Powell Says France will Face Consequences for Stannding up to the US

[Bereta_Eder]

variety, variety

[Spiffor]

Paiktis : your avatar is unforgivable.

AH :
Actually, the potential sanctions from the US to France's behaviour is quite a big issue in the French media now. If it is any indicator of the French public opinion, it seems the French do not want sanctions right now. Well, it may change, because it was a very sudden move in the media (right after the end of the war), and I haven't seen them in a week.

[Menlas]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/04/24/jetblue/index.html

JetBlue orders $4bn Airbus jets
Thursday, April 24, 2003 Posted: 8:34 AM EDT (1234 GMT)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW YORK (CNN) -- JetBlue Airways, a U.S. discount airline, Thursday ordered 65 Airbus A320 passenger jets worth almost $4 billion.

JetBlue, which currently flies 46 Airbus planes, said it also has an option on another 50 new aircraft from the world's second-largest plane maker.

The order is the biggest this year for either Airbus and Boeing, its main U.S. rival.

It comes at a difficult time for the airline industry and aerospace manufacturers alike, as demand for air travel struggles to recover from war, terrorism, economic recession and the outbreak of SARS.

"With this order, JetBlue demonstrates that with the right people, the right product and the right cost structure, airlines can grow, even in this current, challenging environment," said Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard.

The airline and aircraft maker did not disclose the terms of the deal. The A320 can seat 150 passengers.

But excluding the options, the value of the deal based on catalogue prices would be between $3.71 billion and $3.97 billion, depending on delivery time and engine choice. But aircraft manufacturers usually offer discounts to win order.

"This would be a significant order," Will Mackie, analyst at Commerzbank in London, told Reuters.

"The timing of the deliveries will be crucial. If JetBlue is taking on these aircraft during the low point of the market, in 2004 and 2005, then it would represent a key support for Airbus narrow-body production."

Did I hear boycott or sanctions ?

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Paiktis : your avatar is unforgivable.

http://baronrouge.com/BigSleep/BigSleep_whale.html

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by paiktis22
variety, variety

who was the little brunette?

[Spiffor]

OK, I have just seen the relevant article on TF1 (biggest French channel). It was the deepest article in the choices available, so be aware the US-France relationship is much less important in the news here than SRAS, actual situation in Iraq, or the current animal epidemics.

From TF1, 24 April 2003

Apaisement entre Washington et Paris

Les Etats-Unis ont relativisé les propos tenus par Colin Powell, qui parlait de future "punition" pour la France après son attitude sur la crise irakienne.

Des "conséquences", mais pas de "punition". Washington tente de dédramatiser le crispement diplomatique avec Paris.

Le porte-parole de la Maison Blanche, Ari Fleischer, a ainsi expliqué mercredi que la France ne sera ni "punie" ni ne devra "payer le prix" de son opposition à la guerre en Irak. Il souligne notamment que les déclarations tenues mardi par Colin Powell ont été mal comprises par certains médias. "Pour tous ceux qui ont écrit ces articles, c'est une mauvaise interprétation de ce que le secrétaire (Powell) a dit".

De son côté, Colin Powell a eu un entretien téléphonique mercredi soir avec Dominique de Villepin, qualifié de "cordial" par le Quai d'Orsay. Pour Richar Boucher, le porte-parole du Département d'Etat, "cette conversation a reflété l'état de nos relations avec la France. Nous sommes des alliés, nous voulons coopérer et travailler là où nous le pouvons, là où c'est dans notre intérêt". Il a néanmoins confirmé que la France devrait faire face à des "conséquences" pour son opposition.

Mesures à l'OTAN ?

La Maison Blanche admet néanmoins que les conséquences du froid diplomatique avec Paris sont visibles "tous les jours". "M. Powell a été direct et honnête et a dit +oui+. La vérité est que les relations entre nos deux pays ont souffert et ce n'est un secret pour personne. La vraie surprise aurait été s'il avait répondu +non+, qu'il n'y a pas de conséquences et prétendu que tout est rose entre la France et les Etats-Unis", a estimé le porte-parole de la présidence américaine. Washington et Paris "ont eu un désaccord majeur sur une question de la plus extrême importance pour le Président" (Bush), a-t-il souligné.

Richard Boucher a indiqué que la manière dont Paris et Washington aborderont certains dossiers "sera à l'évidence affectée par le manque de coopération" dans la crise irakienne. Parmi les mesures évoquées figurent une approche différence au sein de de l'Otan où Washington pourrait recourir plus activement à certaines structures militaires où la France ne siège pas.

