December 31, 2003
CRAFTING A SOLUTION
I've been thinking; admittedly a dangerous thing, but hear me out. It's Blind Pig and Acorn Week here at Velociworld, so you're in luck.
France and Germany were both members of the original Gulf War coalition. This is fact. That war never ended, as there was no peace treaty, merely a cease-fire. Just like Korea. This, too, is a fact. Saddam's repeated violations of the cease-fire agreement (firing on U.S. aircraft in the no-fly zone, anyone?) precludes any reasoned argument that the state of hostilities ever ended.
QED: France and Germany are still at war with Iraq, and have been for over 12 years, whether they like it or not. By International Law they are at war with Iraq. By UN Mandate France and Germany are at war with Iraq. I suggest bringing suit in The Hague to see how much money they legally owe to defray the costs of ending the war.
As with any position, there may be a loophole or two, i.e., did they manage to declare a unilateral (there's that word!) peace treaty with Saddam while they were selling him all manner of unholy goods? Did they cry "outs" at some point and pick up their cheese ball and go home?
If so, I posit those were illegal acts without UN sanction. No, France and Germany are in deep. And they owe. Time for those pudknockers to pay up. Big. Brussels, The Hague, I'm not picky, so long as a Eurotwat has to pucker his ass and read the verdict.