Recitation of facts:
2002 France offers Turkey membership in the EU in return for blocking American regime change in Iraq by refusing passage to troops. Turkish change of heart eliminates a Northern Front and repositions 35,000 troops. Consequence, defeated Iraqi troops allowed to meld into population at great loss of American and civilian Iraqi lives. Serious harm to American global peacekeeping role.
2005 French populace votes “non” to
EU constitution because of the Turkish threat. The EU constitution means equalizing French agricultural
subsidies to Turkish farm subsidies at the cost of very heavy new taxes. Turkey is still 50%
agricultural. It also means massive Turkish labor migration to
France.
Chirac is stewing in his own juices. White House drinks non-alcoholic toast.