Acknowledging the obvious

It seems that my colleague and other such ill-natured people who refer to that great and good man, Jacques Chirac as l’escroc (the crook)are not alone. Oh dear me, no. Try putting the word l’escroc into Google, that fount of all modern knowledge.

The first reference is to the official website of the French President, complete with (selected) biography, picture, speeches, whatnot. Curiously enough this is the English language website though it responds to a French word. Perhaps they know something that the whole world has already acknowledged.

Actually there are some other interesting aspects to the website. I mean, who knew that Jacques Chirac (or Jacky as he liked to be called in his youth when he was obsessed with American culture, American films and American fashions) has, among his many other decorations (a bit like the leaders of the late unlamented Soviet Union), a Croix de la Valeur Militaire.

Well, the Croix may be listed but its reason is not. Try as we might we cannot discover where l’escroc practised his valeur militaire. It was suggested to me rather unkindly that he might have got it for standing in front of his troops.

But then M le Président l’Escroc also has the Médaille de l'Aéronautique (aerospace industry) and numerous other medals. For example, he is a Chevalier du Mérite Agricole, des Arts et des Lettres, de l'Etoile Noire, du Mérite Sportif, du Mérite Touristique.

Any information on the reasons for this excessive display of merit will be very welcome. Unlike the fragrant Margot we do genuinely welcome all comments and even reply to them.