Expect a French backtrack next! It's time to start carving up the big oily pie!

Schroeder Softens Anti-War Tone, Sees U.S. Victory
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By Erik Kirschbaum

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said for the first time Friday he hoped for a quick victory by U.S.-led forces in Iraq (news - web sites), although images of the war convinced him he had been right to oppose military action.


Appearing to soften his earlier anti-war language that caused tensions with the United States and Britain, Schroeder said he hoped the U.S and British forces would win the day.


"One cannot wish for anything else. Even if one was against the war, one has to wish it ends as quickly as possible," Schroeder said in the interview on Friday with ZDF television. "That has to be the wish of every reasonable person.