"I I'd Hit It!"
Posted on 03/18/2007 2:34:12 AM PDT by Dallas59
French President Jacques Chirac told Israel at the start of the war in Lebanon that France would support an Israeli assault on Syria, it was reported on Sunday.
Army Radio reported that in the message, which was delivered by Chirac to Israel via a secret channel, the French president suggested that Israel invade Damascus and topple the regime of Bashar Assad. In exchange, Chirac assured Israel full French support for the war.
According to the message delivered from Paris, Syria was responsible for the flare up in the North and encouraged Hizbullah to attack.
"Former prime minister Ariel Sharon had explained to the French in the past that Iran is the main one responsible for Hizbullah's armament in Lebanon, while Chirac saw Syria as the primary one responsible for the matter," former Israeli ambassador to France Nissim Zvilli told Army Radio in an interview.
"President Chirac saw Syria as directly responsible for the attempt to undermine the Lebanese regime," he said. "He saw them as directly responsible for the murder of [former Lebanese prime minister] Rafik Hariri and directly responsible for arming Hizbullah. Likewise, he saw Syria as the one giving Hizbullah orders on how to operate."
In March of last year, some four months before the war began, Chirac warned Syria that the international community would respond harshly to any attempt to destabilize Lebanon.
"Syria must understand that any act that encroaches upon the stability of Lebanon, be it through the shipment of weapons or assassinations, is an act that contradicts with its standing in the international community and will trigger a response from the international community," Chirac said at the time.
During the war, France was one of the foremost proponents of sending a multinational UNIFIL force to police the Israel-Lebanon border, and even offered to lead it.
Towards the end of the war, however, diplomatic officials said France had changed its mind out of concern that its badly strained relations with Syria would lead Hizbullah to target French soldiers.
France, the officials pointed out, was instrumental in pushing through UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which forced Syria out of Lebanon. In addition, it was a key force behind the establishment of the commission of inquiry into the assassination of Hariri, who was a personal friend of Chirac.
If they want it done, why don't they do it? Eeeerrrr never mind, it's France.
Maybe we will think twice the next time we need a landing force to retake Bordeaux. However, Democrats may be in charge by then and when Iraq fails and the broader war spreads throughout the middle east engulfing Europe and after massive U.S. civilian deaths here at home at the hands of suicide Jihadists and when Nazi like Muslims with hooded faces are burning Jews alive on the Champs-Elysées. Then maybe, just maybe Cindy Sheehan and her Code Pinks as well as Jane Fonda and the rest of that garbage will feel the need to take action. My only fear is historically passing this fight off to our Children and Grandchildren will be viewed as just plain cowardly.
"I I'd Hit It!"
I’ll be damn! They did the EXACT same thing in the Iraq war! This is from an interview by Brit Hume:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117672,00.html
“Slack-jawed. Powell's jaw dropped to the floor, is the way it was described to me by one of his confidant, somebody who was there. We had no idea. We thought -- our administration thought that the French were with us, that French had dispatched the top general to Centcom, Chirac had promised the president, Villepin the foreign minister had promised Powell. They said they were with us, and they weren't.”
i don't really believe chirac or the cowardice french would say such a thing... and also they wouldn't let this get out if the did.
I say its a french propaganda attempt to stop the US attacking Iran.
Sure they would. This is French SOP.
They get others to do their dirty work with empty promises that they have no intentions of ever keeping.
This story apparently leaked from the Israeli end which would be out of French control.
Towards the end of the war, however, diplomatic officials said France had changed its mind out of concern that its badly strained relations with Syria would lead Hizbullah to target French soldiers.
I can’t believe that it would take Chirac more than 30 seconds to figure out that if French soldiers were in Lebanon trying to keep the peace that Hizbullah would try to kill them.
Just another French empty promise; France trying to be the world power it once was with out paying the price.
Israel did the right thing by not going to war with Syria.
Going to war with the backing of France is suicide. If I ever went to war with France I would want them out in front of me,that way I wouldnt have to worry about them attacking me from the back.
Thanks, I had not read that account. I guess there was more to the story about changing "french fries" to "freedom fries" than I thought.
The UK and Australia often come up as the countries that are America's best friends.
Does France have any friends in the world?
They hate America, belittle eastern Europe, and consider the UK/Germany as rivals. Their former colonies are in chaos. Israel even asked Jews to leave France because they are no longer safe.
Yes, France has a good relationship with China by trying to remove EU restrictions on military trade and promise never to sell weapons to Taiwan again. However, I doubt their "friendship" would go so far as defending each other's territory.
A postdated check. Drawn on a crashing bank.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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How nice of France. Since they're on the ground in Lebanon, and concerned about the countries stability, maybe they'd consider spending some time preventing Hizbollah's rearming by Syria rather than firing at Israeli aircraft monitoring Hizbollah's rearming by Syria.
and France support would be.... selling Israel white flags once the opportunity presented itself
If true, yet another example of why Olmert must be removed from office.
According to the Esperanto dictionary, reverse-gear is spelled french.
"Let's you and him fight!"
Typical Chirass...
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