The arrogance of impotence

Jacques Chirac has reacted badly to President Bush’s statement that the EU should admit Turkey. For Chirac it is always about “turf.” Thus, he frets that, by opining on the subject, Bush “went into territory that isn’t his.” But Chirac’s a fretful guy. He once fretted that Tony Blair was “very rude.” Later, he fretted that certain Eastern European countries had missed a good opportunity to shut up, after they supported U.S. policy in Iraq.
The future of Turkey is obviously of vital importance to U.S. Thus, Bush was well-advised to miss his opportunity to shut up about whether that future should be European. Chirac’s pitiful reaction is an added bonus.