Pardon Moi! France to apologize to Iraq.

I blogged about the agreement among Iraqi Leaders and mentioned PM Maliki’s curt words for Sen. Levin and Clinton.

With a hat tip to Gateway Pundit, here’s a BBC Story that France is ready to apologize:

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has offered to apologise to Iraq if he had meddled in its affairs.

The statement comes a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki demanded an official apology because Mr Kouchner had suggested he resign.

The French are still asking for a date for withdrawal of American forces, but what’s more promising is that the French are now willing to re-engage their long time relationship with Iraq, with the BBC reporting that:

Mr Kouchner visited Baghdad last week to promote France’s role in efforts to solve the Iraq crisis and mend relations with Washington damaged by France’s opposition to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

In an article in Monday’s International Herald Tribune, Mr Kouchner said France was well-placed to “provide a fresh look” at Iraq.

“A broad-based government of national unity must be established,” he wrote. “France is prepared to act as a mediator in this endeavour.”

While the military solution shows signs of working, and the recent progress among the government holds out a glimmer of hope that the political process can work, the long term political health of an independent Iraq in the region will require the Iraqis to forge alliances with other western powers. France is a traditional friend of the Iraqis, and is obviously independent of the United States.

Others may bristle at the thought that France can play a role, but ask yourself what other nation can play such a role … other than Iran and Syria.