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| Europe |
| Spain to Float Iraq Proposal to France, Germany |
| 2004-04-27 |
| Spain will ask anti-war allies Germany and France to join in a proposal calling for a U.S. exit from Iraq and a new international presence in the country, a Spanish government source said Tuesday. "The idea is to see if Spain, France and Germany can help the United States find an exit from Iraq...and devise a formula for an international presence there that would not be perceived as an occupation by most of the population," the source said. New Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose first decision on taking office was to withdraw troops sent to Iraq by his predecessor, said Tuesday the last of Spain’s soldiers will have left Iraq by May 27. Zapatero will make the proposal during talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin Wednesday and with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris Thursday. Germany has already expressed interest in it, the source said. Asked whether Spain would be prepared to send troops back to Iraq under such a formula, the source said it was too soon to say. Any joint Spanish-French-German initiative would probably unfold in the U.N. Security Council -- all three are members -- though the source said the form it might take had not been decided. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos has mentioned the possibility of sending Arab forces into Iraq, and of a future international presence that would not include soldiers from countries which have been a part of the U.S.-led coalition. |
| Posted by:TS (vice girl) |
| #16 The Former Anonymous4052 From the desk of PM Zapatero, Spain To fellow members of the axis of weasels : In order to show my sincerity as the newest member of your group, I wish tomeet and urgently discuss means of appeasement with anyone who will listen. I invite all of you to meet with me at a time and place of your choosing ASAP. Sincerely J L R Zapatero Prime Minister Spain |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-04-28 12:06:01 AM |
| #15 I publicly apologize for suggesting here right after the Spanish election that Zaperto might rise to the occasion. He is a baffoon who apparently lacks the self-awareness to foresee that his proposal would reveal him as a ridiculous coward. |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-04-28 12:01:25 AM |
| #14 As British Prime Ministers traded back and forth in the years between WWI and WWII, were the British people any less our friends and allies? I don't know whether the Spanish are our friends or whether Aznar was our friend, but I don't intend to judge them on Zippy the pinhead. Remember that the average Joe in Peoria didn't change a wit just because we decided to promote Plains, Georgia's village idiot into one of the most powerful offices in the Free World. We would probably know if we could monitor the calls on Spanish talk radio, but I doubt they have such a thing. I would trust what JFM says over the information that Rueters wants me to receive. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-04-27 11:52:14 PM |
#13 Spain will ask anti-war allies Germany and France to join in a proposal calling for a U.S. exit from Iraq and a new international presence in the countryHahahahahahahaha! I want some of what Zappy's been smoking. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-04-27 11:46:26 PM |
| #12 This is Euro politics at it's best. Spain had balls before this clown was elected. Does anyone really think this guy Zappo has any creditability? He has done nothing but run away. Anzar put this country back on the map. This idiot is going to put them right back to where they were before, a puppet of the EU but mostly for the French and Germans. If he thinks that the French and Germans are going to forgive Spain for being part of the "New Europe", this Zappo moron is one lost ignoramus. Who would you want backing you?The Germans and French or the USA? Looks like a no brainer when you look at it in black and white. I wonder if this idiot even asked himself that question? |
| Posted by: Long Hair Republican 2004-04-27 11:38:28 PM |
| #11 Watch for them to float terms in the Security Council that are unpalatable to the Bush admin such as total US withdrawal to be replaced by morally superior and financially disinterested 'blue helmets'. Even making these proposals after chickening out in Iraq is, to put it mildly, unpalatable. If I were GWB, I'd laugh out loud in public if some reporter were to ask about Zapatero's "ideas". |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-27 11:20:31 PM |
| #10 You are starting I think they are the worst thing since Neville Chamberlain. |
| Posted by: Ol_Dirty_American 2004-04-27 11:16:44 PM |
| #9 ah poor Spain right in the other side of the border... Zapa seems to be beyond stupidity Asking for Arab countries help that arent at all interested in a Iraqui democratic regime?! UN= internal conflicts, nuanced views that perpetuates inaction, , ignorance and stupidity in security matters, and naif Rules of engagement. And with so many political corruption i am sure Islamofascists will know any plans before even a final decision... = worst than any Balkan/Rwanda disaster |
| Posted by: Anonymous4602 2004-04-27 11:07:06 PM |
| #8 I'm starting to lose respect for these Spaniards. How about we kill a few of them and then just tell them what to think? It worked for the Izlamonutz, it could work for us too. |
| Posted by: Rawsnacks 2004-04-27 10:46:32 PM |
| #7 This is an interesting political gambit almost certainly meant to provide Kerry with a credible 'multilateral' alternative to Bush's cowboy approach to Iraq. Watch for them to float terms in the Security Council that are unpalatable to the Bush admin such as total US withdrawal to be replaced by morally superior and financially disinterested 'blue helmets'. If we're smart, we'll probably play along for a bit and maybe even coopt this initiative if possible. However, it's clearly a bluff as Europe cannot come up with the cash or troops to do the job unless India or China somehow pony up. I normally question the political emphasis of some RB posters, but watch Kerry's foreign policy speech this week. I guarantee they're throwing him a bone and he'll try to catch it. |
| Posted by: JAB 2004-04-27 10:32:29 PM |
| #6 What's next from the Vichy Spain government? A Blue Division sent to help the islamofascists? |
| Posted by: Jackal 2004-04-27 10:25:49 PM |
| #5 But, but, but, but Binny told them to leave Iraq!! |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-27 10:21:21 PM |
| #4 G7 - votes no. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-27 10:12:20 PM |
| #3 Looks like Zapatero isn't satisfied with being out in the cold today. He wants to be out in the cold for decades. What a moron... |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-04-27 10:10:40 PM |
| #2 Last I heard the Iraqis don't want the UN and wouldn't be to keen on most Arabs given both pandered SH for years. |
| Posted by: Phil_B 2004-04-27 9:59:27 PM |
| #1 Haahahahaha, Spain isn't in a position to make proposals. The only thing Zapatero is free to do is grab his ankles for his Al Qaida masters. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-27 9:57:06 PM |