Anyone who's observed the career of Jacques Chirac would know that the man certainly did not take an anti-war stand for altruistic reasons. It was all pure cynical calculation.
Above all, he pandered to deep-rooted anti-Americanism in the French elites (right, left and center, I would add). Giving the diplomatic middle-figure to the Anglos has won him the hearts and minds of the French people...nothing else can explain the fact that he is suddenly the most popular French president in a generation.
Beyond the popularity play, Chirac probably actually hoped to save Saddam's ass. Ever heard of Elf, Exocets, and Mirages? These are the words that made the whole gamble worthwhile. Stick it to the Americans and France would have a chance to save its hard-earned business and military contracts.
Now those contracts are up in the air, but one could say Chirac pulled a little international coup of his own. Chirac -- the great champion of multilaterism and peace? Anyone remember what he did to Tahiti, New Caledonia, Ivory Coast? Anyone?
to the Anglo-saxon hegemony, he won
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