Define "letting alone."
The French have proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they're nationally unreliable, ungrateful, and absolutely unrepentant about that fact.
French international relations over the past 50 years have largely been reactionary -- find out what the US is doing, and react against it. Doesn't matter if it's good, bad, or indifferent, it's pretty much a given that the French will decry it.
Yes, the French have the right to act as a national entity. But you'd think that they would occasionally find it to be in their best interests internationally to act in concert, instead of continually in opposition. The French had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the first Persian Gulf War, and for nearly 13 years did everything that they could to get international sanctions against Iraq lifted, even when the Iraqis were far out of compliance.
I believe it was Chiraq who, a few months ago, made it very clear that he viewed France's role in the European Union as a mission of forging a bloc against the United States, which was quickly followed by his admonition to the Baltic states that they should "just shut up" if they supported US actions in Iraq.
The only thing I can figure is that France's problem is largely a national sense of penis envy towards the US. France hasn't been a serious player on the international scene since Napoleon made his final bid for world domination.
Since then virtually everything they've laid their hand at internationally has gone badly.
I've been to France a number of times, and have traveled fairly extensively.
Beautiful nation, and I've met some lovely people there, but I've also met some real
holes, too. In fairness, I can say that about every nation I've been to, with the exception of Switzerland.
As far as I'm concerned, the French have brought it on themselves. Why should anyone be surprised when they catch grief?
