Article

2003-09-04 Europe

France, Germany skeptical of U.S. resolution

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Posted by Rafael 2003-09-04 12:01:49 PM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I think the Russians have approved the Resolution and committed troops. They are acting in concert with the US in several arenas. They don't seem to have attended the summit with France and Germany. I doubt that China will work against US interests due to the NK situation. If Powell/Rumsfeld/Bush has worked a deal to create a "coalition" in the NK situation that extends to support in Iraq than they have acted brilliantly. It would be a case of improving leverage in a locally unsolvable situation by zooming out and working the bigger picture.

I may be succumbing to an overall psychotic episode, but if my fanciful scenerio plays out, will France veto?

Posted by Super Hose 2003-9-4 12:52:49 PM|| 2003-9-4 12:52:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Will France veto?

Does Chirac eat snails? Of course France will veto. They'll make more conciliatory noises this time, having learned their lesson, but in the end if it doesn't give the French what they want, they'll find a way to veto.

"It doesn't establish a legitimate government in Iraq" -- as if Iraq has had one the last thirty years.

"It permits the occupying powers to retain control of security." -- as if we want Uruguayan peacekeepers in Tikrit.

"The UN peacekeepers must be under UN command." -- as if Vlad wants his boys led by a Frenchman. Vlad knows quality when he sees it.

I'm sure there's additional ~~lame excuses~~ reasons coming from the French.

Posted by Steve White 2003-9-4 1:41:08 PM|| 2003-9-4 1:41:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 I saw somewhere that the Chinese said that this is what they want to see and have been pushing for. That pretty much leaves the chocoloate makers off on their own on this one.

Posted by Dishman 2003-9-4 1:48:26 PM|| 2003-9-4 1:48:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 The French position, as it has been from day 1, will be: What's in it for us? What contracts do we get? And I'll be surprised if Vlad cooperates without ratification of those umpteen billion dollar contracts.

Posted by Matt 2003-9-4 2:10:26 PM|| 2003-9-4 2:10:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Matt - Yup. It's all about oil. For France and Russia, that is.

eL

Posted by eLarson 2003-9-4 2:26:10 PM|| 2003-9-4 2:26:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 If the Russians side with the US than the Frenchposition will be "doggie style."

Posted by Super Hose 2003-9-4 3:08:17 PM|| 2003-9-4 3:08:17 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Somehow I think Bush is counting on the French veto. Even the most cynical countries will then start to see the UN for what it is. That will make it easier to push through reforms that may save the UN (such as making the French veto a European one) which I think Bush hopes to do despite the UN itself.

Posted by Yank 2003-9-4 5:05:33 PM|| 2003-9-4 5:05:33 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 I don't think Bush is actually an anti-UN guy (like I am.) He is not the type to be able to fake sincerity and his address to the General Assembly certainly looked sincere.

Reagan (at least in the 70's) was a proponet of the US pulling out of the UN. I don't remember that he ever addressed the assembly or worked through consensus/oalitions other than NATO.

I could be wrong.

Posted by Super Hose 2003-9-4 8:17:14 PM|| 2003-9-4 8:17:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Of course France will veto it. France's new angle is extortion. (Ref: Libya) It seems to be the only "political" means of France accomplishing anything.

Posted by Paul 2003-9-4 8:49:43 PM|| 2003-9-4 8:49:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Jeez--maybe if we could get Halliburton away from the trough and share the plunder with the Euros--they'd jump on board! How cynical to think that the French would want some economic benefit if they put their soldiers on the line in Iraq!

Posted by Not Mike Moore 2003-9-4 11:20:53 PM|| 2003-9-4 11:20:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Bush is once again making them an offer they can't accept. He did it with the Taliban, with the French and with Saddam. He's about to go another round with the French. My feeling is that the point of this resolution is so Bush can say I tried. At the end of this, the American people will be even more disgusted with the UN than they already were after the problems with getting UN concurrence with the invasion of Iraq.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-9-5 12:12:44 AM|| 2003-9-5 12:12:44 AM|| Front Page Top

00:35 Bomb-a-rama
00:18 Ernest Brown
00:12 Zhang Fei
00:07 Not Mike Moore
00:01 steveerossa
23:58 Not Mike Moore
23:38 Not Mike Moore
23:33 Not Mike Moore
23:30 tu3031
23:28 Not Mike Moore
23:20 Not Mike Moore
23:14 tu3031
22:59 tu3031
22:52 Anonymous
22:50 Barbara Skolaut
22:45 Barbara Skolaut
22:42 Anonymous
22:18 Paul
22:11 Paul
21:59 Paul
21:55 Mike
21:41 Old Patriot
21:34 Old Patriot
21:34 Super Hose