Rating: 
Summary: A great assesment
Review: Here we are shown the truth about why France refused to support the invasion of Iraq and actively campaigned to thwart America. Contrary to belief it had nothing to do with human rights or Altruistic motives. Instead this wonderful text sheds light on the hundreds of millions of dollars in business the French did with Saddam including the massive debts Iraq had to France that they knew America would never repay once we won. This book sheds light on Chiracs secret relationship and support of Saddam, something that goes back more then a decade. A very eye opening book that looks deep inside the American-French political relationship in the later part of the 20th century and the early 21st century. A great current events read and a must read for anyone seeking to understand the 2nd Iraq War.Seth J. Frantzman
Rating: 
Summary: The only fascinating thing is the reviews...
Review: I find it fascinating that so many people can review this book and know nothing about what really happened. No one knows if this book is true or false, but many claim to know. It seems we all just believe what we want to. When will politics stop running our lives? I want to know the truth about this. This book is not going to help that. I do find it funny that some guy from New York on here thinks that contracts last through a regime change. According to CNN the new Iraqi government will decide who to do business with. I do think there is some validity to this book. It doesn't matter though. People will forever hate Americans no matter what decision they make. A recent Al Qaeda group said that they want the American people to vote Bush or they will attack us. Didn't they already say they would attack us if we did not vote him out? AND YES THIS IS RELATED TO IRAQ!!! IT IS EVERYONE AGAINST AMERICA REGARDLESS OF THE DECISIONS WE MAKE UNTIL WE ARE NO LONGER ON TOP! SCREW GERMANY AND FRANCE AND EVERYONE FOR THAT MATTER! OUR ALLIES ONLY BEFRIEND US FOR BENEFITS...WE'LL SEE WHAT SPAIN DOES WHEN THEY NEED MONEY AGAIN!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: Excellently done and well worth the read. Author explores the inner political dynamics as well as the sophistry of the presses.
Rating:
Summary: France and others vs. Facts
Review: It seems that as Americans we should be able to accept a fact as a fact. It is unfortunate that some Americans are still unwilling to accept anything but what they decide personally to be a fact. I am saddend to see such ignorance on the part of some Germans and most French. For they put their trust and security in the hands of people who care nothing but for their own personal advancement. I strongly urge any French official that can speak on behalf of Chirac, to respond to these findings. As we all know, there were documents recovered once we were in Iraq that put France in her most uncomfortable position yet. This book lets those who care about facts, not about any particular political party, educate themselves and make their own decision...which is what being an American is all about. What say you Chirac?
Rating: 
Summary: Lopsided view lacking substance
Review: It is books like those of Timmerman that create mutual missunderstanding on either side of the atlantic leading to nothing but unnecessary resentment.
Timmerman denounces France of betraying America because she refuses to go to war to Iraq. Firstly, the decision of its legal ruler doesn't mean a country unanimously thinks likewise but reflects the policy of the ruling party as can be seen in the campaigns of Spain and the US in 2004. Moreover, it is absurd to talk of betrayal just because a nation differs in certain issues and defends its position including to build antiwar coalitions.
France is as well as the US against terrorism. Just the fact she disagrees about the stragey to rule out terrorism doesn't make her a villain betraying the closest ally.
One can argue if fighting terrorism and proliferation of WMD justify the case of war in Iraq but certainly not íf such denial makes an ally a traitor.
Such an assertion even tops statements as 'Who is not with us is against us' and further deepens irritations between Europe and America.
This doesn't make me a staunch defender of the anti-war sentiment sweeping over Europe. I am rather concerned about a growing trench between the two continents caused by biased public coverage bashing the other side.
Regarding the facts Timmerman is presentig in his book I can only laugh out loud. As Chirac was a steady supporter of Hussein in the 70s so was America. Especially in the 80s Iraq was seen as the lesser evil containing the mullas of Iran in the first Gulf War. Facts like Hussein using chemical weapons were generously overseen by all Western Countries.
And Chirac hoping for Iraqi oil may be seen as plausible as the US seeking the same.
Bluntly speaking this book is complete nonsense.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Work of Fiction!!
Review: This book is truly a magnificent work of fiction -- the author has a tremendous imagination!! The novel is almost as compelling and almost as credible as Bush's claims of caches of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq! If we, the American people, were sold out by anyone, it was by the Bush administration.
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff..
Review: This book really ties it all together. Many of the issues brought up by Timmerman have been in the news in the past but not in the detail outlined in this book. It also helps to show why Americans have held France in contempt for a good bit longer than the last three years. A good read for those on both sides of the Atlantic.
Rating:
Summary: short review
Review: This is an excellent book altogether. It presents facts about how the French constantly betray us over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Mon dieu, perfide!
Review: Oh, what happened to the good old days when people spoke of enetente or mesentente cordiale? Today we speak of betrayal as if it were something new? The French get up on both sides of the bed, talk out of both sides of their mouths and proclaim amorous devotion to the West while they (re)orient themselves to their interests in the east. Any American with a pea-sized brain can see that Americans went into Haiti (in abeyance to the French) when the Liberals were on the throne. Now that the Liberals are off the throne and Aristide is out of favor with the French, we will clean up soiled French bed sheets. After this little frolic in 'le parc Bagdad' the French will run along with their money to find their next victim. Only the historically naive could possibly believe that French are ever honest in or out of the political bed. Is the metaphor not intact? I recommend this book as an example of how some Americans express feelings of embarassment at being treated like imbeciles. Our intellectuals have devoured French theories since the seventies and it is only normal that American academics should feel the bed still a little warm (at least in their imagination). Unfortunatley American outrage does tend to become scary quite quickly. Those who commit adultery are made to wear the Scarlet Letter. Instead of treating this book like the last chapter of a roman sentimental, we should be saying Duh! Were you surprised? I don't know why Timmerman has written this book. His audience, which should be American academic intellectuals are mostly mental zombies anyway. I mean that they look over a bibliography and if it doesn't have Althusser, Derrida, Foucault, Baudrillard, Lyotard, Chanteloupe, and Scaramouche, it won't be read. Cheers!
Rating:
Summary: Ridiculously biased
Review: I strongly believe that this book is ridiculously biased towards nonsense. I am sorry to have bought this book.
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