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Article: 20050609

A Gesture of Solidarity

How Not to Win Friends and Influence People

Dateline: June 8th, 2005.

I'm bloody annoyed, but I can't help but be amused at the same time.  Jacques Chirac is lecturing Tony Blair on political compromise, and calling for a "gesture of solidarity" over European Union budget negotiations.  Blair is not not my favourite politician by any means.  In my view he's a slimy, self-righteous, toad.  But in this instance I happen to think he's right for a change.

The French president calling for "solidarity" is a real hoot.  As appears usual with French involvement in international politics, "compromise" actually means aligning oneself with the French view.  Of all the modern western nations the French are the most likely to up stakes and do things their own way, scorning consensus.  They refuse to be members of NATO, and their nuclear arsenal is kept entirely independent of NATO's umbrella defence strategy.  French farmers have repeatedly blockaded, and illegally destroyed produce being shipped in from Britain, whilst the French government sat idly by and let them.  Yet when French beef was embargoed by the British government over legitimate health concerns they went spare, crying foul, labelling the embargo as illegal, contrary to EU rules and demanding we put their financial interests above the health of the British population.  French farming subsidies are absolutely ludicrous, and the biggest single consumer of the aggregate contribution to EU funds, but they flatly refuse to countenance any suggestion of re-negotiation.  And yet Chirac considers himself at liberty to spout about solidarity to the British, and criticise Blair for standing his ground in protecting our interests.  From their behaviour it isn't clear that "solidarity" even exists in the French lexicon.  Typical hypocrisy.  I'm not suggesting for one moment that they have no right to exercise their sovereign independence as they see fit, but when they habitually fly in the face of common consensus they can hardly turn around and lecture other countries on the subject.

the finger

So, M. Chirac.  You want to see a gesture from the British?  Here it is.  The only gesture a pompous, arrogant buffoon deserves.