I SUPPOSE THE FRANCE-BASHING WILL HAVE TO SETTLE DOWN SOON, but I find this account amusing:

Consul General Jean-Luc Sibiude of France recently requested a meeting with Colorado Gov. Bill Owens. Here is a portion of Owens’ reply, from a letter dated April 10: “I am sorry I will be unable to meet with you during your visit to Colorado. I feel it would be inappropriate to do so at this time. I have been active for many years in the international arena … I am also proud of my uncle who was killed in action in France on his eighteenth birthday. I give you this background as a preface to my feeling that France’s actions over the past few months will have serious and long-term consequences on relations between our countries.”

One hopes that the French leadership is getting the message.