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| Iraq |
| Chirac derails Iraq talks |
| 2003-09-21 |
| But I think we all saw this coming. President Jacques Chirac derailed an effort by Tony Blair to mend divisions between Europe and the United States over Iraq by insisting on an "immediate transfer" of power to the Iraqi governing council. After talks in Berlin with Mr Blair and Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Mr Chirac said an attempt to agree a formula for increasing the United Nations role had failed after disagreements over how and when the transfer of power should take place. "Non! Non again!" As the three European leaders tried to address this latest crisis, Mr Blair attempted to project unity, declaring: "We all want to see Iraq make a transition to a democratic government as quickly as possible, and we all know there must be a key role for the United Nations." Sigh. Tony’s political instincts are failing him. Mr Chirac went further, however, saying: "The UN should play a far more significant role. There should be an immediate transfer of power to the Iraqi governing council." "And thence to a Britain and America regard next summer as the earliest plausible date for a transfer of power. They are willing to offer a "symbolic" transfer to a UN force, but want to retain control of that force and of the political effort to build a democratic Iraqi government. Mr Schroder, who will meet President George W. Bush for the first time since the Iraq war in New York on Wednesday, wants to heal Germany’s rift with the US. Yesterday, he stopped short of offering full support to France. When is Schroder going to learn the meaning of the phrase, "French perfidy"? |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #10 I'd suggest India instead. Largest democratic nation in the world; and largest nation full-stop after China. But it's fine to *talk* about demanding EU to have only one vote in the council, making it happen (something that would need Britain and France to surrender their national vetoes there) is a whole different matter altogether. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-9-21 9:24:13 PM |
| #9 its time to demand that the eu has only ONE vote on the security council and give the empty seat to japan. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-9-21 8:58:08 PM |
| #8 Do the French actually have troops to commit? They have troops in several places in Africa, in Afghanistan, and a few others. Their military isn't in the best of shape. Could they actually commit say, a brigade to Iraq? Ditto the money situation. Could they commit to several billion dollars in reconstruction aid? They've been in violation of EU monetary and deficit policy two years running now. Putting a brigade into Iraq and rebuilding the place isn't cheap, as we well know. Could the French actually DO anything? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-9-21 6:15:47 PM |
| #7 It's a shame that Blair is helping to form the "Axis of Apeasement". I understand he's in a tough spot since the UK is a partner in the The big lie is that France and Germany want to "help" the poor Iraqi people. (Yeah, and the Pope wants to convert to Islam.) All France wants to do is try to humiliate the US and portray the mission as a failure and themselves as the heroes that come to the rescue. (LMAO) Schroeder sits in the back carrying Chirac's bags like a simple lackey. The point is, that they can still send troops to help stabilize the country to help the Iraqi people and still say that they're against the war. It shouldn't matter what damage has been done by the US (in their opinion) it should be ALL about the Iraqi people. (Or in France's case the O-I-L too!) Once again the UN and EU (minus the UK) do only what they know how to do best...talk, talk, talk, talk, talk,..ad nauseum. |
| Posted by: Paul 2003-9-21 4:12:59 PM |
| #6 Slip the French Rep to the Security Council some Exlax brownies. Everybody vote while he is in the can. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-21 12:05:25 PM |
| #5 Tony Perhaps you have never heard the expression: "Perfide Albion". And of how between 1918 and 1939 England torpedoed all the attempts made by France at containing Germany, or of her role at Munich where the French premier was for resistance and Chamberlain forced the disastrous "peaceful" settlement. Perhaps you haven't heard of the 1935 bilateral pact between Germany and the UK who a) allowed Germany to build a fleet big enough to give you plenty of trouble during and b) voided the naval clauses of the Versailles treaty, a treaty who also concerned France thus betraying your own signature. Not that I don't think that Chirac isn't a bastard and that I am not ashamed of why France is doing under his direction but the "perfidious France, pure and candid Albion" slogan gets on my nerves |
| Posted by: JFM 2003-9-21 8:30:17 AM |
| #4 True Bomb-a-rama, but Tony Blair has a love affair with Europe, and it's his major blind spot. Any Englishman knows that France is not our ally, never has been, never will be. Our American friends are only now finding out the true depths of French perfidy. |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2003-9-21 6:53:18 AM |
| #3 Tony Blair and GWB need to get this through their heads: France is NOT our ally. Even Tom Friedman has come around to understanding this. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-9-21 3:46:01 AM |
| #2 Arrrggghhh!!! According to Google News, this story is 6 hrs old - and yet the BBC is still reporting that there is hope the recalcitrant Americans will soon reach an agreement with the Phrench and German Gov'ts regards power-sharing in Iraq. Doesn't this have the same sound as their backasswards reporting of Paleo news? Revisionistic in advance? Laying the groundwork ahead of time so the blame for failure, which they know is inevitable, can be placed per the Editorial Agenda? BBC. Pfeh. Blair wasted his time - and whatever "goodwill" he had left. Assuming he received some sort of "signal" from the Phrench which prompted this effort - if he has 2 neurons left, he won't forget nor forgive Chirac's duplicity in this deal - and never make another such mistake. Chirac is utterly incorrigible. Shroeder may not be so stupid. Definitely long overdue for Shroeder to cut Chirac loose to drift alone into oblivion (read: become an historical footnote) without dragging him, and Germany, down too. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-9-21 2:12:55 AM |
| #1 Time to stop putting up with the French. What say we bring out the embarassing iraqi documents and apply the type of suasion being applied gently (too damn gently, IMO) to the rooskies. Let's see a couple of frog diplorats jugged for some "massive financial irregularities". Or just pop a couple and blame it on the pensions. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-9-21 1:57:41 AM |