Airstrip One

Paris-US rift - 24th April 2003, 23.00

To reiterate the differences between the US and France is fairly pointless. The US will soon provide an example of what "consequences" means. However, the US did criticise the Defence Meeting scheduled for the 28th.

Washington has also criticized an upcoming defense summit in Brussels, bringing together France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany -- but leaving out the majority of European Union members.

Is this criticism a statement of support for European defence integration, for NATO, or against France and Germany setting up a separate military force? It's not very clear.