The French still do not get it
Amir Tahiri:
"...Using the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks as a peg, the French media are full of editorials, columns and comments dealing with what is perceived as 'unreasonable sulking' by the Americans.
"Many commentators remind their readers and audiences of the headline in the Parisian daily Le Monde on Sept. 12, 2001: 'We Are All Americans!'
"The argument is that the Americans, being ungrateful brats, have forgotten that 'generous' show of solidarity.
"'We were on their side when they were attacked, notes an editorialist on the state-owned radio France Inter. 'They must understand that we cannot be on their side when they are attacking others.'
"The logical conclusion of such a premise is that we love the Americans only when they die, especially in large numbers, but dislike them when they fight back against those who, incidentally, happen to be our enemies as well."
"...Anti-Americanism as a substitute for policy is sustained thanks to a number of myths and outright lies.
"One myth is that current anti-Americanism is not directed at the American people but at the Bush administration's 'neocon' strategists. One routine claim of French pundits is that Bush and 'his gang' have 'hijacked the American ship of state' and are using it in the interests of the Likud party in Israel.
"Such an excuse is worse than the insult. For it shows disdain for American democracy.
"Another myth is that the United States has lost in Iraq, and is looking for a way out. The daily Liberation jubilates that 'Bush is rushing headlong for the exit!'
"That may provide a dose of Schadenfreude, but is no basis for a serious understanding of the situation in Iraq. In fact, things in Iraq are going better than those who know that country expected. Provided there is no loss of nerves in Washington, Iraq could become as much of a success as were West Germany and Japan after the Second World War."
"...Anti-Americanism may look attractive in the short run as a means of covering the Chirac government's failure to develop a coherent and principled foreign policy. In the medium and long runs, however, anti-Americanism is a disease that harms France as well."
Amir Tahiri:
"...Using the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks as a peg, the French media are full of editorials, columns and comments dealing with what is perceived as 'unreasonable sulking' by the Americans.
"Many commentators remind their readers and audiences of the headline in the Parisian daily Le Monde on Sept. 12, 2001: 'We Are All Americans!'
"The argument is that the Americans, being ungrateful brats, have forgotten that 'generous' show of solidarity.
"'We were on their side when they were attacked, notes an editorialist on the state-owned radio France Inter. 'They must understand that we cannot be on their side when they are attacking others.'
"The logical conclusion of such a premise is that we love the Americans only when they die, especially in large numbers, but dislike them when they fight back against those who, incidentally, happen to be our enemies as well."
"...Anti-Americanism as a substitute for policy is sustained thanks to a number of myths and outright lies.
"One myth is that current anti-Americanism is not directed at the American people but at the Bush administration's 'neocon' strategists. One routine claim of French pundits is that Bush and 'his gang' have 'hijacked the American ship of state' and are using it in the interests of the Likud party in Israel.
"Such an excuse is worse than the insult. For it shows disdain for American democracy.
"Another myth is that the United States has lost in Iraq, and is looking for a way out. The daily Liberation jubilates that 'Bush is rushing headlong for the exit!'
"That may provide a dose of Schadenfreude, but is no basis for a serious understanding of the situation in Iraq. In fact, things in Iraq are going better than those who know that country expected. Provided there is no loss of nerves in Washington, Iraq could become as much of a success as were West Germany and Japan after the Second World War."
"...Anti-Americanism may look attractive in the short run as a means of covering the Chirac government's failure to develop a coherent and principled foreign policy. In the medium and long runs, however, anti-Americanism is a disease that harms France as well."
Comments
Post a Comment