Article

2005-02-09 Europe

French FM non-committal to blacklisting Hizbullah

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Posted by Fred 2005-02-09 5:44:04 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The interesting thing, to me, isn't that France will continue to be assholes, but that if Hizbullah wants to hit Abbas - does that mean the Mad Mullahs believe he might actually be able to stabilize the situation? That they don't want stability is nothing new, but do they think Abbas can bring it about? Or are they just keeping the pot boiling - and would try to hit whomever was in Abbas's position, now that the ally icon Arafart is dead?

Anyone have observations on this?

Posted by .com 2005-02-09 6:31:19 AM|| 2005-02-09 6:31:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 All of the above, I suspect.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-09 9:17:18 AM|| 2005-02-09 9:17:18 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Hizbullah has a parliamentary faction inside Lebanon only because Lebanon is a f*cking colony of Syria who lets Hizb stay there because they kill jooos.

Posted by Spot 2005-02-09 9:31:19 AM|| 2005-02-09 9:31:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Syria lets Hizb stay there cause Syria relies on Iran for support, and Hizb is the Iranian arm in the region.

And yes, I think dot com is right, the Iranians are trying to undermine Abbas cause they think theres a chance the peace process might succeed, at least in the short to medium run, and thats VERY bad news for them - it eases tensions between the US and arab states, it eases tensions between the US and Europe - the very tensions Iran was counting in its confrontation with the US.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-09 10:03:57 AM|| 2005-02-09 10:03:57 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Shalom said that France supported UN Security Council resolution 1559 that called for militias in Lebanon to be dismantled, arguing that Hizbullah is one of those militias.

Somehow, I'm fairly confident that had 1559 been something that even remotely referred to the "militias" in Lebanon as terrorist organizations, Phrance would have vigorously opposed it.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-02-09 11:27:31 AM|| 2005-02-09 11:27:31 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Watching France's "diplomatic stance" (treating Hizbollah as a worthy partner in diplomatic circles) is kinda like watching a human eat dog food--what else can you conclude other than 1)they are completely desperate or 2)they will eat anything, even garbage.

This is one more area where we have NO COMMON GROUND with France. Terrorists do not deserve to sit at any table. Chew and swallow that gruel well, France-otherwise you might choke when you find there are human bones and pulp in that stew.

Posted by Jules 187 2005-02-09 11:34:31 AM|| 2005-02-09 11:34:31 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 It's not clear to me. France chooses to support Hizbullah and thus Syria (as the actual host in Lebanon) and Iran. Why this is in France's interest? I don't know. I can't see it. France will give lip service to changes in Lebanon but for some reason will not stand behind what seems to be it's own UNSC resolution. Why?

Depriving Hizbullah of a place to launch attacks from and also cause grief in the hopeful looking PA/Israel negations is a good thing. A calmer relationship between the PA and Israel is a good thing. (It might even be helpful in French domestic affairs) The not so hidden hands of Iran and now France is ânot helpfulâ in the ongoing talks between the PA and Israel. France has to know that. I can't see how France supporting Hizbullah is a sane thing. We know Iran will do everything to disrupt what could be a watershed agreement that would cool down the tension in the ME quite a bit. What does France gain?

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-02-09 2:26:14 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-02-09 2:26:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Chirac is big buddies with prominent Lebanese, such as Rafic Hariri. I think he's no longer PM, but has TV stations etc. Hariri was protected by/protected Syrians. Conclusion: French want Hizbullah around as the ultimate bargaining chip that can be discarded once Syrian military leaves Lebanon due to pressure from the Leb "street". French version of "stability" will remain in Levant.

Posted by chicago mike 2005-02-09 5:03:38 PM|| 2005-02-09 5:03:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Syria and Lebanon were French League of Nations Mandate countries, just as Iraq and Palestine (Trans Jordan + Israel) were England's. Like all of France's former colonies, La Belle France maintains a proprietary interest in all their doings.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-02-09 6:43:54 PM|| 2005-02-09 6:43:54 PM|| Front Page Top

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