Article

2003-04-09 Europe

Annan ~~Backpedals~~ Cancels His Visit to St. Pete

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Posted by Tadderly 2003-04-09 04:42 pm|| || Front Page|| [11137 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 DAMN! MY HI-LITES didn't WORK! Sorry, folks!

Posted by Tadderly 2003-04-09 16:45:26|| 2003-04-09 16:45:26|| Front Page Top

#2 Perhaps the Russians could build the UN a brand-spankin new headquarters in St. Petersburg so they can get out of NY.

Posted by Yank 2003-04-09 16:55:11|| 2003-04-09 16:55:11|| Front Page Top

#3 Hopefully this is just French, Germans and Russians jockeying for a piece of the action and not a more concerted effort at aligning against the US. Presumably the scenes from Baghdad this morning will blunt whatever statement they are planning to make after this meeting as even these countries must pay lip service to the cause of human freedom. However, reports about Russian interference and material assistance to Iraq are disturbing. I cannot understand why they are willing to throw away a burgeoning relationship with the US for what is really a small amount of business for Russian companies. At best it appears that Russia has decided to orient itself with the EU at the expense of the US. At worst they have decided to lead a strategic bloc against us and will cause no end of mischief. I count myself as one who had become far too optimistic about US-Russia relations post 9/11.

Posted by JAB 2003-04-09 16:59:05|| 2003-04-09 16:59:05|| Front Page Top

#4 It all has to do with the market for weapons and money. The Russians just want to sell their stuff to someone, anyone, since it is their only cash crop worth exporting, so to speak. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the market for their weapons has diminished; so have disappeared the Soviet-US cold war conflicts all over the world. The US has customers for its military products. But the Russians? French? Iraq was a big deal to them. And then there's the oil....

Posted by RW 2003-04-09 17:12:38|| 2003-04-09 17:12:38|| Front Page Top

#5 I have to profess my absolute amazement at the posturing going on in Europe. But then I remind myself that this is still the same old "western" Europe that is still fiercely, antagonistically nationalistic, and their stated disgust with our "imperialist" ways derives not from anything having to do with a wisdom born of age and experience, but of barely disgiused envy and the desire to wield power in just the way we as a nation refuse to. Only the freakish left could believe that France, Germany or Russia wouldn't annex Iraqi oil fields for their own gain if they were in the same position we currently occupy.

Yes, our nation has been party to some true ugliness - we are not historically spotless, not domestically, and not internationally. But in Iraq - however one wishes to prioritize our several reasons for sending our armed forces there - we have done an amazing thing in the Middle East. Though it will never happen, we should be congratulated.

Posted by FormerLiberal 2003-04-09 17:16:03|| 2003-04-09 17:16:03|| Front Page Top

#6 Make that the "Irrevelant Gang of Three."

Posted by jc 2003-04-09 17:24:30|| 2003-04-09 17:24:30|| Front Page Top

#7 In regards to the posturing going on in Europe, I am reminded of a book I recently read which had some really amazing statements in it and which, frankly, were virtually psychic.

In his fiction novel (action-adventure) "Ice Station", one of Matthew Reilly's characters, a US representative at the UN, makes the statement that "France has been working to undermine the power of the United States for at least the last 40 years." He goes on to back up this statement with several examples that are eerily familiar today.

Taking into consideration that Reily is an Australian and the book was published in 2000, which means it was probably finished in 1998 and written over the course of the preceding several years, it really was quite prescient.

Anyone who wants specific references can email me and I'll provide them via email.

Posted by FOTSGreg 2003-04-09 17:52:04|| 2003-04-09 17:52:04|| Front Page Top

#8 Tadderly, yeah, I can believe it was a lot longer. For some reason, there's a Russian belief that if you take forever to say something it must be profound. Prime example: Doestoevsky.
It will just be interesting to see who stabs who in the back first, France or Russia. Talk about a match made in hell.

Posted by Former Russian Major 2003-04-09 19:23:25|| 2003-04-09 19:23:25|| Front Page Top

#9 Tad, your hilites work properly if I click the 'e-mail' or 'comments'.

Posted by Steve White 2003-04-09 19:38:25|| 2003-04-09 19:38:25|| Front Page Top

#10 Put the UN HQ in Baghdad.

Posted by TJ Jackson 2003-04-10 00:07:11|| 2003-04-10 00:07:11|| Front Page Top

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