AMERICA’S NEWEST FRIEND: Jacques Chirac? “After five years of trying to build an anti-U.S. front with Germany—splitting Europe down the middle—the French president is reaching into his diplomatic toolbox and coming up with initiatives that are increasingly in tune with America’s global agenda.”

UPDATE: Jim Hoft emails that it’s not just Chirac. He says that Silvio Berlusconi is shamelessly using President Bush to get votes.

ANOTHER UPDATE: A couple of readers complain that the update equates Chirac with Berlusconi, who’s been a reliable friend all along. I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise; I thought that it was interesting that Berlusconi thought Bush was worth votes at home, despite what we hear about US unpopularity in Europe.