Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sarkozy warns Iran it risks attack by Israel
FT.Com ^ | September 4 2008 | Andrew England in Damascus

Posted on 09/05/2008 12:25:46 AM PDT by Cincinna

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, warned Iran on Thursday that it was taking a big risk by seeking to obtain a military nuclear capability, saying that one day it could find Israel had decided to attack.

In one of the most explicit warnings to Tehran by a western leader, Mr Sarkozy said: “One day, whatever the Israeli government, we could find one morning that Israel has struck.

“The question is not whether it would be legitimate, whether it would be intelligent. What will we do at that moment? It would be a catastrophe. We must avoid that catastrophe.”

Iran insists it is pursuing a civilian programme, but western powers suspect it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Israel has not ruled out military action against Iran if the crisis over its nuclear programme is not resolved, and in June tension in-creased with further military exercises by the Jewish state seen by some as a warning to Tehran.

Israel is the only Middle Eastern state thought to possess a military nuclear capability, although it does not publicly acknowledge the fact.

Mr Sarkozy was speaking at a summit in Damascus with Bashar al-Assad, his Syrian counterpart, and the leaders of Turkey and Qatar. Syria is an ally of Iran and Mr Sarkozy has asked Mr Assad to help to resolve the stand-off between Iran and the west.

“The United States knows the role Syria can play,” Mr Sarkozy said. “Syria can play a major role on this issue.”

The summit marked a coup for Mr Assad as Syria is gradually welcomed back into the international fold, but Washington still treats the Arab state as a pariah. Observers also doubt the extent of influence Syria has with Iran, and relations between Damascus and Tehran have suffered as the result of Syria’s decision to enter indirect peace talks with Israel, diplomats say.

Mr Assad said Damascus had submitted proposals to Turkish mediators that could form the basis for Syria’s first direct negotiations with Israel for eight years.

A fifth round of indirect talks between the two nations had been postponed, he said, following the resignation of an Israeli negotiator in the wake of the decision by Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, to step down later this month amid corruption charges.

Turkey said those talks would resume this month. But any direct negotiations would not take place until after US elections and once Mr Olmert’s successor had been chosen.

The last direct talks between the two collapsed in 2000 after they failed to agree how far Israel should withdraw from the Golan Heights, territory occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airstrikes; france; geopolitics; iran; iraniannukes; islam; israel; mohammedanism; proliferation; sarkozy

1 posted on 09/05/2008 12:25:47 AM PDT by Cincinna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cincinna; nctexan; MassachusettsGOP; paudio; ronnie raygun; Minette; fieldmarshaldj; untenured; ...

Sarko steps up to the plate and reads the riot act to Iran.

What a wonderful working team Sarko and McCain will be in the fight against Islamo-Fascism.


2 posted on 09/05/2008 12:28:21 AM PDT by Cincinna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna
We may as well help Israel attack Iran's nuclear facilities: We'll be blamed for it either way, and with our assistance there's a much better chance for a complete success in destroying their nuclear infrastructure.
3 posted on 09/05/2008 12:28:40 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Barack Obama: In Error and arrogant -- he's errogant!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna
I think Iran is expecting Israel to attack in near future.
They would be working on their surprises, and Israel and U.S. would be doing the same.
4 posted on 09/05/2008 12:40:11 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (kim jong-il, chia head, ppogri, In Grim Reaper we trust)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna
I like Sarkozy and I welcome the statement but it seems more intended for French ears rather than Iranian...

“One day, whatever the Israeli government, we could find one morning that Israel has struck.

“The question is not whether it would be legitimate, whether it would be intelligent. What will we do at that moment? It would be a catastrophe. We must avoid that catastrophe.”

That just sounds to me like Sarkozy prepping the French for the event. That's not anything the Iranians are going to pay much attention to.

5 posted on 09/05/2008 12:44:49 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (Sarah Palin 08 12 16 20)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna
I see that Mr. Sarkozy is not holding direct talks without pre-conditions with Iran.

Israel hasn't even held direct talks with Syria since 2000.

yitbos

6 posted on 09/05/2008 12:46:14 AM PDT by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds." - Ayn Rand)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna

Sarko is one tough and very smart dude. The mullahs should listen.


7 posted on 09/05/2008 12:46:21 AM PDT by se_ohio_young_conservative (Sarah Palin has brought Reagan conservatism back !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

With the Iranian government controlling most of the media in the country, about the only thing the average Iranian will be able to hear is that the President of France threatened Iran with an attack by Israel, without any of the details.


8 posted on 09/05/2008 12:47:56 AM PDT by Stonewall Jackson (Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. - George Patton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna
What a wonderful working team Sarko and McCain will be in the fight against Islamo-Fascism.

That's re-assuring. I'm interested in seeing/learning more on how McCain will handle foreign policy with emphasis on the ME and Asia. I'll be reading as much as I can on these threads.

Glad I'm not making the calls in that arena. Yet I think that McCain will have sufficient experience and a good group of advisors to assist him.

9 posted on 09/05/2008 1:00:39 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna
Israel will act sooner than later.

Meanwhile, we don't hear to much from John Kerry's friend Jacque Chirac. Chirac was one of the many world leaders that voted for Kerry in the 2004 presidential election. Chirac is expected to soon announce his endorsement for Obama.

10 posted on 09/05/2008 1:39:58 AM PDT by A_Niceguy_in_CA (McCain/Palin - Maverick Reformers & Obama/Biden - 2 Angry Men)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinna; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...

Thanks Cincinna.


11 posted on 09/05/2008 8:18:20 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile hasn't been updated since Friday, May 30, 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson