French President Hollande: Will wait for US Congress decision on military action in Syria

[jakeXT]

Source: Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French President Hollande: Will wait for US Congress decision on military action in Syria .

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/french-president-hollande-will-wait-us-congress-decision-military-action-syria

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Hollande went further in remarks Friday to the French daily Le Monde, stating that “France wants action that is in proportion and firm against the Damascus regime. There are few countries that have the capacity to inflict a sanction by the appropriate means. France is one of them. We are ready.”

Hollande appeared to be referring to the SCALP cruise missiles in the inventory of the French Air Force. The SCALP missiles, launched from French Rafale or Mirage 2000 attack aircraft as standoff weapons, were used in the allied attacks on Libya in 2011.

In the case of Syria, the SCALP cruise missiles could be used in concert with hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles aboard five U.S. destroyers now patrolling in the eastern Mediterranean.

The SCALPs have a range of about 630 miles and carry a 650-pound conventional warhead. Testing on a version of the SCALP for the French navy began last month.

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2013/08/30/france-stands-alone-in-support-of-syria-attack/

backpedaling?

Reuters' John Irish reports: France will not intervene alone in Syria if the U.S. Congress votes against action, President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday.

"If the decision of (Congress) was not positive, then we would not act alone, but we would not shirk our responsibilities, by supporting the opposition in Syria in such a way that would provide a response," Hollande said after meeting German President Joachim Gauck.

http://live.reuters.com/Event/Syria_9

[dipsydoodle]

1. Backpedaling bigtime.

He'd been banking on help from the UK and Germany and is now concerned that the US Congress might say no. If the US Congress does pass this subject that should cover US law but won't cover International law to which France would also become exposed.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. IMHO, France has been the real one pushing this

and are hiding behind us to take a lead because of Hollande having to deal with his own left government and France's colonial reputation. Syria (and Lebanon - 2 basket-cases) were former French colonies.

The tangled web that the U.S., Britain, and France have woven among each other throughout this nation's history is mind-boggling.