U.S. - French Alliance at the U.N. Reportedly Crumbling

[ECH1969]

UNITED NATIONS — The French-American alliance at the United Nations over a Mideast cease-fire agreement is crumbling, sources tell FOX News.

The French U.N. delegation has joined with Arab nations and is now calling for a complete and immediate Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as a condition of any cease-fire, the sources said.

In addition, the French have reportedly agreed with Arab demands that the Lebanese force be accompanied only by UNIFIL, with no international force to be deployed.

Syria, Iran and Hezbollah are pushing to take Lebanon's offer to deploy 15,000 forces into the embattled southern region along with UNIFIL forces to gain stability without an international force there after more than three weeks of intense fighting.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,207454,00.html

[Jim__]

1. Good for France.

A complete and immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon before a cease fire is the only thing that makes sense. The French should not provide cover for continued US support for anything and everything Israel does.

[AusGail]

2. Does that mean a return of "Freedom Fries"?

The French government has a lot more guts than I ever gave them credit for.

[Supersedeas]

9. Another serving of Freedom Toast for Bolton and Condiliar

[samsingh]

3. who talks to fox propoganda?

[w4rma]

4. Not many will go along with the uncharismatic Bolton's proposals. (nt)

[allemand]

5. U.S., France at odds over Lebanon demand (AP)

UNITED NATIONS - The United States and France appeared at odds Wednesday over Arab demands to change a U.N. resolution they are co-sponsoring to call for a complete cessation of Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities and withdrawal of Israeli forces, diplomats said.

France proposed new language on a total cease-fire and Israeli pullout, but the Americans rejected it out of concern that without a robust international force, a vacuum would be created in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold, the diplomats said.

While both countries welcomed Lebanon's announcement Monday that it will deploy 15,000 soldiers to the south when Israel withdraws, the U.S. does not believe this force and U.N. peacekeepers can prevent a vacuum, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060809/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_un_12

[rodeodance]

6. U.S., France at odds over Lebanon demand

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060809/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_un;_ylt=AvY.afZhfhSinSeFoYjcK2qs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OTB1amhuBHNlYwNtdHM-

U.S., France at odds over Lebanon demand

By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago

UNITED NATIONS - The United States and France appeared at odds Wednesday over Arab demands to change a U.N. resolution they are co-sponsoring to call for a complete cessation of Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities and withdrawal of Israeli forces, diplomats said.


France proposed new language on a total cease-fire and Israeli pullout, but the Americans rejected it out of concern that without a robust international force, a vacuum would be created in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold, the diplomats said.

While both countries welcomed Lebanon's announcement Monday that it will deploy 15,000 soldiers to the south when
Israel withdraws, the U.S. does not believe this force and U.N. peacekeepers can prevent a vacuum, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private.

U.S. and French diplomats had been hoping for a vote on the draft early this week. But the differences between the co-sponsors meant that a Security Council vote on the resolution to try to end the fighting would be delayed at least until Thursday.

[rodeodance]

7. Lebanon wants all Israel troops out of the country

Lebanon opposed the draft, saying it favored Israel. The Lebanese government demanded that the cessation of hostilities must be complete and said all Israeli troops must leave, warning that their presence would be viewed as a new occupation and citing Hezbollah's threat to shoot at any Israeli soldiers in the country.

De La Sabliere, asked about these two demands, said "we are trying to incorporate more to take into account the concerns they have expressed about the two issues."

Lebanon also wants the resolution to include a commitment to release Lebanese and Israeli prisoners, an agreement to put the disputed Chebaa Farms area on the Lebanon-
Syria-Israel border under U.N. jurisdiction, an extension of Lebanese government authority throughout the country, a beefed-up U.N. force in southern Lebanon and international help to rebuild the country.

At an open Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Qatar's Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani, speaking on behalf of the Arab delegation, warned Israel that continuing attacks on Lebanon will "sow the seeds of hatred and extremism in the area" rather than restore peace and stability.

[Eugene]

8. Reuters: Chirac foresees end to UN impasse on Lebanon

Chirac foresees end to UN impasse on Lebanon

By Francois Murphy
Reuters
Wednesday, August 9, 2006; 7:41 AM

TOULON, France (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac said on Wednesday
he believed U.S objections could be overcome to amendments proposed by the
Lebanese government and the Arab League to a draft U.N. resolution on Lebanon.

"It does seem that there is an American reservation about adopting this draft,"
Chirac told reporters after a meeting with members of his cabinet in the south
of France.

"I can't imagine that there would be no solution because that would mean,
which would be the most immoral result, that we accept the current situation and
that we abandon an immediate ceasefire," he said. "I can't imagine that of the
Americans or anyone else."

The comments came as diplomats work on revisions to a French and U.S.-backed
United Nations resolution to end the war.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/09/AR2006080900370.html