re: time is in the essence
Before the US started the war, the UN was saying (along with multilateralist countries): Give the UN inspectors more time! Give the UN inspectors more time!
Once the war was too late to stop and in full action, the US said (in response to France's and others urge to relinquish authority ASAP, with a timetable): Give us more time! Give us more time (first to find the WMD's, then to create a democracy in Iraq).
I don't think time plays in favor of the west, and that's why France wants to help, fearing an increase in terrorism around the world (something Bush thought he was stopping by waging war to Iraq).
But to be honest, France doesn't have a solution to the sitation, for the moment.
Raoul