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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Germany backs Britain's refusal to call for ceasefire |
| 2006-08-01 |
| Britain and Germany today watered down a strong European Union call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Lebanon conflict as foreign ministers clashed in Brussels. Instead of calling for an immediate ceasefire a convoluted statement issued by the 25 member states called for "an immediate end to hostilities to be followed by a sustainable ceasefire". The move by Britain and Germany backs the stance of the United States which believes a ceasefire call should only be made if it was "sustainable". It will be also interpreted as a snub to Jacques Chirac, the French president, who has been demanding an immediate ceasefire. Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, was joined by her German, Czech and Polish counterparts in resisting a challenge by the Finns and the French to unite behind a stronger statement which also warned of breaches of international law in the three-week old conflict. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #10 The Poles and Czechs are good, solid allies. They fight the good fight, since they have had to and have had to do it alone for so many years. Oh, and the Finns are ninnies. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-08-01 20:29 |
| #9 The Germans have noticed they are paying not only for Greek and Italian self-indulgence, but French, too, and they are not at all happy with that. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-08-01 19:37 |
| #8 There was a time when the German gov't sided with France, right after 9/11. But I think now, they think France is run by a bunch of ninnies. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2006-08-01 18:49 |
| #7 I seem to recall another time when the Huns were underestimated, written off, and yet still beat back the tide. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-08-01 17:40 |
| #6 Merkel is in charge for now. Germany will be a better ally with her and the press will probably also improve with time. I wouldn't write them off completely like France and Belgium. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-08-01 17:35 |
| #5 Tap, tap YIKES! |
| Posted by: 6 2006-08-01 17:31 |
| #4 The German press is almost 100% anti american all the time. To the point of just making stuff up anti american. Not a reliable ally. Israel and the US will go this alone. With the current3rd way Defense Minister of Israel we may end up going it alone in the end. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2006-08-01 16:46 |
| #3 I don't trust Germany. Actually, I don't trust any of them but Germany is the most likely to switch sides on us again. Sadly, I think Britain is next most likely. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2006-08-01 16:07 |
| #2 What was interesting was the split: for the cease fire, France, Sweden, Greece, Spain; against, Britain, Gernamy Czech, Poland. Yeah, I knew which ones I wanted on my side before I saw how they voted. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-08-01 14:45 |
| #1 Is it time yet to start tallying up who all is on the Allies side? |
| Posted by: Sherry 2006-08-01 14:44 |