[Scott from the Left Coast]

This report is sooo phony that even the French won't be able to hide behind it

I wouldn't bet on that. They know they have the votes to prevent the Security Council from acting. They've already got their response to the report crafted. The French believe they have the winning hand in this venue and they're going to call to show cards. They're going to try to kill this attack once and for all, and if Bush goes anyway, then they're going to raise hell (via violent protests) around the world. The French are playing for keeps, for influence in the 21st Century.

God Help Us All.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

I wouldn't bet on that. They know they have the votes to prevent the Security Council from acting. They've already got their response to the report crafted. The French believe they have the winning hand in this venue and they're going to call to show cards. They're going to try to kill this attack once and for all, and if Bush goes anyway, then they're going to raise hell (via violent protests) around the world. The French are playing for keeps, for influence in the 21st Century.

The game the French are playing has nothing to do with IRaq and everything to do with establishing French hegemony in a united Europe (with an allied Russia) and diminishing/eliminating US influence in their sphere. Iraq just happened to be a window of opportunity that they are exploiting.