We had spent so much time talking about the darkness within France, that even if it wasn't the truth, our 'good' intentions would have made it so. Whatever the size of the opposition France had to the war in Iraq, by focusing so much attention on this - calling them our enemy and boycotting their products - we had made it only bigger and stronger.
We could have concentrated on the decent folks within France, to help them galvanize their efforts, but that would not give us the 'joy of hatred'. Decency doesn't reward, evil does.

It requires an enormous strength of principals to extend our hand to decent and innocent. Instead of giving so much of our time to the Evil, we could have build a coalition of decency around the world. Instead of focusing so much attention on why we are so resisted in Iraq and talk so much about the terrorists, may be we should have given more help and shown more respect to the innocent people there. Had we provided them with food for their families, jobs, medicine, safer schools, etc., may be the resistance would not have become so intense? May be there would not be such an incredible loss of life?

Instead of focusing so much on the terrorism in various countries, may be we should identify and offer our support to the good and innocent people in those places? Of course, it is so much easier to spend our time hating and talking about Evil. But then don't ask, "Why are we so hated?" - it's only a reflection of our own actions - The Law of Consequence.