For once, I agree with you, on this point. The idea is very silly and smacks of cheap opportunism.
France is a sovereign and independent nation. It isn't a puppet on strings like Afghanistan.
What is this "puppet on strings" trash? WE ARE NOT ASKING THEM TO DO ANYTHING. We, and Britain and Australia, are going to war against Iraq. And France is vigorously trying to stop us, for some unknown, unexplained reason.
Again: we are not asking them to participate in the war. It'd be one thing if we were trying to force them to contribute troops; they could say "no, we don't want to" and I'd respect that. But that's not what we're saying. We're saying that we are going to attack Iraq. France isn't even invited, and yet, they're still saying "no, we don't want to". Who asked them?
We've no business dictating their vote in the UN.
They are a disinterested party and therefore they could at worst abstain. Since they are not only not going to abstain, but are actively working against us, it is only right and proper to hold them responsible for the outrageous position they are taking. Yes, they have the right to their vote, but we also have the right to judge that vote.
So just how would you have us react to this ridiculous "please vote No against and throw roadblocks against whatever the Americans want" campaign they've been running for six months, anyway? They have the right to act like jerkwads, and we have the right to get angry at them for being such jerkwads.
I would thank them. That's what.