Washington Moves Again to Isolate France

[kskiska]

Steven R. Weisman/NYT The New York Times

WASHINGTON The Bush administration, incensed by France's demands for greater United Nations oversight in Iraq, is working to isolate France and win a majority at the UN Security Council for the American approach, according to administration officials.
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In an echo of a tactic the administration tried earlier this year, without notable success, Secretary of State Colin Powell is stepping up his efforts to enlist the support of Russia, Germany and other nations for American control over the occupation and transition to self-rule in Iraq, even though many of them sided with France in opposing the war, the officials said Thursday.
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(snip)
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"Powell is upset about the French, but the fact is they are not in a combative mood on this," a senior European diplomat said. "Behind closed doors, the French are saying they would never dream of vetoing. There is no fighting spirit here."
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(snip)
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The French-American rift is over a French proposal for the United Nations to supplant the United States as the leading player overseeing Iraq's transition to democracy, as well as a more rapid turnover of sovereignty to Iraqis, perhaps in as little as a month. The U.S. believes the Iraqis are not ready.

more…
http://www.iht.com/articles/110544.html

[Maple]

1. The right wing

DEFINITELY has to get over it's jealousy of France.

[Skittles]

7. for sure

it is not very becoming and like it or not, these juvenile f***s represent America. x(

[FlemingsGhost]

2. It worked so well the first time.

Isn't the very definition of a "moron," someone who fails to realize they are making the same mistake over and over again?

[saigon68]

25. Here come the CHEESE EATING SURRENDER MONKEY diatribes again

Just can't wait

[goforit]

3. Yes these idiots need to get rid of their "chips on their shoulders"

They just don't get it !!!

[tsipple]

4. Oh, Jackie Kennedy, We Miss You!

Style, grace, charm, and she spoke the language!

[femmecahors]

17. She spoke French AND ENGLISH!

Bush can't handle English

[are_we_united_yet]

5. Earth to dumbasses....Earth to dumbasses.....

The French are right! You look like incomptent Bozo's. You had your chance to go it alone and its a mess.

[Flying_Pig]

6. This report was preceded by a column from Tom Friedman in the..

N.Y. Times, declaring war on France. Obviously, Friedman is a PNAC propagandist, but I find it interesting that just a day before this report, he's ripping France left and right. There is no way the U.S. can justify their insulting behavior towards France, despite the best efforts of their propagandists. France is right on this issue, ad they've been right all along, and this just has to gall the Bushies to no end. Too bad mon ami!

[Voltaire99]

23. Can Friedman get any worse?

Wrong on the market. Wrong on globalism. Wrong on the Middle East. Wrong on just about everything he writes! But he sure can sling a cliche.

Friedman can declare war on France all he likes; France can survive even Terrible Tom. :-)

[tsipple]

24. Yes, Friedman Can Get Worse

Declaring war on Canada, for example.

[Demobrat]

8. But what about W's one on one diplomacy?

With France and Germany? Before or after the UN meeting? That we heard about just today? Huh?

[oldcoot]

31. I was going to ask the same question

The Bush administration's attempts at diplomacy remind me of a car wreck. You may not want to watch but you cannot help yourself.

[madrchsod]

9. well the problem

with trying to isolate france is that germany won`t join bush`s crusade against france. france and germany virtually "share" the same foreign policy due to an agreement signed years ago...

[sham]

28. Exactly why * will fail.

The little emperor can try his divide and conquer routine all he wants, but the fact of the matter is that Germany will continue to come down on the same side as France.

It really is a shame Blair is such a poodle. If any of the Europeans are "isolated" on this issue, it is most certainly the British.

[Don_G]

10. It Will Never Work

The European nations tend to look at things with a long-term view. To them, Dimbo is a little brat that keeps loosing turds in his training pants and I don't disagree.

[Gloria]

11. Paris, Berlin ready to "move on"? Blair, France, Germ. meeting Sat.

Posted in the Sept. 17 World Media Watch....

1//The Independent 17 September 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=444157

BLAIR, SCHRODER AND CHIRAC TO SET NEW COURSE FOR EU
By Andrew Grice and Stephen Castle

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany will stage a highly symbolic summit this weekend to try to reach agreement on a new direction for the European Union and finally bury their bitter differences over Iraq.


SNIP

Saturday's gathering was mooted when the leaders met informally at an EU summit in Greece in June and was then agreed in July. Downing Street denied it was a crisis meeting to discuss a new United Nations resolution on Iraq, but the leaders will attempt to break the deadlock on the issue.

The Iraq war soured Britain's relations with France and Germany. But Saturday's event is the clearest signal yet that Paris and Berlin are ready to "move on".

The UK, France and Germany are members of the UN Security Council and France is now backing away from threats to veto a new resolution that would pave the way for troops from other nations to join the peace-keeping effort in Iraq. Paris wants political control of Iraq to be transferred to the UN, although it has suggested that this might be "symbolic", rather than real. Mr Blair will come under pressure to ensure the UN gets a bigger role in Iraq than the US has proposed, and a more speedy transfer of power to the Iraqi people.

