Posted by Dan Ewert : 3/27/2003 01:31:00 AM (Archive Link)
Speaking of Jacques Chirac, it’s not surprising that he isn't in favor of the U.S. and the UK administering post-war Iraq. He’s already on the record as saying he’d veto any such resolution in the UN because it would legitimize action he opposed in the first place. What’s really at stake here is that he doesn’t want France to be left out of the rebuilding. You can read some about that here. The country is actively trying to figure out how to get French businesses in the Iraq door. Says the article, “Some French are concerned that a U.S.-led administration in Iraq will favor companies from the United States and other pro-war countries while penalizing companies from France and other war opponents.” I certainly hope things favor allied countries over France. Considering that France did everything possible to keep Iraq from being liberated, I see no reason why they should benefit from the inevitable liberation. Here’s what’s truly galling, though, and I’ll quote liberally:

“Officials in Paris say French firms' experience in working in Iraq would be an advantage.

“French companies — many with ties to Baghdad stretching back decades — have established themselves as the largest suppliers of goods to Iraq since a U.N. trade embargo was partially lifted in 1996.

“In 2001, France exported $705 million worth of goods to Iraq within the framework of the United Nations (news - web sites)' now-frozen oil-for-food program. Communications equipment maker Alcatel clinched a $75 million contract to upgrade Baghdad's phone network, and Renault sold $75 million worth of tractors and farming vehicles to Iraq.

“French oil giant TotalFinaElf probably has the biggest stake. It spent six years in the 1990s doing preparatory work on two giant oil fields and has signed two tentative agreements with Saddam to develop them.

“Munier said he believes American companies will have difficulties in Iraq because of widespread anger against the U.S.-led bombing campaign.

‘I don't see how American executives can work when their lives will be at risk,’ he said. ‘There will be such hatred toward Americans.’

“Munier criticized French companies for negotiating with American companies for a piece of their businesses in Iraq, saying that such "collaboration" would damage the image of French business among Iraqis.”

Here is where the French truly don’t get it. They feel that French companies’ experience in Iraq will work to their advantage. What they don’t see is that the entity with which they were dealing was the Saddam Hussein Baathist regime. As noted above, they worked out all sorts of deals with a tyrannical dictator. The new post-war Iraqi government will be opposed to all things Saddam and will be made up of elements that suffered tremendously under him for the past 25 years. They won’t see the French as great guys, they’ll see them as the enemy. The French will be the folks who happily did business with their oppressor and who went to great lengths to prevent his overthrow. In contrast, the Americans won’t be hated by the Iraqis as the gentleman suggests, they’ll be loved and respected for doing what virtually everybody else in the international community refused to do. In fact, many of the people helping to rebuild the country will be former Iraqi exiles who have spent years the States.

The French simply don’t understand what’s going on here. They perceive the situation only from their narrow point of view that if the country is bombed, then the people will hate the bomber. They look only at the means. They can’t comprehend that an oppressed people would feel any different when the resulting ends come about. The Iraqis will love the liberators and they will hate those who aided and abetted the dictator. The French are making a horrible miscalculation here… one they deserve to make.