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Leaders Dispute NATO Role in Iraq
via WaPo Staff Writers - EFLAnd here we go again... Login: woman@mailinator.com woman Thursday, June 10, 2004 SAVANNAH, Ga., June 9 -- France and the United States clashed anew over Iraq on Wednesday, jarring the Group of Eight summit that the Bush administration had hoped would bury the diplomatic battles of the past. Just hours after President Bush expressed hope that NATO could play an expanded role in providing security for Iraq, French President Jacques Chirac emphatically rejected the idea. "I do not think that it is NATOâs job to intervene in Iraq," Chirac told reporters in a videoconference from Sea Island, the private resort where the leaders have gathered. "Moreover, I do not have the feeling that it would be either timely or necessarily well understood," said Chirac, adding that he had "strong reservations on this initiative." Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a guest at the summit, later echoed Chiracâs concern. Asked whether NATO, which includes Turkey as a member, should have a role in Iraq, Erdogan said: "The concept weâve been emphasizing is the role of the United Nations." ...more... So nothingâs really changed, just the venue from the UNSC to NATO. Franceâs membership in NATO is limited, and this may come into play, but it looks like the same old shit if Turkeyâs going to fall for another of Chiracâs games. I wonder if Erdogan thinks Chirac will really be around to back him, or would really live up to his side of the bargain, for EU membership, assuming they ever get a shot. What a sucker. Here we go again. Posted by: .com 2004-06-10 |
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