France continues to try to gate-crash Iraq.

FRANCE CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ

PARIS September 25. 2005 (AFP) - "I hope there will be an international conference on Iraq with all the political parties in Iraq, to be able to think of tomorrow so that Iraq remains one country and there will not be any partition by one side or the other," [French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Sunday].

What's at stake is the partition or not of the country," Douste-Blazy said on Radio J, a Jewish radio station in Paris, without providing any further details about such a conference.

Flare to M. le Ministre: Iraq has not sought France's opinion. It has not asked for her advice. There is not the slightlest tittle of interest in airy French schemes.

"We see on the one hand a constitutional process advancing in Iraq, but without certain political groups," the foreign minister said, referring to the constitutional referendum, to elections and the formation of a new government which is planned to be put in place before the end of the year.

Who are these "certain political parties"? The Sunnis, who, following their January electoral boycott debacle, scrambled into the government? Hhmmm. No, the Sunnis are on board. Perhaps M. le Ministre is thinking of these disenfranchised Iraqis? Or these folks? Maybe these nice folks? Or these fellows or these? Strangely these "political" groups use terrorism to undermine the very political processes M. le Ministre laments them being self-excluded from. And while many of these folks are not Iraqis, like France, they feel invested with an authority, both natural and superior, compelling them to shape the Iraqi state.

But M. Douste-Blazy is only following his predecessor, M. Barnier, who refused to serve refreshments until the terrorists were at the table.

France loves an international mixer. It is there the problems of the world become manageable: fussing with caterers, selecting silver and china patterns, and skimming the cash bar. It is there that France shines.

France is ready, not with ideas, but seating charts.

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