The transatlantic rift

[ixion]

Much time has passed since the transatlantic rift - epitomized by the opposing positions France and the US held on whether to invade Iraq - reached a fever pitch in the leadup to the war. But, despite a much heralded show of unity during the G-8 summit at Sea Island, Ga. in the US, the June 28-29 NATO summit in Istanbul was a reminder that relations between the US and France are still strained.

<snip/>

The Guardian reports that Chirac "undermined hopes of burying transatlantic disagreements when he insisted he was 'entirely hostile' to any NATO presence in Iraq, which he warned would be 'dangerous and counterproductive.'"

Chirac also resisted pressure from the US and pleas from Afghan president Hamid Karzai to send some NATO troops to Afghanistan to boost security ahead of Afghanistan's elections in September. Although NATO leaders pledged to boost the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from its current 6,500 troops to 10,000, France refused the call to send the NATO Response Force (NRF) to Afghanistan. "The NRF is not designed for this. It shouldn't be used just for any old matter," said Chirac.

The Herald reports that "the US plan to push for an increased NATO presence in Afghanistan irrespective of the French is likely to set the scene for further transatlantic clashes in the coming months and may further slow efforts by several countries to repair relations between Washington and Brussels."





http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0630/dailyUpdate.html


Ah yes... we've pissed the entire world off, but France is the isolationist. :eyes:

[montanacowboy]

1. Strange they don't mention anything

about how the rift began anew in Turkey when our idiot * kept sticking his nose into EU politics telling them they need to add Turkey.... Chirac told him to mind his own business, and then damn if he didn't do it again...so guess what? NATO...nada.. finis with France. Just can't keep his pie hole shut.