De Villepin's "Iraq war" sketched
(BRUXELLES2) You want to go back to the heart of the negotiation of 1441, the resolution aimed at sanctioning Iraq in the event of non-respect of its international obligations. You want to capture the hectic, exhausting life of a Foreign Affairs cabinet at some important moments in international life. And in the tempestuous spirit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Taillard of Worms (aka Dominique Galouzeau De Villepin) and his speechwriter, Arthur Vlaminck. So, immerse yourself in reading the 2nd episode of the Quai d'Orsay comic strip (or have it offered to you for Christmas...). It's just, hilarious, tasty...
There are many moments of delight with the arrival of the 12.000 page report that the Iraqis are delivering in response to requests from the international community. And its reading by the minister's chief of staff Claude Maupas (aka Pierre Vimont) which details what is there in the 12.000 pages. " The good thing is that there is everything in there: how to make a plane, some interpretations of the Koran, the route of the night buses… If you look closely, you should even find the recipe for the tarte tatin commented with pinched humour, that we recognize the man who is today at the head of the European diplomatic service. Then follows an epic discussion between the defense advisers to find out if the identified tubes can be used for artillery, for sending rockets or for a more nuclear use.
You have this episode where the minister who calls, one by one, the members of the Security Council to rally them to the French position, against the American position. Or this trip to Moscow, with a discussion, like two old friends with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov... in Spanish. Trip preceded by this advice from De Villepin to his logistics manager who is trying to negotiate an Airbus instead of the narrow Falcon to go to Moscow: “ Tell them that you are dealing with a character, it always works in negotiations”.
The work concludes with the fantastic ride, in front of the UN, in February 2003, with this historic speech which arouses numerous applause. And this lyrical conclusion: “...In this temple of the United Nations, we are the guardians of an ideal, we are the guardians of a conscience. (...) And it's an old country, France, from an old continent like mine, Europe, (...), which has known wars, the Occupation, barbarism. A country that does not forget and knows all that it owes to freedom fighters from America and elsewhere. And yet who has never ceased to stand up to history and to men. » ... « This is unheard of “comments Claude Maupas, a little moved” They really applaud! ».
• "Quai d'Orsay Diplomatic Chronicles" Abel Lanzac (scriptwriter), Christophe Blain (designer) - Dargaud editions, 104 pages, 16,95 euros
