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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
France says too early for sanctions against Syria
2005-10-25
France said on Monday it was too early to seek sanctions against Syria but the UN Security Council must demand Damascus cooperate with a UN inquiry into the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. France said it would not consider sanctions on Syria until the end of the inquiry but that it would like a United Nations resolution to demand its cooperation in the investigation. "We have here an opportunity to do justice with an independent inquiry. Let's go to the end ... if we need to make it longer, let's do it, and afterwards lets see what the consequences should be, including on the question... of sanctions," Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said.

Lebanon's Hizbollah group and Amal Movement, two staunch pro-Syrian Shiite groups, rejected any talk of sanctions. "Facing a pressure campaign led by the United States and Israel, we declare our rejection to any decision that wants to impose sanctions on Syria," they said in a joint statement. "Reaching the truth needs more serious investigation which rests on facts and substantial evidence, and steering away from politicising the findings," it said.
"We don't like the results of your investigation! Go back and bring us different results!"
Posted by:Fred

#8  So ChIraq is on Syria's payroll now?

How........ fitting.

Which failed dictatorship state in our gunsights will you back next, Jackie?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2005-10-25 21:41  

#7  Hell, the French probably think it is too soon to call for sanctions against the Third Reich
Posted by: Cheaderhead   2005-10-25 18:03  

#6  Hey hey hey...

If we're supposed to do this "France is only coincidentally on our side" and "don't rely on France" thing, then what's the matter with letting them act 'against' Syria? I distinctly recall an article where SecState Rice herself is arguing for condemnation instead of sanctions in hopes of fine-controlling the fall of Baby Assad, not too much but not too far... for one, remember how sanctions were useless against Saddam?
Posted by: Edward Yee   2005-10-25 16:34  

#5  France has traditional ties to the Maronite community in Lebanon - stronger than its ties elsewhere in the arab world. Those ties, and French influence in Lebanon, are more important to France than weakening the US, which is only a subordinate goal of French foreign policy, IMO.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2005-10-25 13:28  

#4  I don't trust my lying eyes, either.

Let's get real here, folks. France is an enemy country trying to build alliances with every corrupt Arab and African dictator and China to oppose les Anglo-Saxons on general principles.

If in the case of Syria they appear to be on our side, it is only a coincidence of which they are willing to take advantage, or a ruse intended to confuse us about the goals they consistently pursue.

We've got friends there, like JFM and A5089, but the French government and the majority of the people who elect them are not our friends. If it appears so, it is an illusion or coincidence. We should pursue our policies without regard to France. We should get our of NATO so they have less ability to spy on us. We should press for UNSC realignment with the French and British vetos replaced by an EU veto.

As to the US and Africa, yeah, we care /sarcasm. Blacks are not a voting block that matters. They vote democrat more reliably than feminazis. And nothing is doen about Africa. Sudan, Nigeria, ZimBobwe, Rwanda, the list goes on and on and nothing is done. So the Euro worry cannot be compared to the blacks in the US. Blacks can mouth off all they want to about levees being bombed in NOLA, but no one pays attention to them.

If the Euros were really concerned about their muslim minorities, they would assimilate them. But they can because they are pure blood tribal nations who cannot admit inferior humans. The Frogs are not playing good cop, bad cop with the US. They are playing good cop, bad cop with the Arabs against us.
Posted by: Omamp Glailing1660   2005-10-25 12:13  

#3  I dont think France his as against us as they seem. For one France, Germany have massive Muslim populations nearly the number percentage wise as african americans in the US. Just imagine if Africa was a insane radical Jihadi group and those groups were in the US in such numbers we would be rather carefull on what we did when it came to such. Look at america today we are really gun shy of race hell even New Orleans a freekin act of nature and local gov incompitence can be turned into a White devil act to take down the black man. With bombs and black helicopters and all.

Now in Europe their Muslims have the same minortiy victim mentality with extreme self induced poverty and white devel attitudes that make them vulneralble to insane conspiracy theories and open to radicalism. If France and Germany had joined us their would be daily or weekly bombings in EU. Today those same radicals go to Iraq were they are splattered on the streets killing Muslims which in turn make themselves more muslim enemies not supporters.

Thier hands are tied all they can do is play this good cop bad cop game with us to help. On Iraq I do think they went to far to try to stop us but not out of hatred or to counter us it was out of self preservation and Fear for good reason.
Posted by: C-Low   2005-10-25 12:01  

#2  It's too early to call Hizbollah a terrorist organization too huh France, oh and don't forget the humanitarian Hamas, all good people who are only implicated by circumstantial evidence.

EP
Posted by: Snigum Snomomble5295   2005-10-25 10:49  

#1  Like watching France before the Iraq War: how long can one drag out doing nothing? How long can one parade catatonia as a sophisticated foreign policy position? How long can one hawk a farce as the truth? France will show the "international community" that it is world champion.
Posted by: jules 2   2005-10-25 09:24  

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