France Vows To Block UN Resolution on Iraq War

[cavebear]

Why does anyone care what France thinks?

[Ned]

I'm sorry, but France and Germany are a problem and if they begin making a stink about Rumsfeld, there will be a tremedous backlash in the US.

I don't know where all this will lead, but those two countries are supposed to be allies - on our side. But they are acting like they are on the other side.

We should begin to ask very hard question concerning France and Germany.

[faded glory]

Only 36 months ago France, Russia and China were all lobbying to lift sanction against Iraq pre-911 so they could get there Pre-Gulf war debts out of baghdad (Totaling some 300 billion btw.)


Now france wants to "contain" Hussien in a box. And "Freeze" his WoMD program. What a joke. very nice. The ole' FP switcheroo when you realise how wrong you were in the first place.


You know the french made a killing selling those 200 Mirage F-1 Jets to Saddam's airforce. you know the ones that bombed the kurds in halabja? And those GCT Mobile artillery pieces used to gas the iranians in Karbala-5? Ya that was the great peace-loving french government all right. They got some nerve.


People ***** about Reagan giving 8 million dollars to Baghdad in the 80's. I dont wanna hear it. And here we have 3 totally responsibly UNSC members who built this guys army. Ya thats right. You dont see Iraqi F-16's and M1 abrams. Nope, you see Stuff from france, Russia and china. Mostly Junk, since none of these countries have a word for Victory anyway.


Ya go ahead. call me a troll. Its all true. Just look it up.

[Drake Tungsten]

Mostly Junk, since none of these countries have a word for Victory anyway.

I particularly liked that line...

[Ned]

Faded, I hadn't realized that France would stab an ally in the back for money.

[HershOstropoler]

Dino:

"So, "It's the economy, stupid!" doesn't really apply to German politics?"

Let me put it this way: German elections are usually not decided by the respective state of the economic cycle. Kohl won in 94, Schröder in 02.

"Which means that he gets the blame or credit depending how the economy does."

To a much smaller extent than in the US, and with much less impact on voter decisions.

Azazel:

"are you denying that governments have the ability to do this?"

To varying extents. A lot easier in the US and Israel, for example. Well, what should the german government have done? Beating the wardrum would have killed them at the polls.

Ned:

"Well, GePap, what if NATO declares war on Iraq? The French and Gemans do not have a veto there."

Darling, NATO does not declare wars. And if it would, NATO is running under the principle of unanimity.

"I hadn't realized that France would stab an ally in the back for money."

What ally?

Boris:

"Rumsfeld openly insulted them, and they are rightly pissed."

Bah. They should be amused.

[Ned]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler

Ned:

"I hadn't realized that France would stab an ally in the back for money."

What ally?

So true. The last time the French helped us was in the 1780's. Since then they certainly have not even been friendly.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Comrade Tribune


Dunno; the North Korean strat works: 'Yes, you CAN go to war against us, but prepare to lose Seattle, if you do. And you know I mean it.'

Sounds like a powerful strat, really.

It depends on how much the President cares for Seattle really. IIRC they voted for Gore last time, so I wouldn't count on the deterrent if I were the Dear Leader, especially the closer we get to the election.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Richelieu
What about Vietnam ?

I guess they figured 25 years was long enough. Besides that bastard Johnson screwed everything up royal by refusing to invade the north. Powel is right; either some is worth fighting for and you go all the way or you don't fight.

Johnson figured he'd just sort of fight and sort of not fight.

[notyoueither]

To be fair to Johnson, he did not know where the bulllets ended and the ICBMs began. It would be nice if all decisions could be black and white, but they seldom are.

[Az]

To varying extents. A lot easier in the US and Israel, for example. Well, what should the german government have done? Beating the wardrum would have killed them at the polls.

how so? I just hope that you won't say that the european people are better-informed, enlightened, and have a stronger political will, that us, lowly scum.

[HershOstropoler]

As for Israel, the situation of constant threat of security or even national existance makes it a lot easier.

For the US, several factors. Less cynicism, the particular style of american reporting, lack of information on foreign policy, appeal to nationalism.... all things that are just a matter of degree.

[HershOstropoler]

You might still want to explain what exactly the german government should have done?

[Ned]

The US revealed yesterday that Saddam has let the scientists know that they and everyone in their families will be killed if they talk to the inspectors.

Is there anyone here on Apolyton who is even the slightest way surprised by this?

[Drake Tungsten]

I'm sure that Wolfowitz was lying about that, Ned. God knows that the Americans never tell the truth, while Saddam is a paragon of virtue.