Republicans abandon 'freedom fries'

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. House Republicans have dropped their snub of France by renaming french fries "freedom fries" at House cafeterias.

As well, "freedom toast" has been renamed french toast on menus, but nobody wanted to explain the name changes to The Washington Times.

Neither Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, nor Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., who led the renaming campaign three years ago would comment, nor would cafeteria staff, the newspaper said.

Ney announced the name changes at the height of anti-French sentiment in March 2003, when Paris refused to take part in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and called it premature.

"Now that they've changed the name of the french fries back, maybe they will admit their other foreign policy mistakes were wrong, too," said Brendan Daly, a spokesman for House Minority leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.