France pushes UN for action on conflict; move challenges US and British

[Purveyor]

Security council move challenges US and British approach

Simon Tisdall and Ewen MacAskill
Thursday July 20, 2006
The Guardian


France challenged the Bush administration's hands-off approach to the Lebanon crisis yesterday by pushing for immediate action by the UN security council to stop the fighting.

The move came as the UN human rights chief warned that Israeli and Hizbullah leaders could face war crimes charges.

Angered by US stalling, France circulated proposals at the UN which could form the basis of a binding resolution. The proposals will be discussed in private today after Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, briefs the security council on the findings of an emergency UN mission to the region. Terje Roed-Larsen, a member of the mission, said yesterday there should be no more delays. "We're in a hurry. It has to happen fast," he said. "There is serious work to be done in order to reach conclusions, which will be presented to the parties."

The mission is expected to propose creating a buffer zone on the Israeli-Lebanese border, a beefed-up international force, deployment of the Lebanese army into the south and a pullback by Hizbullah as well as the release of captured Israeli soldiers as part of possible prisoner exchange.

A French diplomatic source said: "The security council cannot remain inactive. There has been a general call for the UN to act from the Group of Eight, from the Arab League and the European Union - they are all calling for it. France is taking the lead because of its historic role in Lebanon, and because it holds the presidency of the security council."

---END OF EXCERPT---

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1824599,00.html

[AlamoDemoc]

1. I am sick and tire of this administration using the SC as a playground

If this administration continues its manipulation of the Security Council, the entire Security Counsel should be invalid from here on.

[rodeodance]

5. looks like France/security council is smacking the US on this one.

[Acadia Blue]

14. They should. We shoud try to stop this with diplomacy.

[rodeodance]

2. as Rice doodles away.

[ShortnFiery]

3. She's probably shoe shopping on The Net.

:puke:

[Endangered Specie]

9. Thats probably a good thing too...

she could no doubt do more damage if she tried

[rodeodance]

4. NPR had inteviews of the evacuee's/refugees on tonight. Devastating

stories.

[Rose Siding]

6. I just read the (then) French ambassador's pre-Iraq War UN speech

It brought tears to my eyes. I don't suppose that the wisdom that made them RIGHT will enhance the creds of the French to the fools STILL in power.

A good chunk of his speech is at this link, where the blogger notes its attributes:

- He correctly ascertains the degree to which Iraq represented a threat to the world, and to its neighbors.

- He identifies the convergence of international institutions as the reckoning force that was successfully disarming Iraq.

- He debunks the Iraq / al Qaeda link.

- He predicts that innocent families would suffer.

- He forecasts the postwar carnage.

- And, he zeroes in on the Bush administration's disingenuous motives for war.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_07_01_digbysblog_archive.html#115279525011824501

[AlamoDemoc]

7. His name is Dominique de Villepin ...he's the current PM of France

[gula]

8. And he actually was just in Beirouth personally

You think the B would or even could ever do that.

There is a thread with pictures somewhere on here but I couldn't find it.

[Rose Siding]

10. Yes, I'm a great admirer

[Vidar]

11. Merci a la France!

[daleo]

12. I guess we will get fresh stories of freedom fries now

And the French will be called anti-semites by the right wing mouth breathers.

[never cry wolf]

13. Vive le France... sounds like a plan

Sounds like a workable plan... Unfortunately, you can put money on Bolton obstructing anything and everything positive in the UN...