New York, NY —

Anchor: Supporters of President Bush's Iraq policy are dumping out their French wine and renaming French Fries and French Toast Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast. But WNYC's Brian Lehrer says opponents of the President also have reason to get their next bottle of Burgundy from California, because France is letting down the anti-war movement.

Brian: You heard that right. France is letting down the anti-war movement.

Remember a few weeks ago, just before the big anti-war rallies, there were reports that France and Germany would offer a containment resolution as an alternative to war, at the UN Security Council? According to the German magazine Der Spiegel, the plan was supposed to include things like a no-fly zone over all of Iraq, UN troops inside the country, and a special UN court to enforce inspections and human rights. In effect, Iraq would have become a UN protectorate with Saddam Hussein only nominally in charge, according to Der Spiegel. But the proposal never came. No containment plan. No resolution. Just a memorandum, as they call it at the UN, a toothless one pager that cannot be brought to a vote, recommending four more months of inspections.

And even the memorandum makes promises it then fails to deliver on. For example, it calls for a clear program of action, reinforced inspections, (and) a clear timeline. But then it proposes no specific requirements for Iraq, no deadlines, and no specific reinforcements other than more inspectors, more trucks and better data processing. Not exactly the kind of stuff that will keep Saddam Hussein awake at night.

On Thursday, I asked France's Ambassador to the United States, Jean-David Levitte, what ever happened to the containment plan?

TAPE:
Levitte: No, we don't want to contain
Brian: Why not containment?
Levitte: Don't need it. Iraq is already contained


Somehow, the Ambassador slid seamlessly from containment not being the goal to a conclusion that Iraq is already contained. Though not a supporter of war against Iraq, I too was left wondering: what does France really want?

Here's why this is a problem for the anti-war movement:

If the French are only out to give George Bush a black eye, they'll succeed. They'll become heroes to many who want peace, and France will solidify its leadership role within Europe. But it will be a hollow victory, because the US will go to war anyway. And France will have sold out the millions who took to the streets last month, for some regional political gain.

In order to actually prevent war, the French would have to offer a tough, credible containment alternative - the Der Spiegel plan or some other. Then, they would have to propose that plan as a real resolution and give Security Council members something to vote for - not just ask them to cast a symbolic vote against the US.

There would be more political risk for France in such a course of action. Chirac, de Villepin and Levitte would have to get their hands dirty and risk defeat - not just sit above it all with their veto pens and say they're for peace. It may be the last best chance to avert war, and it's up to France. Don't hold your breath.