Mullings: An American Cyber-column By Rich Galen

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France Stands Alone. Again.

Friday June 27, 2003

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TRAVELOGUE ALERT: The Mullmeister takes the show on the road next week to � Kuwait. Oh, yeah. This has "staked to a sand dune" written all over it. Alert the State Department. Alert the United Nations. Alert Starfleet Command.

If you'd like information on sponsoring this Travelogue, send me an e-mail. Or an owl.

In spite of all the tens of thousands of words which were written by the European press in opposition to President George W. Bush going to war in Iraq; and in spite of all the tens of thousands of direct-mail fundraising letters being sent out by Democrats questioning President George W. Bush's reasons for going to war in Iraq, it appears the plan is beginning to work.

While pockets of serious and dangerous resistance remain in Iraq, the country as a whole is more-or-less quiet. The on-going activities of students and other Western-oriented young people in Iran has been previously documented here "Pro-American Demonstrators." Despite a lack of news coming out of Afghanistan, there does not appear to be a popular movement there to bring back the Taliban. And the terrorist organizations in Palestine are talking cease fire again.

So, the Bush Doctrine - establish a strong "hub" nation in a region and its neighbors will get the joke - appears to be beginning to work.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, the President's National Security Advisor, was in London yesterday to further explain the Administration's position on, among other things, Hamas - the terrorist organization which has plagued peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians.

The name, Hamas, which is an Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement, first appeared in leaflets in 1988 and was largely a political movement. But in recent years, according to the BBC, "Hamas is responsible for the vast majority of those killed in suicide attacks."

Dr. Rice said yesterday, according to Don Van Natta's reporting in the NY Times, "The notion that on the one hand Hamas is peaceful but on the other hand it is trying to blow up the peace process is just illogical."

The US considers all of Hamas to be a banned organization because, as Dr. Rice went on to say, money is "fungible" meaning once you have it, you can easily shift it from one pocket to another. The US wants Europe, which separates the political wing from the homicidal wing, to take the same view.

According to the Financial Times, "The action, if agreed, would mark the first time the EU has accepted the US claim that at least some of the millions of dollars flowing from Europe and the Gulf states for Hamas' political and charitable works is being used to finance suicide bombings and other terrorist actions."

Reuters is reporting that many EU ministers agree. "Diplomats said on Thursday that France had come under great pressure, largely from Britain, and was becoming increasingly isolated. France has resisted because it sees the political wing as a necessary player in the peace process."

The EU spokeswoman said, "The majority of member states are in favor of including the political arm of Hamas (on the list). But a large EU member state is against." That large EU member state would be � Anyone? Bueller? Yes. France.

However, the long shadow of a very popular US President continues to stretch across Europe. As one diplomat put it, "[I]n the current context, where there is American pressure, the game is almost over.''

Say au revoir, Jacques.

On the domestic front, Kelly Vlahos has a piece on the Fox News webpage with the lead:

"House Democrats have declared war on the Republican leadership, vowing to gum up the legislative process in retaliation for what they say is systematic and unfair treatment by the majority."

The Dems' weapon of choice in this war? Opposing "a proposal that would extend the weekly calendar for non-controversial suspension bills."

Memo to Nancy Pelosi: Swallow your pride. Call Newt.

On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: Links to the stories noted above; the definition of the word "fungible;" a Mullfoto showing the kind of hot ride I get when I'm on the road; and a pretty good Catchy caption of the Day.

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