Keeping Things Personal

"When in trouble, pick a fight with Britain: this is the time-honoured diversionary tactic for any French politician in difficulty."
- The Economist, 25th June, p.48

This strikes me as extraordinarily dangerous as entire countries are then dragged into what are essentially personal matters. Chirac’s already weak reputation is further damaged because of the French non vote and so he tries to distract attention by attacking the British rebate. We respond by going after the Common Agricultural Policy and pretty soon ordinary French farmers are appearing on Newsnight expressing their unmitigated hatred for all things British.

Far better would be for Messrs. Chirac & Blair to keep the quarrel to the purely personal sphere. After all, they clearly don’t like each other very much.

Thus, M. Chirac could respond to the French non vote by drawing attention to B’s rather silly ears and somewhat effeminate body language. While a news conference with Blair might go something like this:

Journalist:
Isn’t the CAP a thoroughly outmoded economic tool creating structural distortions throughout the EU & impeding technological development?
Blair:
Possibly, but haven’t you noticed the size of Chirac’s nose? And between you and me, the guy really stinks. Don't they sell Old Spice in Europe?