THE FRENCH ARE OUTRAGED at Rumsfeld’s remark about their representing “Old Europe.” The truth hurts.

Meanwhile, Max Boot writes about the French diplomatic betrayal of Colin Powell. As Boot observes, even Powell’s patience with French posturing has worn thin, and with good reason.

UPDATE: Porphyrogenitus thinks NATO just died, at the hands of France and Germany.

They’ll come to regret that, I predict.

UPDATE: Because a couple of people have emailed me copies, I happen to know that this ScrappleFace item on the “Axis of Weasel” is getting forwarded around the Pentagon and White House. Excerpt:

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld apologized today for referring to France and Germany as an “Axis of Weasels.”

“I’m sorry about that Axis of Weasels remark,” said Mr. Rumsfeld. “I didn’t mean to dredge up the history France and Germany share of pathetic compliance with ruthless dictators.”

If the notion that our policymakers are reading and enjoying ScrappleFace doesn’t strike fear into friend and foe alike, well, then, friend and foe aren’t reading Scrappleface themselves. Yet.