The French are good for something after all: We can learn a lot from this enemy. That's one of the lessons drawn by eminent British historian Paul Johnson.

In next week's issue of Forbes, Johnson offers "Five Vital Lessons From Iraq."

Lesson one. "We have been reminded that France is not to be trusted at any time, on any issue." Centuries of history have proved this to Great Britain, "but it still comes as a shock to see how badly the French can behave, with their unique mixture of shortsighted selfishness, long-term irresponsibility, impudent humbug and sheer malice."

'French Support Always Has to Be Bought'

"Americans are still finding out - the hard way - that loyalty, gratitude, comradeship and respect for treaty obligations are qualities never exhibited by French governments. All they recognize are interests, real or imaginary. French support always has to be bought. What the Americans and British now have to decide is whether formal alliances that include France as a major partner are worth anything at all, or if they are an actual encumbrance in times of danger."

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U.N. a 'Sink of Corruption'

Lesson three. Though its supporters try to pretend the United Nations somehow embodies idealism, "more than half a century of experience shows that the U.N. is a theater of hypocrisy, a sink of corruption, a street market of sordid bargains and a seminary of cynicism. It is a place where mass-murdering heads of state can stand tall and sell their votes to the highest bidder and where crimes against humanity are rewarded."
Latest proof: The extraordinarily abusive dictatorship of Libya gets picked to lead the laughable "U.N. Commission on Human Rights."

The British historian says Washington should have rejected London's wish to let the U.N. decide on Iraq. "In fact, going this way has done a lot of damage to U.S. (and British) interests and has given Russia, China and other powers the opportunity to drive hard bargains."

Stop Rewarding Phony 'Allies'

Lesson four. The split in NATO shows the alliance is an anachronism.
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Instead of rewarding America-hating "allies" with the economic boost of our military bases, "the U.S. should put its trust in the seas and oceans, which offer a home and a friendly environment to its forces and do not change with the treacherous winds of opinion. The military lessons to be learned from the lead-up to the Iraq operation are profound, and all point in the same direction: America should always have the means to act alone, in any area of the globe where danger threatens and with whatever force is necessary."

Lesson five. "The U.S. must not merely possess the means to act alone if necessary; it must also cultivate the will," Johnson concludes. "Fate, or Divine Providence, has placed America at this time in the position of sole superpower, with the consequent duty to uphold global order and to punish, or prevent, the great crimes of the world. That is what America did in Afghanistan, is in the process of doing in Iraq and will have to do elsewhere."

»&nbs;NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story - Vital Lessons on Iraq, France, Germany, U.N.