08 April 2003
French Politician Regrets U.S. Came Under "Diplomatic Friendly Fire"
(A. Madelin tells Heritage audience U.S. is on right course in Iraq) (870) By Jim Fisher-Thompson Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- Alain Madelin has labored in the political vineyards of France for 34 years, including service in three French administrations with President Jacques Chirac. But now the conservative politician is trying to re-cultivate a vintage relationship he says Chirac has needlessly jeopardized by not supporting the war in Iraq. On an early April day here turned unseasonably cold, Madelin told a Heritage Foundation audience, "I wish to express my deepest regrets that your country came under French diplomatic 'friendly fire'" when France declined to support a U.S.-led military campaign to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime of its weapons of mass destruction. Madelin sought to dispel the chill in U.S.-French relations by reassuring his audience, "Inside Chirac's majority, a lot of politicians are, in their hearts, with the United States. And now, a good number of editors are saying that France went too far" in refusing to be a part of the Coalition of U.S. and British-led forces toppling Saddam's murderous regime. On a personal level, Madelin said, "I want to tell you that there are a large number of French people -- a number I work to increase every day, who understand and support the military intervention... [because] it not only serves American interests, it also serves the interests of the free world, and, in the long run, the cause of peace." On March 10 President Chirac vowed to veto any measure by the United Nations Security Council that sought to implement Resolution 1441's mandate to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction through force of arms. Ten days later, a combined air and ground attack led by U.S. and British forces struck Saddam's regime. Madelin, a lawyer and former minister of economy, finance and industry under the Balladur Government, said, "Resolution 1441 'authorizes member states to use all necessary means to uphold and implement its resolution.' In the U.N. language, this means force." He added that U.N. weapons inspectors were given a total of one hundred and five days to check Iraqi claims that they did not possess such weapons of mass destruction. On January 27, 2003, chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix reported that Iraq was not compliant with the Security Council's demands. "This was a clear casus belli [a political occurrence that brings about a declaration of war] that legitimized an intervention," Madelin told his audience. Contrary to the legalisms thrown up by French opponents, Madelin said, "The military intervention is not outside but within international law. France should side with the United States to liberate the Iraqi people from the tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein. France should not side with Saddam Hussein to defeat the Americans." For Chirac's part, Madelin said the French President's decision to stay out of the struggle against the Iraqi dictator, was, in part, a pandering to the "anti-American tendencies" of political leftists in France, whom Madelin termed "orphans of Marxism." The free marketeer said, "I fight against this anti-Americanism because I know it is used as a reason to reject free markets, free enterprise, and the rule of law -- in a word, all the common values we share." For those who accuse America of wanting to solve the world's problems unilaterally, Madelin said, the United States is "indeed a superpower. And it is very useful against super-dictatorships and super-terrorism. The worst danger the world could face would be to see this superpower being tempted by isolationism. This is why I think France and Europe should side with America today. We always had common values and common enemies. Indeed, I do not forget that you protected Europe from the Soviet threat." Now, said the Frenchman, "Americans must not back down from their responsibilities in the new dangerous world, responsibilities they have because of their strength. And all democracies must join them." Madelin addressed the angry critics of U.S. foreign policy in the "Arab Street," saying, "Only open societies can end the resentment of unhappy Arab populations. This feeling is feeding terrorism because dictators are using it. Anti-Americanism and nationalism are being used as a pretense to turn their own people from the reality of oppression, poverty and corruption. "Open societies are what the Arab world needs." Madelin said the Coalition action against Saddam offers Iraqis "a chance for freedom: freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, economic freedom, freedom for women, freedom from fear." Hoping that "French opinion and world public opinion would soon open their eyes" about the Coalition's purpose in Iraq, Madelin said, "I wish for a victory that will liberate Iraq as fast as possible from the dreadful tyranny of Saddam Hussein and get rid of the threat he represents in his region and for the world." At the same time Madelin said, "I wish, of course, that a new alliance could be rebuilt between our two countries, because we are facing the same threats. We have the same interests and we share the same values." (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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