JANES.COM has an interesting piece on France vs. the United States:

France used to have large oil interests in Iraq, and a reasonable expectation of retaining some influence in the region. Chirac’s current policy has put all this at risk. The French attitude has also split Europe, with Britain, Spain, Italy and the former communist countries in eastern Europe now deeply suspicious of Paris. The French leader always knew that, ultimately, he could not stop the USA from resorting to war. So why is he persisting?

Mainly because he believes that all the disadvantages pale into insignificance in comparison with the ultimate prize: a France that leads all those willing to stand up to US ‘arrogance’ around the world, a France that articulates Europe’s distinct opinion and enjoys a good reputation in the Arab world as well.

Is the new French global policy impregnable? There are two snags. First, the USA is now determined to foil Chirac’s policies; President George W Bush will do everything possible to make sure that France ultimately emerges the loser; until now the French were considered in Washington as just a nuisance, but now they are widely regarded as a real menace.

Second, Chirac assumes that Germany is now wedded to an anti-US policy. Yet Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s coalition government in Berlin is teetering, and may well collapse in a year or so.

I think that Chirac also underestimates the extent to which he is breeding long-term hostility among ordinary Americans — and hence, among American politicians long after Bush is gone — as a result of what is widely seen as betrayal, not simple opposition. Chirac may not care: it was another French leader who said apres moi, le deluge, after all. But the French people should care, and so should any French politicians with ambition to succeed him.