Necessity, security, freedom
Five years after France’s refusal to participate in the Iraqi adventure — which I believe prevented to a great extent the full-fledged clash of civilizations neo-conservatives yearned for — it was a sad day to watch French PM Fillon endorse the return of France in NATO, and justify sending more troops in Afghanistan by using Bush’s usual tryptic: “we can’t afford to lose / our security is at stake / our freedom is at stake.” Opposing MPs were even charged with “raw anti-Americanism” for challenging the government over the decision.
More than a sharp swerve in French foreign policy (a 50-year heritage of independence), the return of France in the Northern Alliance also most likely spells the end of the (admittedly unborn) European defense project.
