ew York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, who frequently makes a lot of sense on several contentious issues, recently published a letter he wrote from Baghdad in which he quotes from a private chat that he had with an Arab Gulf leader. He said, "Thomas, everyone loves seeing the U.S. tied down here (in Iraq). The Russians are keeping you busy. The Chinese are keeping you busy. The Iranians are keeping you busy. The Saudis are keeping you busy. Egypt is keeping you busy. The Syrians are keeping you busy...(and the list could go on}. He's right. You only need to witness how Vladimir Putin is throwing his weight around Europe, how China is growing by the hour and how Iran and all the Arab states are delighted that we are bogged down in Iraq. Mr. Bush obviously has no strategy to end this conflict. His latest 'photo op took him to Iraq for an 8-hour stopover at an extremely well-fortified air base in Anbar province, not to Baghdad where "the surge" is supposed to bring stability and persuade Iraqi politicians to be more co-operative. Lest we forget, it is simple to cast blame for the failings in Iraq on Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki but surely the blame belongs more on the president of the United States for our nation's policy there. The most recent intelligence report on Iraq concludes that the government is incapable of governing effectively and that the overall situation is likely to become more precarious during 2008. On a positive note ...minor at this stage... the French rightist Paris daily, Le Figaro, recently commenting on an Iraq role for France argued that "The US is looking for a solution ...It is time to show that France, alongside Europe, is available". Quite a change and with the more friendly disposed leadership of France, under President Sarkozy, C'est possible.