Free Republic

LONDON - Britain got very little in return for supporting the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites), and U.S. policies make it all but impossible for anyone to act as a bridge between Washington and Europe, French President Jacques Chirac said in an interview published Tuesday. AP Photo "I am not sure, with America as it is these days, that it would be easy for someone, even the British, to be an honest broker. Perhaps that will change, but that is the current state of things," Chirac was quoted as saying in an interview with British reporters...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- French President Jacques Chirac, an intractable opponent of U.S. actions in Iraq, congratulated President George Bush Tuesday on his reelection. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush spoke to Chirac about the importance of working together on common challenges "and he talked about how he'd continue to reach out to European friends and allies," but additional details were not disclosed. Chirac was one of eight leaders to call the president Tuesday morning. The others were the leaders of Denmark, Indonesia, Georgia, Romania, Thailand, Egypt and Slovakia. U.S.-French relations soured last year when France led international...

<p>A restaurant in Beaufort, N.C., has stopped serving french fries--or at least calling them that. "We now serve freedom fries," says owner Neal Rowland. His move recalls American anger at Germany during World War I. Back then familiar German foods such as frankfurters and sauerkraut were rechristened hot dogs and liberty cabbage. Polls show a full one-third of Americans now hold hostile views toward France, largely as a result of its government's refusal to enforce the U.N. resolutions calling on Iraq to disarm and otherwise comply with the terms of the Gulf War cease-fire. Just three months ago, France joined a unanimous Security Council in warning Iraq of "serious consequences" if it failed to take a "final opportunity" to comply "immediately."</p>