Posted on 09/06/2004 1:14:57 AM PDT by kattracks
PARIS - As France awaited word on two journalists being held hostage in Iraq, officials made clear that they expected to benefit from their stand against the U.S.-led invasion and occupation."France has always pleaded for the sovereignty of this country and supported its people," Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said last week as the crisis unfolded.
The safe return of the journalists, Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot, would not only end a crisis that has gripped the country but would also ratify the value of French opposition to the Bush administration's Iraq policy, political observers said.
In lobbying for the captives' freedom, the observers said, France had gained support from governments in the Middle East, Muslim religious leaders and even the Hezbollah guerrilla group in southern Lebanon, which used kidnappings in its fight against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon.
"The French diplomatic effort has been impressive. If the hostages are released, it is a plus for French foreign policy," said Guillaume Parmentier, a political analyst and expert on U.S.-French relations.
Dominique Moisi, a foreign affairs expert, said that "France's ability to mobilize friends is outside recognition" of the French policy. "The basis of the policy is that France fights terrorism as much as anyone, it's just that going into Iraq was not the best way," Moisi said.
The kidnappers, who call themselves the Islamic Army in Iraq, threatened to kill the journalists if the French government refused to rescind a ban on Muslim head scarves in public schools. The law went into effect Thursday, the first day of school.
Barnier and leaders of France's Muslim community traveled to the Middle East to work for the hostages' release. "We have serious reasons to believe both of them are in good health and that a favorable outcome is possible," Barnier said Sunday after returning to Paris and discussing the crisis with President Jacques Chirac. "Our top priority today remains to secure their release. We are working hard, calmly, cautiously and discreetly."
France has no troops in Iraq. If the hostages are released, analysts said, France should not be viewed as having triumphed by tolerating terrorism. "It is scandalous to suggest that the French attitude is based on appeasement of terrorists," Parmentier said.
France is being viewed as an ally by anti-U.S. groups in Iraq and elsewhere in the Arab world, some of which have tacitly or openly endorsed the killing of civilians.
A prominent Egyptian cleric, Yusuf al-Qaradawi told reporters in Cairo last week that fighting U.S. soldiers and civilians in Iraq was "a duty" for Muslims. He urged the kidnappers to free the French journalists because "they broke the American monopoly on relaying information."
At a news conference last week in Baghdad, Mohammed Bashar Faidhi of the Association of Muslim Scholars appealed for the release of the hostages on the grounds that France's dispute with the United States over Iraq "serves our interests because it keeps the occupation weak." The association, a Sunni Muslim group that opposes the U.S.-led occupation, has negotiated the release of other foreign hostages, notably some held in Fallujah, a city under control of groups that have organized attacks against U.S. troops, car bombings and kidnappings of foreign civilians.
"Our goal is to besiege the Americans politically in every spot in the world, and this act is not serving our goal," Faidhi said. The French delegation that visited Baghdad met with members of the association.
But an editorial published Friday in a newspaper called Baghdad said: "Chirac, who wants to present himself as fair, must take his share of responsibility in the kidnapping of his two compatriots as he opposed all international resolutions aimed at restoring Iraqis' security." France's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the editorial, which was titled "Chirac You Did Not Hear Our Pleas." The newspaper is controlled by the party of interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.
Yeah... they can't bail out Jean Francois Cheri. And they can't bail out their own journalists with a baksheesh. BWAHAHAHA!!!
Absolutely amazing. If the French hadn't removed the crucifixes from the classrooms, they wouldn't have had to demand the removal of Stars of David OR turbans. They're the ones who wanted things antiseptically secular--and we're taking the same route.
They're whipped pussies. They're the model Cheri here says he wants for what passes for America's new foreign policy: BEND OVER!!!
Could the French be any more cowardly? Like the kid in the playground who would carry the bully's books just to avoid getting beat up.
And to show the Americans they learned nothing from Vichy.
That's right suck up to the Muslims you stupid Frogs. See how far that gets you.
The French are our enemies and CAN NOT be relied upon. No doubt about it. France will make a wonderfull Islamic Republic.
Nice, NICE analogy.
PARIS - As France awaited word on two journalists being held hostage in Iraq, officials made clear that they expected to benefit from their stand against the U.S.-led invasion and occupation.
Why don't they just convert to Islam already? I'm sure the Muslims of the world are waiting to thank France for being their true friend. <sarcasm
Oh and an old Belly Girl favorite :) FRANCE, YOU SHUT THE HELL UP. WE'LL SAVE CIVILIZATION!!!
Hey France, get those hands up a little highter. It might help.
My favorite line:
"It is scandalous to suggest that the French attitude is based on appeasement of terrorists," Parmentier said.
Yep, it's just CRAZY to suggest that. Why, they are 100% against appeasement of any sort! In fact, I remember them saying way back in Daladier's day, in Munich in `38, "Let's f them Krauts up!"
[/sarcasm]
Cheese eating surrender monkeys, all of them.
They already did. THIS is the result. LOL!
So france's entire foreign policy victory is the claim "we are against america".
Remember that when you are buying wine, bubbly white wine, and fashions. No french perfumes for the "mrs" as gifts.
They're already surrendering. They are such wimps. I think a team of girl scouts could make them surrender. The cowards.
This shows that kissing butt doesn't work. The hostages were handed over to another group. This other group are most probably now trying to blackmail France as well, because the French are so wimpy.
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