Well they may not be perfect but i love many things French. And it was the US and Britain who supported and armed Saddam (as they did Bin Laden in Afghanistan) when it suited their interests- i.e. his invasion of Iran-, regardless of the suffering of the Kurds and the oppression of his people. And 12 years of sanctions hardly helped the Iraqi people (1/2 million dead children as a result). Saddam's evil or perceived threat is not the reason but the excuse for the war. I'm saddened by the thoughtless racism encouraged by the right wing press and politicians.

And France was far from the only country opposed to the war on the Security council; the US and Britain just wanted a scapegoat, so who better than old froggy.

As for French films; well i'd be delighted if there were a major renaissance, given the country's outstanding and magical contribution to cinema (including its official birth- let there be light!). The world has sore need of more figures like the great humanist and internationalist Jean Renoir.