A short war in Iraq "is not desirable", was Villepin's reaction as France's foreign minister

In a new book about his time as foreign minister, called Cent Semaines, [Dominique de Villepin] is portrayed through a series of negative anecdotes as "immeasurably pretentious."

writes John Vinocur in the IHT as he recounts another episode of France's alliance with and friendly advice for their "American friends".

In one account, the book tells how the foreign minister was informed at a meeting at the Quai d'Orsay that the American-led war agaist Saddam Hussein would likely be a short one. His response: "That's not desirable. France would appear ridiculous." There is a long silence. Another diplomat says, "The Americans and British are our allies." Villepin ends the meeting.