Freedom Fries: The French-American Rift over Iraq
Columbia International Affairs Online
May 22, 2003
A conference entitled "Freedom Fries: The French-American Rift Over Iraq" was held at Columbia University on Thursday, May 22, 2003. The panelists—Professors David Calleo, Stanley Hoffmann, and Robert O. Paxton and journalist Christopher Caldwell—provided an informed discussion of the issues, exploring the situation with the invited audience in order to bring more light and less heat to how Americans perceive this highly-charged disagreement. The guests included influential policy makers and opinion shapers from leading newspapers, many of whom participated in the question-and-answer period. An edited version of the transcript follows.
Historical Background
During the months leading up to the war in Iraq, France opposed U.S. efforts to obtain a UN Security Council resolution justifying the use of force against Saddam Hussein. This disagreement between long-time allies has had deep effects. For weeks, Presidents Bush and Chirac did not speak. In the U.S., some journalists and politicians launched appeals to boycott French products, while the U.S. House of Representatives has changed "French fries" and "French toast" to "Freedom fries" and "Freedom toast" on its cafeteria menu. Most recently, the French government formally complained about an alleged campaign of lies about France emanating from the White House. Current disagreements have resurrected and intensified negative stereotypes that persist in each country. Current debates over post-war reconstruction in Iraq demonstrate how the United States and France possess drastically different perspectives on the responsibilities of nation-states and international organizations in the new world order. In spite of these tensions, France and the United States collaborate closely on common issues, such as security and terrorism. The complexities of this historic alliance are well examined by the conference participants.
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