Not only is the NY Times defending Chirac, but the NY Times is contradicting what it said a few days ago.
This article seems to be saying that Chirac didn't intend his comments to be a severe "put down" of Eastern Europe. But, on February 18th the NY Times said: Chirac Scolding Angers Nations That Back U.S
The French president, in an unusually emotional outburst in Brussels after the European Union meeting on Monday about Iraq, derided the Central and Eastern European countries that have signed letters expressing their support for the American policy on Iraq for being "badly brought up," and having missed "an opportunity to keep quiet."I'd guess that some East European leaders understand French well enough to know what Chirac said.
Chirac has a PR problem on his hands, and the NY Times is trying to rescue him.