Chapter 3 of the Paris Travelogue, "They Look at Me Like I'm Speaking a Foreign Language" is on the Secret Decoder Ring page.
Business leaders from around the world are meeting in Davos, Switzerland at a thing called the "World Economic Forum" to discuss important issues which are, presumably, good for business.
Here's what I don't understand about the calls for further delays on Iraq: Every news story coming out of Davos on CNBC-Europe, CNN-International, and BBC-World Service have these guys briefly leaving the Truffle-and-Caviar table to complain that uncertainty about Iraq is keeping a lid on any economic growth.
If the "uncertainty" is the problem, then, what is the advantage of having the United Nations Security Council vote to give the inspectors another three months - or another three decades?
There are only two ways to remove the "uncertainty:" One is to remove Saddam by force, by exile or by some other means. With Saddam out of there, the threat is removed and the business of business can continue unabated.
The other choice is to declare Saddam rehabilitated and allow him to remain in power indefinitely. This might make the Champagne go down a little smoother in Davos today, but what about next week when Kuwait is under attack again? And what about his continued psychological, theological, and monetary support to the worst of the Palestinian terrorists?
I don't understand how the dinners in Davos would taste any better knowing the Middle East would not be one bit safer for the next 20 years and, in fact, would be considerably more dangerous.
Saddam gave a speech last week in which he marked the anniversary of his VICTORY over coalition forces in the gulf war in 1991. This was not the action of a rational person.
I don't understand what action they think Saddam would take if the US and Britain followed the lead of our staunch allies - the French and the Germans - and, in essence, declared him a full member of the world community while getting nothing in return?
The French and the Germans are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the friendship agreement they signed in (2003 minus 40 = ) 1963.
A few days ago a Parisian said that I "dressed like an American," whatever that meant. I was a nanosecond away from saying "if it weren't for Americans YOU'D be dressing like a German, mon ami. But I was afraid that the Mullings Director of Standards & Practices would hear about it.
German President, Gerhard Schroeder barely won re-election last year and only by declaring his opposition to using force to remove Saddam. He has, apparently, persuaded French President Jacque Chirac to dance to his German oom-pah tune and join him in declaring France's opposition to the U.S.-Britain course of action.
When Saddam is finally removed guess which will be the first two countries marching into Baghdad claiming to have been with them all along? Kee-rekt: Germany and France.
Yesterday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, speaking to European journalists in Washington said:
"Germany has been a problem and France has been a problem. But you look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe, they're not with France and Germany... they're with the US. You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe."
The French foreign Minister howled like he had been stuck with the point of one of those old German World War I helmets, saying he was "profoundly vexed" by Rumsfeld's remarks.
Yeah, well, vex this, bub.
It is no surprise that the corporate chiefs in Davos are opposed to doing what needs to be done. A very smart person told me the other day that "investment is a coward."
Happily, George W. Bush is not.
That, I understand.
On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: The Associated Press' take on the German-French Friendship Treaty, the BBC's look at what vexed that French dude, all THREE chapters of the Paris Travelogue and the usual things:
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