[RWG]

Chirac all but threatened to blackball Bulgaria - a U.N. Security Council member - and Romania from joining the EU...ok then, number 51 and 52.

[fightinJAG]

As bad as the not-so-veiled threat to blackball Bulgaria and Romania from EU membership is the fact that ChIraq told them to "SHUT UP."

France's arrogance is like a noose tightening around their national neck. Shouting "shut up" is--what did ChIraq say?---"infantile" and sure to be viewed as a crystal clear indication of the true condescension and bigotry New Europe will face in dealings with France.

ChIraq is pushing these countries into new, even stronger alliances with the U.S. and like-minded European countries.

Off topic, but anyone seen the leader of Latvia on tv? From what I've seen, she is Margaret Thatcher incarnate. Also I saw a high government official from Romania on Fox and he was extremely bright, articulate and apparently not tainted by liberal fantasies.

If this is what New Europe can offer the world, ChIraq has done a great service by elevating these countries and marginalizing his own.