies? They must mean Great Britain, Spain, Poland, Italy, Japan, and South Korea. I could have sworn those countries were included in the bidding process.

Furthermore, the irony is inescapable. This same editorial page was complaining about the high $87 billion price tag. Now, they're complaining that we're not giving any of it to France.

[Mel Gibson]

The Washington Post doesn't have a pot to p!ss in.

[appalachian_dweller]

>> Pssstt!!!! Hey, ComPost writers, they are adversaries! <<

Bump!

During the Serbia bombing when one of our F-117s was shot down, I heard if was France the leaked the info to the Serbs on the plane's flight path. Not sure if it's true, just something I heard.