Juan Cole reports that Chirac is not, by any stretch of the imagination, sucking up to Bush's agenda at the G8 conference. From the very basic and only slightly subtle issue of dress (Bush insisted on informality - Chirac wears a suit and tie), to the specifics of Bush's proposal (Chirac doesn't want NATO going in to Iraq), to the philosophy of spreading democracy.
He said, "The countries of the Middle East and North Africa do not need missionaries of democracy." He added tht "There is no already-made democratic formula that one could transpose from one country to another. Democracy is not a method, but a culture. If one wants to see liberty, respect for human rights, and the rule of law impose themeslves on a country, it is necessary first of all to respect the liberty and independence of that country . . . reform cannot be decreed from the outside. It is accomplished from the inside." He insisted that progress on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute was key to making advances in the area of reform.
Nice going, Jacques. Was the king displeased?
