Hero or Zero

Jacques Chirac at his best:

For all his failings on the domestic front, Jacques Chirac will be fondly remembered in France as the president who stood up to Washington over Iraq.

I fail to see how abandoning allies, illegal materiel sales, and cowardice in the face of the enemy make him exemplary among French Presidents. I was under the impression those were minimum qualifications for the job.

Too bad Germany didn't get perky while we were all tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan...

"Sorry, Jack-baby... I'm afraid the day planner is all full-up right now. Perhaps you could get back to me in a couple years...? Germans? Oh, piffle! They're just big, cuddly teddy bears. Send me some strudel, would you?"