Posted on 06/28/2004 2:12:53 PM PDT by Grzegorz 246
Jacques Chirac, the French president, on Monday held out against Nato playing any role in Iraq (news - web sites), in a move that could tear apart a modest, if vague, agreement forged by the 26-member alliance to train the Iraqi security forces.
In a statement that made no reference to the early handover of sovereignty to the interim government, Nato leaders said they had decided to offer assistance "to the government of Iraq with the training of its security forces. We encourage nations to contribute to the training".
The statement did not say whether the training could take place inside or outside Iraq, reflecting a lack of consensus inside the alliance.
"The details [of the training], the how and the when have to be worked out. I do not know them yet," said Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Nato secretary-general.
"It will be up to Nato but also individual nations to contribute. It could take place inside and outside Iraq.
"The modalities should be worked out as quickly as possible," he said.
Member states could not agree the date for starting those talks.
The US had wanted Nato ambassadors to start work on July 21. Several countries, led by France, blocked the date being included in the final statement on Iraq.
Mr Chirac said Nato had no role inside Iraq.
"I do not believe it is the purpose of Nato to be in, or intervene in Iraq," he told journalists in Istanbul's military museum.
"I believe there would be tremendous negative consequences of this."
The French president suggested that members or non-members of the coalition forces could instead train the security forces inside or outside the country.
"As far as we are concerned, we are talking about Nato supporting those member states who are involved in training activities. France has no need to oppose that," he said.
"A Nato foothold on Iraqi soil would not be relevant. It would be unwise. Nato could train officers in its excellent training headquarters in Rome."
Mr Chirac said France was ready to train military police, but outside Iraq.
Germany will continue to train police in the United Arab Emirates and train senior army officers outside as well.
Gerhard Schröder, German chancellor and Mr Chirac's closest ally on many issues, said Berlin would support a Nato role inside Iraq but would send no personnel.
Mr Schröder also said Berlin had known about the early handover on Sunday evening.
Aleksander Kwasniewski, Polish president who has 8,000 troops leading a multinational division in Iraq, said he had not been informed until 8.15 yesterday morning.
Mr Chirac was told only when the Nato summit was about to start at 9am.
Most of the other allies heard it officially from George W. Bush, the US president, during his five-minute speech during the opening session of the summit.
It was a mistake to give France a special role in Iraq in de Gaulle's time. Ever since they have used their position to dictate terms while seldom contributing anything.
Sorry, special role in NATO, not Iraq.
Posted by Peach to dead
On News/Activism 06/28/2004 2:18:36 PM EDT #20 of 46
I am reading Sammon's book Misunderestimated (highly recommended read).
Chirac is nicknamed in EU as Chirac Iraq!
In 1972, Saddam and France forged a deal and when it was highly criticized by the world community, Saddam released a statement that said an attack on France would be considered an attack on Iraq. Hah!
France was considered the world leader in the 1700's, the 1800 belonged to the British and undeniably the 1900 and now it looks like the new century 2000 belongs to the United States, Sammon mentions. The EU and others are jealous. Let them eat cake!
Failing to discuss why France acts so, mostly to do as bargaining position to get money out of Iraq, allows Kerry's "diplomacy" rhetoric to gain hold.
France'll get theirs. There's still all those billions in Oil For Food money unaccounted for. Money that went through that French bank, Paribas...
I think we should tell all the terrorists, if they want a country to train in, they can have France.
After they get there and are comfy and cozy, BLOW THE PLACE OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH. I'M REALLY TIRED OF CHIRAC AND THE FRENCH.
And ummmmm that Italian, Australian, New Zealand, Chileian, and California wine is tasting better than ever. Drown in your leftovers you two-bit, soon to be Islamo-Facist controlled, no air-conditioned sweat ladden, cheese eating surrender monkeys.
France - Talk about a true roadblock to peace. Iraq calls for assistance from NATO to expel terrorists influences from their soil, and this is the French response. Amazing. Amazing how loyal one can be when one has pockets stuffed with Hussein oil vouchers.
Jacques "Merde" Chirac.
I don't know, I think France and the United Nations are positioning themselves on the wrong side of history. Kofi not only has the Oil for Food Program to answer for but multiple genocides under his watch for which he had no response. And despite a number of face saving opportunities Chirac continues to dig himself into a deeper hole of irrelevancy.
Kerry can keep talking about world opinion but it's coming down to France. American's, in their heart and soul, are not people of process and rhetoric but of action. The only thing that matters now is that our action was successful, not rhetoric defending inaction.
Is it out of the question to consider removing France from NATO? Whether this ever changed or not, I know for a fact that France was NOT a full cooperating member of NATO during the cold War. They refused to permit foreign troops on their soil and they pursued an independent military as well as foreign policy. Therefore, France is the last country to have dibs on NATO.
"I know for a fact that France was NOT a full cooperating member of NATO during the cold War. They refused to permit foreign troops on their soil and they pursued an independent military as well as foreign policy. "
I think that they are still doing it.
France uses NATO, as they use the UN...they seek to wield power that they alone don't have. Nothing would make me happier than for them to pay a price for their cynical abuse.
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