PARIS (AFP) - The United States is curtailing military ties with France despite some improvement in relations badly damaged by the rift over the Iraq war, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said.
...
Although Powell lauded France's vote in favor of the resolution -- which the UN Security Council adopted 14-0 as he was speaking -- he said the past could not be forgotten and said the US military was taking steps against Paris in light of "the current environment."

Among those measures are leaving France out of an annual military exercise in Nevada known as "Red Flag," scaling down the US presence at next month's Paris Air Show and cutting back on military-to-military exchange programs, he said.

...
Powell, who said last month that France would face "consequences" for its anti-war stance, made clear he thought the relationship would survive in the long-run, but painted a suprisingly gloomy picture for the short- and medium-term.

"I wouldn't say we'd punish France," he said.

But, he admitted: "You take note of those who disagree with you and you try to find out why and, if it is appropriate, to draw some conclusions, and consequences follow those conclusions. That's the way it is."

He made pointed reference to the fact that France had first warned of Iraq-related "consequences" when a number of European countries voiced support for the US-led "coalition of the willing" that invaded Iraq.

"I just have to point out that... the French governnment took them to task for daring to speak their own minds and not simply support the position that had been taken by the French government," he said.

» Yahoo! News - US to curtail military ties with France as Iraq rift lingers: Powell