Though he is unquestionably the worst French president since WWII, Chirac is neither 'stupid' or 'evil'.  He's merely a corrupt ex-mayor with a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease.  Chirac has been aptly compared to Daley Sr. of Chicago-who wasn't stupid either-but had a similar combination of arrogance, abrasiveness, and confused syntax.

Gonna join the little me-too club here.  Genghis is right.  The U.S. has an unfortunate tendency to ignore any wise advice from leaders of other countries, and with a particular disdain for any from a Frenchman, even when it is bloody obvious that they have some experience that is to the point.  Obvious to anyone who knows anything about history, that is.

Oh well, we're up to our eyeballs in it now.

Not at all stupid.

Pretty clever guy and a cunning politician.

And let me echo Genghis' comment.

He was right.

Actually, we should have listened to Chirac. He had fought in Algeria and knew how Mohammedan countries react to invaders from Christian lands. He advised Bush about that in private meetings in 2002, but Bush and his gaggle of neo-cons ignored Chirac.

When Bush ginned up the present war, Chirac said no, and again we ignored.

He should be greeted here is a statesman who was right all along.

Well, technically he's not stupid, just an EVIL BASTARD! And he's French!