Abatement between Washington and Paris

The US have lowered the importance of Colin Powell's declaration, which was about its future "punishment" because of its lack of cooperation during the Iraqi crisis.

"Consequences" but no "punition". Washington tries to smoothe the tense relationship with France.

White House's speaker Ari Fleischer, as such has explained France will not be "punished" nor will it "pay the price" of its opposition to war in Iraq. He emphasizes that Colin Powell's declaration have been badly understood by the media. "To those who have written these articles, it is a wrong interpretation of what the Secretary said".

Meanwhile, Colin Powell had a phone discussion wednesday with Dominique de Villepin, which has been deemed as "cordial" by the French Foreign Ministry. For State Department's speaker Richar Boucher, "this discussion has shown the status of our relationship with France. We are allies, we want to cooperate and work where we can, where it is in our interest". He has however confirmed that France will have to face "consequences" for its opposition.

Measures in NATO ?

The White House admits that consequences of the cold relationship with France can be seen "every day". "Mr Powell has been direct and honest and said Yes. The truth is that the relationship between our two countries have suffered, and it's a seceret to no one. It would have been real surprising if he had answered No, that there are no consequences, and if he had pretended that everything is alright between France and the US", told Ari Fleisher. Washington and Paris "have had a major disagreement on an issue that was extremely important for the President".

Richard Boucher explained that the approach of some issues by Washington and Paris "will obviously be influenced by the lack of cooperation" in the Iraqi crisis. Among the suggested measures lie a different approach within NATO, where Washington could use more often military structures where France has no seat.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


who was the little brunette?

http://www.moi-alizee.com/video/alizee.mov

[flash9286]

its making me have a seizure

[Bereta_Eder]

fine ill change it

[Spiffor]

Thank you thank you

[Bereta_Eder]

pas de quoi

[TCO]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Yes, and you'll manage to outstupid him. Schröder's stance was extremely anti-war, with anti-Americanism being a somehow hidden in the decor. Bush's stance (on this issue) will be Anti-French, with the most stinking elements of anti-Frenchism.
Now, I hope I'm wrong, and I hope Washington will be well advised enough to stop the stupidity and soothe the US-French relationship.

But I don't hold my breath : Bush will have trouble because of his poor economic performance, and will look for votes wherever he can find them. If anti-French resentment remains important next year, I'd wager it'll be widely used by Bush in his campaign.

I really think it is funny how you and Mar get upset by the anti-French stuff. We Americans are used to getting this **** from everyone.

I don't have a problem with France not going along with the war for ethical reasons. But in this case it seems like they are really playing games. They are just using whatever type of tool they can to rival the US. That is fine. Let them reap the rewards.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Paiktis : your avatar is unforgivable.

AH :
Actually, the potential sanctions from the US to France's behaviour is quite a big issue in the French media now. If it is any indicator of the French public opinion, it seems the French do not want sanctions right now. Well, it may change, because it was a very sudden move in the media (right after the end of the war), and I haven't seen them in a week.

I doubt there will be trade sanctions. Although that is what has the French so scared. ARe they really that econ-driven? Like with being anti-sanctions when Saddam was in power and pro-sanctions when he it out? Rest easy. I don't think there will be any serious consequences. Maybe France doesn't get to play its games in NATO where it is partway in/partway out.

[Sava]

Yup... consequences for France, but not the Saudi f*ckers that fund terror. I don't understand how so many people can be so stupid.

[Spiffor]

GP :
We French usually get this **** only from former colonized people, and we usually don't listen, so we aren't used to it yet Especially since it seems to come only from the US. I am not aware of a change of sympathies towards France in any other country.

I also don't think there will be official trade sanctions. Partly because the **** must not hit the fan, partly because France belongs to the EU, and it is impossible to officially aim for specific national imports from within the EU. I suspect the American reaction has become a tool in our domestic politics, which explains its boasted importance : Chirac is losing popularity, and left-wing parties are happy with it (they couldn't criticize Chirac as long as he was anti-war). Business men stir the fear of losses in the US to get more opportunities and more pro-business policy to "compensate" the loss, etc.

I think the most important administration-led consequences will be opposition to France's African policy, its ousting from the Iraqi loot (obviously), and a general lowering of its role in any organization that limits US sovereignity.

Edit : about the sanctions, I think most French people remain against, as they are against for a very long time now. Chirac has to take care about this issue : left wing parties would jump at his throat if he favors too openly the lengthening of sanctions.