The tipping point
Vladimir Putin said last night that Russia does not want the United States to fail in its war in Iraq: "For political and economic reasons, Russia is not interested in seeing the defeat of the United States in Iraq," the Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying.
Al-Jazeera has stopped broadcasting from Iraq: "The Arabic broadcaster Al-Jazeera has suspended reporting from Iraq after Baghdad barred two of its correspondents from reporting there."
Turkey allows a convoy of more than 20 lorries loaded with light military jeeps intended for United States forces based in northern Iraq to cross the Turkish-Iraqi border: "A second convoy of military equipment on has been taken from US bases in Turkey to US forces gathering in northern Iraq.
The Ukraine has sent a unit of its anti-chemical weapons force has arrived in Kuwait in case their help is necessary to neutralize the effects of any Iraqi attack.
Joschka Fischer, the German Foreign Minister, said he hoped that the Iraqi regime would soon be deprived of power so that the war can be ended.
Some of these decisions and statements are, no doubt, cynical and opportunistic, but that's the world we live in. The stakes are high now because once the war is over the time for the sharing of spoils will come. By that I don't mean anything as crass as loot; more access to Iraq and influence in Washington.
Fence sitters might do well to read William Safire's "On Rewarding Friends" in today's New York Times (registration required). Says Safire:
"Nations have alliances, based on short-term strategic or economic interests. But peoples have friendships, based on memories forged in times of trial. These are the times that make and break friendships among peoples."
One friendship that's beginning to look very much like history is the historic US relationship with France. The break will be expensive for Paris and its pals:
"The U.S. will live up to its eight-year, $881 million contract with the French company Sodexho to provide domestic mess-hall meals to our Marine Corps (provided the soufflé³ don't fall). And most U.S. consumers will not boycott French perfume or wine (though Australian merlot deserves a try).But on future big deals that require a trustworthy ally, public opinion will drive public policy. Right now, our Department of Energy is about to award a $30 million contract to design a system for its nuclear waste program in Yucca Mountain, Nev. The consortium that wins will have the inside track on a billion-dollar deal transporting nuclear waste within the U.S. in years to come.
Three bids were invited by D.O.E.'s general contractor, Bechtel. One is from an American-Japanese group; another is from an American-British combine; the third's from a mainly French, partly German nuclear conglomerate named Cogema.
Assuming the expertise and price are in the same ballpark, which outfit should not get this sensitive project financed by American taxpayers? In light of President Jacques Chirac's torpedo into the Atlantic alliance, the question answers itself."
As my dear mother says, "God never closes one door but he opens another."
Diarist of the day: Dawn Powell, 3 April 1941"Fear is the basis of love loyalty. Fear to break off for fear the next will not be as good or as permanent or that the old will do too well without you. Women don't leave a drunkard as often as reported. The drunkard, being maverick, can always get another woman and besides there is always the maternal he arouses -- also the sex interest since he is likely to be a different person every time."
