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| Europe |
| France Demands UN Administer Post-War Iraq |
| 2003-04-09 |
| edited (somewhat) for brevity A transatlantic row threatened to erupt over the future of Iraq last night when France demanded that the United Nations take over from Britain and America once the fighting ends. With ferocious battles taking place between American and Iraqi forces in the heart of Baghdad, Tony Blair and President George W Bush announced plans to give the UN a "vital role", rather than overall responsibility, for creating a new Iraq. President Bush and Tony Blair hold a joint news conference after their meeting at Hillsborough Castle. But hours after the summit at Hillsborough Castle outside Belfast, President Jacques Chirac insisted that rebuilding the country "is a matter for the United Nations and for it alone". Translation: "We want it, you can't have it, and we'll hold our breath until we turn blue and pass out if we don't get out way." I swear - Chirac sounds more and more and more like the petulant little child every time he opens his fat mouth. His comments appeared to dash the Prime Minister's declared hope that Europe and America could overcome their bitter "diplomatic wrangling" of recent months. The PM had better wake and smell the coffee - France does not have the US or the UK's best interests at heart anywhere. Chirac is in it for the money and to stop US and UK power. Period. In another worrying development for Mr Blair, Moscow announced an impromptu summit of Russia, France and Germany - the main countries opposed to the war - in St Petersburg at the weekend. With America and Britain still fighting a war and shedding blood to unseat Saddam, it is unlikely that Washington in particular will be willing to negotiate with countries derided by the American Right as the "Axis of Weasel". Mr Blair and Mr Bush yesterday agreed to give the UN an important but not decisive role as they drew up plans to create a broad-based interim government in Baghdad. "As the coalition proceeds with the reconstruction of Iraq, it will work with its allies, bilateral donors and with the United Nations and other international institutions," said their statement. "The United Nations has a vital role to play in the reconstruction of Iraq." The UN would not run Iraq, but it would help find Iraqis to serve on the interim authority and the Security Council would be asked formally to endorse the new post-Saddam administration. But Mr Blair's hope that this delicate compromise would be enough to overcome the row over the failure to secure a UN resolution authorising war was quickly dashed. "We are no longer in an era where one or two countries can control the fate of another country," the French president said. Unless that one country is France, of course. The plan for the post-Saddam era, modelled on the UN-backed process that led to the creation of a new Afghan government after the overthrow of the Taliban, was hailed by No 10 as a success for the "special relationship" between America and Britain. Mr Blair has been keen to marginalise Ahmad Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress who is favoured by many in the Pentagon, and prevent him being installed as the interim leader of Iraq. Mr Bush appeared to have acknowledged that others, including figures from within Saddam's regime, could have a legitimate claim to rule by agreeing that the new interim authority should be "broad-based and fully representative, with members from all of Iraq's ethnic groups, regions and diaspora". In an apparent overture to European opponents, Mr Bush said: "There is some scepticism in Europe about whether I mean what I say. Saddam Hussein clearly knows I mean what I say and the people of Iraq will soon know I mean what I say . . . Vital role for the UN means vital role." Translation: The UN had better know that Bush means what he means and keep their heads down, their mouths shut, and their hands out of our pockets. |
| Posted by:FOTSGreg |
| #17 Damn that bird,what a pain in the ass. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-04-10 08:01:31 |
| #16 I just hope the Iraqi people remember who bailed them out 60 years from now. As to the French - does the term PACK SAND mean anything? |
| Posted by: Douglas De Bono 2003-04-09 22:16:30 |
| #15 I've heard a few reporters compare the liberation of Baghdad with the liberation of Paris in 1944. Oh, how I hope Chirac heard those reports. |
| Posted by: Mark 2003-04-09 20:57:50 |
| #14 Jacques and Kofi: We do have a position for you in the Iraq reconstruction - does the name: Monica Lewinsky bring anything to mind? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-09 20:35:43 |
| #13 It's really getting hard to determine who's banging the high chair louder, Chiraq or Kimchee? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-04-09 20:11:57 |
| #12 France and chirac are officially Bush's bitch, on your knees ho! |
| Posted by: Wills 2003-04-09 20:09:00 |
| #11 Sounds like someone needs a diaper change! Hey, does that mean that the UN should oversee the Ivory Coast, too? Didn't think so.... |
| Posted by: Former Russian Major 2003-04-09 19:32:33 |
| #10 Dar---I can empathize with your feelings, LOL. I just love it when Chiraq "demands" this and "demands" that. There is nothing like the results one gets when one is negotiating from a position of WEAKNESS. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-09 17:07:34 |
| #9 Or france will do what? Throw a hissy-fit? I call on those of you in New York to go moon the UN Building. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2003-04-09 17:06:08 |
| #8 ROFLMAO! Every time I read "France" and "demands" in the same sentence I start laughing hysterically! Gotta go catch my breath now... *whew!* |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-04-09 16:11:16 |
| #7 Don't you just love that French arrogance? Such behavior goes only so far, and when pressed or left out, they cry like the spoiled brats they are. Jacques-baby and his crew of cry babies are on outside looking in and this one folks. The meeting of the "Gang of the Irrelevant Four" notwithstanding. |
| Posted by: jc 2003-04-09 15:58:25 |
| #6 Get the Poles to make a deal with the Germans. Quietly. They both need development help, and both because of the ex- "Workers Paradise". Give the Krauts a good chance to jump ship without drowning, and just watch how fast they desert their new-found best buddies in Frogland. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-04-09 15:46:00 |
| #5 Jacques. New sheriff in town. It ain't you... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-04-09 15:40:16 |
| #4 I realize Chirac thinks Merkins are simplistic, so let me try to convey a subtle and carefully nuanced message here: Nah nah nah nah Nah nah nah nah Hey hey hey Goodbye! |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-04-09 15:38:24 |
| #3 Sorry. I'm so sorry, people, but I can't resist one last bit of fake news: This just in! Jacques Chirac, feeling the sting of behind the curve on the entire Coalition-Iraq conflict, said in a secret meeting with his cabinet that "We need to be ahead of the curve for the coming Coalition-North Korea conflict! I want us to start saying "No" now, not later! Nobody, but nobody, cuts us off at the knees before we have a chance to cut ourself off at the knees!" It is further reported that his cabinet agreed that Chirac's tactic, referred to now as a Pre-emptive Weasel, sounded like a pretty darn good idea, but it should be noted his cabinet is composed of frenchmen. |
| Posted by: FormerLiberal 2003-04-09 15:26:02 |
| #2 WeWe! WeeWee in your pants Chirac! |
| Posted by: Porps 2003-04-09 15:25:05 |
| #1 What's that Jacques? I can't HEEEEEAR youuu! Sucks to be a loser, doesn't it? Heh. |
| Posted by: jrosevear 2003-04-09 15:12:41 |