France Ready for Postwar Role in Iraq

AP | 4/30/03 | KIM HOUSEGO

[kattracks]

France Ready for Postwar Role in Iraq

By KIM HOUSEGO .c The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - France is ready to join the reconstruction of Iraq and help ensure self-rule is quickly restored despite U.S. resistance to a prominent French role, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

``France wants to be present at the side of the Iraqi people,'' Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said, adding the reconstruction effort should be supervised by the United Nations.

A French diplomat, whom de Villepin did not identify, is in Baghdad to begin discussions with the various political and religious factions vying for power there, he said.

France opposed the U.S.-led push for war in Iraq and threatened to use its veto in the U.N. Security Council to block military action.

Last week, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert A. Bradtke said Washington was not interested in giving countries that opposed the U.S.-led invasion a major part in reconstruction.

De Villepin, however, said it was time to work together for lasting peace in the Middle East.

In post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, ``we all share the same objectives and the same principles,'' he said. ``We must now together build peace.''

De Villepin said the world should guarantee stability in Iraq to ``permit the Iraqi people to recover as soon as possible their full sovereignty.''

The foreign minister did not spell out exactly how France plans to contribute to the reconstruction, nor how it intends to overcome American and British resentment over its opposition to the war.

French-U.S. relations will recover, if only ``out of necessity,'' De Villepin said. ``We have to work together, the problems (of the region) are beyond the capacity of just one power.''

De Villepin said France had not swayed from the belief that the Iraq war was unnecessary, and that Saddam could have been disarmed peacefully.

Nevertheless, he said he was ``rejoiced'' by the collapse of Saddam's regime.

04/30/03 15:41 EDT

[vbmoneyspender]

``France wants to be present at the side of the Iraqi people,'' Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said . . . .

Kinda like Glenn Close wanted to be present at the side of Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction.

[RetiredArmy]

France is ready to join the reconstruction of Iraq and help ensure self-rule is quickly restored despite U.S. resistance to a prominent French role . . .

I would say that our resistance could be enforced at the point of a gun. We have plenty and the french do not have the gonads to try to do anything about it.

[annyokie]

[Chairman Fred]

"OK, Jacques, here's the mop, there's the latrine. You're doing important work."

Latrine..!!

[Destructor]

"``France wants to be present at the side of the Iraqi people,'' Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said, adding the reconstruction effort should be supervised by the United Nations."

Tough! France damn sure didn't want to be present at the side of the Iraqi people when they were trying to get rid of Saddam! Neither did the U.N.!!

[Nagual]

Munge le mird Jacques!

[ibme]

France Ready for Postwar Role in Iraq

give them a poop-scoop and tell them to get started.

[anniegetyourgun]

"we all share the same objectives and the same principles," he said."

Sure we do.....

[Conspiracy Guy]

Sorry France. I banned you from Iraq yesterday right before I lifted the UN sanctions. So don't make me come over there.

[sarasota]

The French want to get into Iraq to take care of some shredding and other cover-ups.

[annyokie]

Let me correct your spelling, s'il vous plait:

Mange mon merde, Jacques.

C'est ca?

[rrstar96]

The French have already begun to have their influence felt in Iraq. How else can you explain this new rudeness by Iraqis towards the American troops?

[pcx99]

The french should be dealt with just as harshly as the Iranians on this issue. There is aboslutely no difference between what the french are doing and what iran is trying to do. It's time to put our foot down, right down on the French arses if necessary.

[Quix]

WELL, WELL, WHAT A SURPRISE.

I can think of a great job for the French Farts.

Beginning with Chirac . . .

he can lead a crew to clean Baghdad's sewers.

When he and crew are finished with that helpful task,

they can collect all the Camel dung all over the country and spread it as fertilizer in the poorer regions.

If they are still alive after that, perhaps they can scour the country collecting scorpions and poisonous snakes.

If they finish that task, they can dig up all the unmarked graves and work to identify and return to families those they helped Saddddddammmnnn torture and terminate so glibly.

After that, they can go--without passing GO or collecting 200 cents--straight to . . . uhhh . . . .Frell.

[Allegra]

France should have the same role in postwar Iraq as they had in ensuring that we removed Saddam from power.

ZILCH

[Navy Patriot]

The U.N. can supervise the French for their role in rebuilding Iraq. The French can build and maintain the public toilets, ("from each according to his ability").

[leprechaun9]

I have an idea of how France can help with the clean-up in Iraq. How about we fasten Chirac on the end of a long boom and use him as a mine detector?

[OldFriend]

Dig ditches, dig latrines, stand sentry in the middle of the night in the dark? All kinds of things the French are fit to do for the Iraqi pipples.

[nightdriver]

``France wants to be present at the side of the Iraqi people,'' Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said, adding the reconstruction effort should be supervised by the United Nations.

Sure they do. They were making big money in that U.N.-sponsored ruse over the oil-for-food fiasco. They would just LOVE to continue ripping off the Iraqi people of their own natural resource.

[Laura Earl]

Let me correct your spelling, s'il vous plait:

Mange mon merde, Jacques.

C'est ca?

Merci.

[desertcry]

French arrogance is exceeded only by French shamelessness!
This is what happens to people who eat too much stinky cheese, and dirty wine.

[henbane]

I would say that our resistance could must be enforced at the point of a gun....the French do not have the gonads to try to do anything about it.

[annyokie]

You're quite welcome! I'm glad those French classes paid off somewhere! ; )

[annyokie]

Good ole American cheesefood, here: Enjoy!

[CaptRon]

A French diplomat, whom de Villepin did not identify, is in Baghdad to begin discussions with the various political and religious factions vying for power there, he said.

If this is true he should be treated like the erstwhile "mayor" of Baghdad; taken out in chains. The very thought that they would impose in this affair is outrageous.

[Kay Soze]

Use the French for human testing of WMD materials.

[Kay Soze]

I love the logo you have created!

[mhking]

france can bite me.

[reformedliberal]

From what I have heard from the various Iraqis participating in the formation of government, the envoy may be getting an earful of invective or the runaround from the polite ones.

Betcha they can only have diplomatic discussions w/the Ba'athists. The French will offer to arm the revolution.
Then the real Iraqi government can refuse diplomatic recognition.

[annyokie]

French fried or Velveeta girl? Thank you in any event.

[tiamat]

The french can wish in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which fills up faster.

I'm going to be unhappy if these people are allowed in with more than a token role.

Tia

[wildbill]

Since there is no Iraqi government, the guy has no status as a diplomat. Garner ought to have him arrested and deported for interfering with the reconstruction process.

[mass55th]

"France Ready for Postwar Role in Iraq"

They will be in charge of scooping up the camel poop.

[river rat]

"A French diplomat, whom de Villepin did not identify, is in Baghdad to begin discussions...."

Find him, and SHOOT HIM.

Semper Fi

[Dan from Michigan]

I have a perfect role for the frogs. It's to shut the hell up for a change.

[wcbtinman]

"Find him, and SHOOT HIM>"

deVillepin is probly' in Paris. Just look for the hot air thermal.

[desertcry]

Now, that is very nice and sweet smelling, made in America!
Just like my wife, made in Wisconsin.

[WaterDragon]

Among civilized Western nations France is like the unruly mongrel dog that continually starts fights, steals food, is scruffy and dirty, and when caught, slyly rolls over on its back, but instantly bites those who accept its yielding.

France is the mongrel nation in the West, not to be trusted, incapable of honorable leadership.

[rmvh]

[Consort]

If France and its allies can liberate Syria or Iran, then they can help rebuild the middle east.