It looks troublingly familiar: The United States pushes for a UN resolution on Iraq, but the French — accompanied by the Germans — say the measure doesn't pass muster.
But while the US-French clash over war in Iraq earlier this year led to a bitter crisis in relations, both sides are sending clear signals they don't want a repeat of the fireworks in discussions over the latest US draft proposal.
France and Germany, while voicing doubts, on Thursday called the American resolution to create a multinational force in Iraq a basis for negotiations, and Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was ready to listen to their proposals.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, who enraged the Americans last time around by actively campaigning against them, said in an interview in Le Figaro newspaper Friday that Paris came to the bargaining table this week "in a constructive and open spirit."
Bruno Tertrais, an analyst with the Strategic Research Foundation in Paris, said many in the French government are eager not to jeopardize recent progress in repairing ties with their top ally by prompting another showdown.
"I think the French will do anything they can to avoid giving the impression that they are ready to enter into a confrontation that includes active opposition to the United States," he said.
The Germans as well seem intent on keeping heads cool. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Friday that the split with Washington over the war should not influence the current debate.
"We have agreed that regardless of our past positions about the war, the important thing now is to be able to create a perspective ensuring stability and democracy to the Iraqi people and consequently to the whole region," Schroeder said. "We are working on that."
That's a far cry from the fisticuffs over the US proposal last winter for UN authorization of military action against Iraq.
France, with support from the Germans and others, torpedoed that proposal by threatening to veto the measure and worked to rally other Security Council members to its side, arguing that UN inspectors needed more time to uncover Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction before going to war.
The clash brought US-French relations to a new low, and some in Washington suggested that Paris should be punished for its perceived betrayal of America. France was also vilified in American public opinion, with boycotts of French products and a move by the House cafeteria on Capitol Hill to rename french fries "freedom fries."
The desire to prevent another confrontation, however, hasn't stopped the French from speaking their minds.
Aimed at attracting international troops and money to the effort in Iraq, the US draft resolution would create a multinational force under a unified U.N. command with an American commander. It also prods the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council to work with the United Nations and Washington to lay out a timetable for a new constitution and elections.
But France and Germany are arguing the resolution needs to give the UN Security Council a much more central role and provide for the speedy transfer of political and economic power from occupation authorities to the Iraqis.
Chirac was straightforward on Thursday with his criticism, saying the American draft was "quite far removed" from what he and the Germans had in mind.
Washington is eager for the help. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top US commander in Iraq, said Thursday that more international troops are needed to stave off threats ranging from al-Qaida terrorists to brewing ethnic and religious conflicts.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld estimated that other countries could provide "maybe another division" in Iraq, or about 10,000 troops. There are now about 140,000 US troops and an additional roughly 20,500 from 29 other countries, including Britain.
Money is also an issue as the US budget deficit skyrockets. A study released this week by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said US military operations in Iraq could cost an estimated US$8 billion to US$29 billion a year.
Henrik Uterwedde of the German-French Institute think tank in Ludwigsburg, Germany, said he expects France to bargain hard.
"With their clear 'no,' they want to prod America toward more concessions," he said, adding that he could envisage France sending troops "if the political conditions are right."
While French government leaders have refrained from publicly scolding the Americans, there are no such inhibitions in the French media.
"By having succumbed to the temptation of empire, the Americans discovered what the French and the British have never forgotten," Le Figaro newspaper said Friday in an editorial. "Colonies are expensive."
(China Daily September 6, 2003)
