Columnist Jeff German: French return in triumph

Wednesday, July 9, 2003 | 11:18 a.m.

Someone call the president. Chilled relations between France and the United States are thawing -- at least in Las Vegas.

After a 14-week ban, the French flag once more is flying over Paris Las Vegas, the French-themed megaresort on the Strip.

You can start eating french fries again.

Soon, according to Paris Las Vegas officials, new American flags will be hoisted alongside the French colors around the property.

How quickly our memories fade.

Not too long ago, anti-French sentiment was raging in Las Vegas and around the country. Americans didn't appreciate France's decision not to support our war effort in Iraq.

During the war, Las Vegas radio station KXNT-AM held a promotion in which French bread, yogurt and bottles of French wine, vodka and sparkling water were crushed underneath a 14-ton armored vehicle.

Some restaurants began listing "freedom fries" on their menus.

Protesters tried to stop the Regional Transportation Commission from buying 10 buses assembled in France.

And Metro Police investigated threats against the owners of upscale French restaurants.

Tempers were so hot in the valley that Paris Las Vegas felt the need to take down its French flags.

As late as two months ago, Secretary of State Colin Powell still was leading the charge against France on the international scene. He warned that the longtime ally would suffer consequences for not backing America in Iraq.

But his words had little impact on Las Vegas and its many tourists.

"There's still some anti-French sentiment, but overall, I think it kind of died as we moved on to other topics of concern," said KXNT Program Director Gavin Spittle, who organized the anti-French demonstration for the radio station back in February. "Our listeners right now are more concerned about the tax increases."

Paris Las Vegas officials feel the same vibes, which is why they had no problem quietly raising their French flags on Monday.

"We think it's appropriate to have them flying again now that our guests are no longer as concerned about some of the political implications," said Robert Stewart, a senior vice president of Park Place Entertainment, which owns Paris Las Vegas. "The sensitivity on this issue has ebbed."

A lot of that, of course, has to do with the fact that the war effort has been reduced and tempers have subsided. The United States toppled Saddam Hussein's regime without France's help.

Business obviously hasn't been bad at Paris Las Vegas during this period of chilled relations with France. If revenues had declined significantly, you can bet that Park Place officials would have taken down the 460-foot Eiffel Tower replica and changed the theme of the resort by now.

So the flags are back up, and it's business as usual on the Strip.

And those lousy, disloyal French? Well, they're old news, as far as Las Vegans are concerned.

Super-size those french fries, please.