The Prince of Algiers

The Associated Press reports that Jacques Chirac received a hero’s welcome in Algiers yesterday, as well he might. From now on, we can expect leaders of France and other formerly Western European nations to regularly visit countries like Algeria, the way mayors of New York used to visit Italy, Puerto Rico and (yes) Israel.
AP gushingly notes that “Chirac is a leading proponent of disarming Iraq peacefully.” That statement is false. Chirac is a leading proponent of not going to war with Iraq. He cares nothing about disarming Iraq. If he had been calling the shots, there would be no inspectors in Iraq today, much less any disarmament. Only President Bush and Tony Blair showed any interest in disarming Iraq until their leadership placed Chirac and others in the position of having to support the pretense of disarmament as an alternative to war.

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