Thursday, March 13, 2003

Blaming France, Blair Says Passage of Iraq Resolution Unlikely. At a briefing for European and Arabic journalists, a British official called the French position "extreme" and "completely unreasonable." He added, "I don't think anyone is under the illusion that if you inject into the diplomatic bloodstream a strategic, in-principle veto it's going to make things very difficult. You are poisoning the system." He added, "The French rejected our tests before the Iraqis. Enough said." [New York Times] A few weeks back, it was the French who scored all the points. I think the British just delivered the knockout blow, however. I would expect this kind of rhetoric on a weblog, but not from diplomats and government officials. Unfortunately, for all of its entertainment value, the conflict between Britain and France reflects the catastrophic failure of the international system with regard to preventing war in Iraq. Because they put their ideologies above what is right, the pro-war and anti-war camps will share the blame for whatever happens in Iraq.   3:20:25 PM

Britain Furious With France Over Iraq. The dispute between Britain and France over disarming Saddam Hussein exploded into open hostility Thursday, as furious British officials accused the French of all but ensuring there will be a war. [AP World News] I agree with the British on this one. If there is a war in Iraq, then the United States and France will share responsibility for it. The French, by continually appeasing Saddam Hussein and failing to take a tough line with him, have encouraged him to evade the weapons inspectors and have made his disarmament without force impossible.   1:42:38 PM

Antipiracy allies: Watch out for the mob. John Malcolm, a Justice Department official who oversees the computer crime division, warned the panel about the connections between copyright piracy and terrorism. [CNET News.com] I was waiting for this one to come. Apparently in this country, the best way to get what you want from Congress is to claim that it "supports terrorism." Pot smokers = terrorists. CD pirates = terrorists. Users of encryption = terrorists. Opponents of a war in Iraq = terrorists. Advocates of free speech = terrorists.   11:41:51 AM