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They said Reagan was too stupid, too.

It's a mistake of the left to dismiss so easily your opponents. The grand scale of French opposition is more than just their being mad at us. They understand the ramifications of their actions and they have decided that it's smart to bet against us. We shouldn't just say they are stupid to bet against us. This is a country and not some schmuck at the track. France must know that there are "pros" to opposing us-- and some of those may be based on how the war goes, which means France may meddle in that, too.

I still believe that the French and Germans are gambling right now for a greater cause. While the Islamic issue is real, they need them to pay into the social system in order to apy the promised pensions etc. Europe, including Russia have a very old population and it is declining.
Gamble # 1, Veto the vote, hoping that they can avert action in Iraq in order to maintain that cash cow together with Russia.
Gamble # 2, This one will make more sense. Collaborate with Germany, which was done already to show the prospective EU members that a United Europe is again a World power in order to entice them to adopt D'estaign's EU constitution. It will be a hard sell if it is maintained in it's present form. Their economies are in shambles and it will not be easy, if not impossible to revive them without restructuring their entire system. Enter the "New" EU countries who will be getting foreign investment due to their low labor costs. The Tax revenue to be divided among the rest of Europe as dictated by Brussels is what they need. The Gamble is that either it will be adopted, or there will only be a handful of coutries left. In it's present form, a nations soveirnity will be taken away and appointed Buerocrats in brussels will determine everything from taxes to education, to defense, etc. That is the real power game in their mind. Add Russia, who will probably be granted admission into the Union. Together, they believe that it will offer a real opposition to the U.S. Infact, it will have the old Warsau pact nations together with Europe as a united front. A gamble, which may pay off.
Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.