NATO Crisis Deepens As Meeting Is Abandoned (20 Minutes)

Ananova ^ | 2-12-2003

[blam]

Nato crisis deepens as meeting is abandoned

Nato remains in crisis after a meeting of ambassadors aimed at sorting out differences over Iraq was abandoned after 20 minutes.

A second day of consultations at alliance HQ in Brussels failed to end one of the worst crises in Nato's 53 year history.

France, Germany and Belgium refused to lift their veto of US backed plans to bolster Turkish defences against a possible Iraqi missile attack.

After two postponements during the day, ambassadors from the 19 Nato countries met for only 20 minutes before ending the session.

Talks were to resume Wednesday, said a diplomat.

"Right now we do not have a conclusion," said Nato spokesman Yves Brodeur. The division in the alliance could undermine the America's attempts to muster support in the UN Security Council for military action against Iraq.

France, Russia and Germany sought more time for increased UN inspections in a proposal opposed by Washington.

Nato's infighting also casts doubt on the future of an alliance, which has spent the past years seeking to reinvent itself as a force to confront terrorism and rogue states.

Story filed: 17:59 Tuesday 11th February 2003

[colorado tanker]

But the Grunen and SPD will cling to power at all costs, so we're stuck with a Germany in Saddam's corner for now.

Yep. If Schroeder were to back America over Iraq the Greens would pull out of government and trigger new elections that would knock the SPD out of power. So, for now a small group of marxists masquerading as environmentalists are holding the German government hostage. Lesson: don't coalition with the Greens.

[Ken H]

... it looks like the US, Russia, and Turkey will ally

And moving farther east, you can add Japan, India, Taiwan, and Australia.

[ChadGore]

Here's a thought, Let's make each US state it's own country, give each US state one vote in the UN, so we will have more parity with the EU (pronounced: "eeeewwwwww". . .as in . ."eeeewwwww, I have a boil")

[ChadGore]

Re:Lesson: don't coalition with the Greens.

Agreed. A coalition with the greens is a coalition with Putin.

[Libertina]

Bush scores the trifecta!!
ROTFLOL I think he's trying here at home too, INS IRS NEA :)

[colorado tanker]

Agreed. A coalition with the greens is a coalition with Putin.

Or Kruschev.

[Robert_Paulson2]

defacto in progress...

we are planning to redeploy in new european states like poland. The alliance is over with. Time for new partners in peace.

Germany screwed with the french whore and has caught the incurable form of AIDS from her...

Look for a dozen or more PUBLICIZED bilateral ties to be formed from this rift... and for france, germany, russia an belgium to form a smaller, former soviet block.

idiots.

If you are german or french and conservative... get the hell oughta dodge... cold war/hot war part dieux is underway...

[Robert_Paulson2]

"Right now we do not have a conclusion,"

---

actually bub... I think "conclusion" may be an understatement. NATO as we have known it is toast.

[Archangelsk]

Uh, France hasn't been part of NATO for some time now.

[RS]

"If France & Germany's agreements aren't worth the paper they're written on, to h### with them"

If a mutual defence pact won't hold up, just how do these countries expect to hold together the economic regulations that are the foundation of the Euro ?

[concerned about politics]

Nato remains in crisis

Not really. We don't need the others. We'll do fine without them. I don't see any crisis.

[P.O.E.]

Perzackly!

[Beck_isright]

""Let's expel France, Gremany, and Belgium from NATO, get out of the UN, and pull our troops from decaying Old Europe."

You got my vote."

Having spent 4 years in West Germany in the early 80's, I second this vote. Let them all eat Arab Terrorist brie cheese. Ingrates.

[Beck_isright]

Can you just imagine how mad Russia will get? Imagine bases in Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey (more bases) and the Baltic States all because they sided with France. Yup, this is going to be an interesting decade....

[Stefan Stackhouse]

As far as NATO's concerned, from what I understand, that's exactly what the French are after so they can build a separate European military force.

I think you are on to something. However, they are going to find that armies cost money.

What do you mean? They've just about gotten all of Iraq's -- FOR FREE!!!!!

Heck, Saddam probably even PAID for the privilege. Who ever said the French were not shrewd businessmen?

[blam]

"Beck_isright signed up 2003-02-12.

Location: Conch Republic

How did you do that? It's still 2-11-2003. Anyway, welcome aboard.

[ol' hoghead]

Why else would France and Germany be willing to damage NATO and the UN to try to keep us out of Iraq. ?

Could it be a very large moslem fifth column already in place in these countries?