If France were serious, it would be using its influence within the European Union to assemble an army of 25,000 Eurotroops, and a $5 billion reconstruction package, and then saying to the Bush team: Here, we're sincere about helping to rebuild Iraq, but now we want a real seat at the management table. Instead, the French have put out an ill-conceived proposal, just to show that they can be different, without any promise that even if America said yes Paris would make a meaningful contribution.

Why would France do that? The US has already stated that while we will be happy to use any troops and money that are available, we are not going to let anybody else have any real say in how things are run in Iraq. The events leading up to the war made it perfectly clear that the US is willing to ignore any amount of international pressure and unpopularity.

If France where to try what Friedman is suggesting they would end up in a worse posistion. What would happen is that the White House would offer France some powerless symbolic posistion, and then France would refuse. But at that point it looks like France is being a jerk for not providing the troops and support it offered.

Jay