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About ArmaVirumque ( AHR-mah wih-ROOM-kweh) In the Aeneid, the Roman poet Virgil sang of "arms and a man" (Arma virumque cano). Month in and month out, The New Criterion expounds with great clarity and wit on the art, culture, and political controversies of our times. With postings of reviews, essays, links, recs, and news, Armavirumque seeks to continue this mission in accordance with the timetable of the digital age. Recent posts
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Feb 09, 2005 08:23 AM
[corrected 2.10] It is nice to know that Condoleeza Rice appears to be making progress mending fences with the French. According to a voice of America report, Rice has held "constructive" meetings with French President Jacques Chirac and Foreign Minister Michel Barnier. Quoth M. Barnier, "Let me say loud and clear that I believe the world is a better place, a better place, when Europeans and Americans cooperate." Isn’t that nice of the Foreign Minister? The United States invades Iraq, deposes Saddam Hussein, starts rebuiding the country’s political and material infrastructure, and manages the first free election in that beleaguered country in fifty years. Now, after a few years of obstruction and vituperation, the French are amenable to "healing the rift." Thanks a lot, gar�on. Well, the United States cannot do the most satisfying thing with the world’s fifth largest economy, which would be to tell M. Chirac and company to go choke on their escargot. Nope, we’re all adults here and prudence dictates that we offer the olive branch. Still, it is worth bearing France’s recent (and not only recent) behavior in mind. The latest collection of John Julius Norwich’s Christmas Crackers contains the following item. In 1815, Napoleon escaped from Elba and began his march on Paris. Le Moniteur Universel provided brief daily reports of his progress. Together, they provide a glimpse into the soul of "our oldest ally."
L’anthropophage est sorti de son repaire. Roughly: The cannibal has left his lair. What is the French for "treacherous sycophantic hypocrisy"? Go ahead: let’s profer the olive branch with one hand. Let’s keep the other hand in reserve.
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