France's Chirac, Bush Speak by Telephone
PARIS - French President Jacques Chirac and President Bush (news - web sites) spoke by telephone for the first time in more than two months Tuesday, in a possible sign of warming ties after their bitter dispute over war in Iraq (news - web sites).
Chirac, apparently signaling a desire to repair frayed France-U.S. relations, told Bush during the telephone call that France is prepared to adopt a "pragmatic approach" to the postwar situation in Iraq.
No other details about the phone call, which was reported by Chirac's office, were immediately available. It was the first phone call between Chirac and Bush since Feb. 7, his office said.
France led European opposition to the war in Iraq and has been pushing for the United Nations (news - web sites) to have a central role in postwar reconstruction.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030415/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_france_us_2 Chirac, apparently signaling a desire to repair frayed France-U.S. relations, told Bush during the telephone call that France is prepared to adopt a "pragmatic approach" to the postwar situation in Iraq. Translation: "Chirac, apparently signaling a desire to repair France's sense of self-importance, told Bush during the telephone call that France is prepared to adopt "a set of kneepads" concerning the postwar situation in Iraq.
...that France is prepared to adopt a "pragmatic approach" to the postwar situation in Iraq.IOW, Chirac wants to bribe us into letting him come on board the Iraq reconstuction, in spite of his being a sworn enemy of both the US and the people of Iraq. Failing that, he wants to make hollow threats with the same end in mind.