France shifts its stance on the conflict in Iraq

The International Herald Tribune ^ | August 21, 2007 | Katrin Bennhold

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

PARIS: After years of shunning involvement in a war it said was wrong, France now believes it may hold the key to peace in Iraq, proposing itself as an "honest broker" between the Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish factions.

The shift was one of the most concrete consequences yet of the thaw in French-American relations following the election in May of President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose administration no longer feels bound by the adamant refusal to take a role in Iraq that characterized the reign of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.

[Bob J]

Healthy skepticism is a virtue, but blind obedience is not.

Sometimes a wait and see attitude can be profitable.

[Radix]

If you must be anal about the matter.

 

Wikkepedia has an introductory course on Nippon for you.

 

Japan (help·info) (Japanese: 日本 Nihon or Nippon,^? officially 日本国 Nihon-koku or Nippon-koku) is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun".

 

 If you'd like to know more about the nips and the law of Bushido and the evolution of the Samurai Culture into a modern day Democratic powerhouse and ally of the United States who just so happened to have invoked their Right to assert their nationalistic "interests" which were in conflict with OUR national interests 30 years ago then perhaps you'd consider reading some history, or maybe even talking with a few Japanese -Americans.

 

Personally, I think that you can stick your politically correct BS up where the land of the rising sun does not rise.

[Bob J]

Are you denying that the term “nip” is considered deragatory?

[Vietnam Vet From New Mexico]

Are you the Political Correctness moderator?

[Bob J]

No, I’m the “let’s not give our enemies the bat with which to hit us over the head” monitor.

Whether it’s unfortunate or not, every post on FR reflects on everyone.

[Bob J]

Thanks for being so sunny side up.

[AppyPappy]

If you are a WW2 vet, you can call them any damn thing you want (according to my dad anyway).

Since we aren’t WW2 vets, it’s probably best to leave the name-calling outside.

[stboz]

Even if the broker is honest, there is the small matter that the clientel are not all honest themselves. Taqiyah to the max.

[caisson71]

Everybody loves a winner.

[wgflyer]

So does this mean our Freedom fries are French fries again? Cool.

One could just say...fries.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Let is not be so entrenched that we miss good opportunities

There is a certain, one might call it Gallic, cynicism on this thread about how much Sarkozy can be trusted. Obviously foreign powers act in the way they consider in their national interest, but ideology can affect their judgment. It seems likely that the Magyar born Sarkozy has an idea of French security depending more on a trans-western alliance, as opposed to a French dominated Continent.

For one thing, with the rise of Germany and the addition of the eastern Europeans, France is no longer so dominant. It is my opinion that we should welcome evidence of friendship towards us. As far as trust is concerned we should 'Trust but Verify', as President Reagan declared.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Let is not be so entrenched that we miss good opportunities

There is a certain, one might call it Gallic, cynicism on this thread about how much Sarkozy can be trusted. Obviously foreign powers act in the way they consider in their national interest, but ideology can affect their judgment. It seems likely that the Magyar born Sarkozy has an idea of French security depending more on a trans-western alliance, as opposed to a French dominated Continent.

For one thing, with the rise of Germany and the addition of the eastern Europeans, France is no longer so dominant. It is my opinion that we should welcome evidence of friendship towards us. As far as trust is concerned we should 'Trust but Verify', as President Reagan declared.

[Vietnam Vet From New Mexico]

I think I will take a wee nip before I turn in. It gets pretty nippy here in New Mexico after the sun goes down.

Maybe we should take all of this with a nip of salt.

[Vietnam Vet From New Mexico]

My uncle Ken fought the Japs, does that count?

[longtermmemmory]

I would not trust the French.

They may see this as a chance to push the “price oil in euros” effort the did with saddam.

Remember the French goverment lost a bundle with thier government gurantees with sadam’s business.

Beware French bearing peace treaties...

[Cincinna]

Thanks Luicius for posting this article. Even the Leftist MSM is being forced to acknowledge the changes in France.

Sarko is a Conservative. He believes capitalism, in personal initiative and responsibility, in raising the level of private home ownership in France, in eliminating the death tax, in smaller government and lower taxes. He is also a strong Law & Order guy, turning over decades of French laissez-faire attitude towards criminals.

He took a huge step in coming to America and conferring with George Bush ; an even greater step in sending his Foreign Minister to Iraq, obviously with the blessing of the White House. He is staunchly pro-market, pro-American, and admires American business practices, management style, interpreneurship and personal responsibility.

It is not just words, or hopes projected onto a blank screen. Sarko has already proven himself a friend of America.

Time to break out that wonderful French wine, and toast the new French president and the French people who elected him.

We are all hoping he succeeds.

[Earthdweller]

Thanks for the ping Cincinna. I was wondering when you would see this little gem. :)

[RJL]

We’ll see, I doubt they’ll do anything meaningful.

It depends on how much money is in it for France.

If France thinks they can work a great deal on Iraq's oil fields, they'll be there with bells on.

But this isn't a change of any kind from France, they stabbed the USA, a 230 year ally, in the back for some of Saddam's dirty oil money.

[Cincinna]

Did you miss the latest news? France has a new President named Nicolas Sarcozy.

Jacques Iraq is gone. Sarko’s policies are a 180 degree shift from Chirac.

[RJL]

Do you think the term “nips” is an acceptable term to use on this Forum?

Not sure, but being called a Yank, short for Yankee or a Brit, short for British, brings few, in any complaints.

Nip is short for Nippon, a Japanese name of Japan.