[Aussie Dasher]

The time-honoured French art of "brown-nosing"!

Screw the Frogs!!!

[John Jorsett]

French "charm offensive". Words that I had never expected to see juxtaposed.

[ProudNorseman]

Well, that Jacques is a slut should surprise noone. But it's true that King Abdullah is trying to introduce some reforms in the benighted kingdom, where for the moment you can still be beheaded for, say, owning a Bible, let alone distributing one.

Also, the House of Saud turned on the Jihadis when it figured out at some point during the 90s that they wanted its butt.

And of course, the United States remains the most important Saudi ally, though the relationship cooled a little after 9/11.

[Earthdweller]

What's a matter Chirac? Iran doesn't have enough oil for you to take an interest in turning around the regime there?

Your Iranian neighbors are getting nasty. Better stay home and take care of your own backyard before it goes boom.

[ch.man]

.....charm offensive that may win contracts from the world's biggest oil exporter.......

This is apparently the only thing he is interested in. What about a sound and credible foreign policy Mr. Chirac?

[proxy_user]

So is it still his position that he would use nuclear weapons against those supporting terrorism if necessary?

I guess those reforms weren't good enough....