Last night, British officials said the three EU countries shared the objective of seeing a democratic, prosperous Iraq. The German government said the meeting would help "to agree common positions in foreign policy after there were divergent opinions in the run-up to the Iraq war.

MORE

[Beetwasher]

12. One Trick Morons

The very definition of insanity is being applied as diplomacy. These people are truly incopetent. What else needs to be said?

[cliss]

13. De Villepin: "what's the matter with them?"

Chirac: "I don't know; last I heard they were going to approach us with more humility and less arrogance. At least that's what the papers said".

De Villepin: "so what's the problem? We haven't done anything different, have we?

Chirac: "not really. Last I heard, they were going to put the 'French' back in their fries".

De Villepin: "so let's wait. It sure has paid off these last 6 months".

[joeybee12]

14. The scum right wing only feels manly when they have an enemy...

...it was Blacks in the 50's, and recently gays until France became a better target.

It's a disgusting tactic that works with dim-witted people.

[femmecahors]

18. And don't forget their most hated enemy . . . the liberals.

A long-time college friend of mine was telling me about some people she met at a party and said, "But they're LIBERALS you know." She realized her faux pas after it fell off her tongue . . . I think, because a long, long silence ensued.

Pretty soon we won't be able to drink at public water fountains or buy houses in their gated communities.

[BattyDem]

15. He never learns!

Anytime Shrub doesn't get his own way, he decides to isolate a country. The only problem is it's our country that ends up being isolated!

I guess this means Congress will be eating Freedom Fries again. :eyes:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

16. Wesley Clark and the French

Clark includes French as one of the four languages in which he is fluent.

From the Washington Post, March 12, 2003:

“…Clark says America's relations with its traditional allies can be repaired. France, he says, is the country most like the United States. "They have a worldview, they have a lot of pride. France and Texas, they're two sides of the same coin." It's the job of statesmen to build bridges, Clark says…”

General Clark was awarded 'Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur' by the Minister of Defense, Mr. Alain Richard. It is the first time in almost 25 years that a Supreme Allied Commander Europe was granted this high decoration. In his speech on the occasion of the awards ceremony, French Defense Minister Richard mentioned that General Clark had a prominent role in the Dayton negotiations, development of ESDI, adapting the strategic conditions of the twenty-first century, developing and putting forward a global security vision for the Balkans and, he highlighted the key role that General Clark had in OPERATION ALLIED FORCE. Mr. Richard also said that it is important to appreciate General Clark’s role in the recent developments concerning the European pillar of the Alliance: "General Clark was a remarkable ally for France and Europe. The importance of his contribution to European security and to the quality of the transatlantic relationship is recognized by all; his heritage will have positive effects in Europe for many years".

[femmecahors]

19. Our ambassador to France can't speak French . . .

He's one of Bush's buddies.

[MetaTrope]

27. Our ambassador to France can't speak French . . .

Not to mention, his produce company's biggest client is McDonald's.

[Democat]

22. "France and Texas, they're two sides of the same coin."

Great line for Bush supporters to chew on. :)

[tlb]

32. Give Clark a few days.

He will proably flip on that too.

[AmericaInWonderland]

20. Iraqi's aren't ready?

aren't ready my ass.

Reminds when Scarborough debated Palast on Scarborough Country yesterday...something to the effect of:

Scarborough: "...but the Iraqis aren't ready for a democracy. Shiites would fight Sunnis and Sunnis would Shiites and the Kurds would fight both."
Palast: "Aww, then you are admitting that Saddam was right. That Iraq needs a strong (occupying force/dictatorship), that Iraq would erupt into a three way civil war if there wasn't such a governing force..."
Scarborough: "um, err, when polled 91%(not sure of exact number but it was a majority) of Iraqis want the US to stay. Anyways we have to move on. It was a pleasure talking to you."

way to go Palast!

[Democat]

21. When will the adults be back in the White House?

Clark or Dean will be the first adults in the White House since Clinton and Gore left.

The 2004 election seems so far away!

[tabasco]

26. The only country being isolated is the USA

The Bush administration is the result of putting a stuffed shirt as president and letting the special interests control the country. The corporate cabal wants to dominate the globe through coercion, rather than being a partner. These are some of the most disgraceful days of American history. I hope our allies can forgive us for what we have allowed to happen.

[legin]

29. Well

at least the people who print menus are making money anyway.

[legin]

30. It might be an idea

to make a list of all food items that have country names in them, like 'English mustard' for instance. bush* has still got 15 months in power so you never know.

And what about 'frankfurters'? The 'frank' bit sounds a bit french to me. 'Freedomfurters'. Mmmmm.... pity the 'u' isn't an 'a'.