De Gaulle said that as well. They also threw us out of France, didn't put their nukes under NATO control and and and.
Acting as France does brings you where they are today; Loathed world wide and without any true friends. The French are even HATED in the Middle East, despite being against the war in Iraq and trying their hardest to bottom feed and get every little arms deal they can with Tin Pot regimes. Do the Poles like the French? No. Does the German political elite really have full confidence in them? No. Rightfully so one might add! Because they act “exactly” the way you described. France is all about France and while Schroeder liked their companionship in taking an anti Iraq war position (For his own political gain/reelection 2002) even in Germany those in power today know that France can’t be fully trusted. The French are hated in Vietnam to the Ivory Coast to French Guiana. In Polynesia they are not liked either.
Do you think we would go far out of our way to help the French even though they are a NATO member and we liberated and helped them in WWII? An alliance, trust, etc can only be upheld when the member states also act in their allies’ best interest. There is no such thing as a “fair weather ally”.
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You mention “interests”: Let’s discuss them.
In the big picture, which EU nation is more closely aligned with us? With whom do we do more trade in the EU? With who are we closer tied for Intel? Whom can we trust more when it comes to security matters? Which EU countries invest more in our economy? Who are OUR common enemies?
Sacrificing a long term solid powerful and close ally with mutual economic and security interests so we do a quick fix in some South American nation is not even serving our own best interests if you really want to get down to it.
Do you think Tony Blair wanted to get the political egg in the face over Iraq? He’s a LIBERAL even, yet why did they stand by us? In part I’m sure not only because of the real threat poised by the late Saddam Regime, but also because they do not want to jeopardize our relationship. It’s a two way road.
I have nothing but respect for Tony Blair taking the unpopular step of being our closest ally in Iraq. I used to think he was nothing more than the Clinton of the UK, until I saw how he behaved with fellow Methodist POTUS 43. He is a man of principle and, the rarest or rarities in Europe these days, a Christian who lives his faith.