West could split further over Iraq at EU summit

Sac Bee ^ | 2/16/03 | Barry Renfrew - AP / Brussels

[NormsRevenge]

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin speaks during an interview with news service LCI in Paris on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - A European Union emergency summit Monday on ending a highly damaging split over U.S. plans for war on Iraq appeared to have little chance of narrowing the West's biggest rift since the Cold War, despite pleas from Washington to avoid a "street fight."

[thinktwice]

De Villepin urged Europe to unite on Iraq, suggesting the United States could not alone ensure global security. He also rejected ousting Saddam in a rebuff to Washington and London, who say the Iraqi leader is a threat. "That is not acceptable, and above all, it's dangerous," he was quoted as saying.

France is being pilloried for the same lack of courage evident in this "hero's" words.

[longtermmemmory]

France is smug with self rightchousness over the UN blocking the USA diplomatic moves. It would do the US good and weaken the rest by us going without UN approval.

I just heard Nato agreed to go defend Turkey despite a French no vote. (note: the frech are members of Nato but they contribute no significant millitary troops or equiptment)

I really believe the EU members collectivly and individually are opposing in order to get consession out of the USA. In other words, the individual members have a price for their cooperation. (its not as if france has anything or any $$$ to offer)

[Robert_Paulson2]

Ther will be no split worth diddly... as the france "treason" has been the old story since 66, and especially in the last gulf war. This is so righteous:
FRANCE and GERMANY have just lost their role in the EU, for the way they showed they could not "play nice with others" in the NATO alliance.

16 nations in Europe no longer trust France at all.. and Germany VERY little. Both nations have just marginalized themselves from having a seat of prominence at the head of the EU...

that they were bypassed in nato this morning by the rest of nato (largely consisting of their former european allies)... speaks of their near total humiliation... which is now nearly complete.

that the vilnius group and the other eight nations of Europe, both published their rejection of FRANCE and GERMANY in a leadership role on this "Turkey" defense issue, will make their dreams (f and g's) ashes.

rofl that journalists are still trying to push this "divided europe" crap as some kind of devastating news to the us in an effort to drive the astronomically high support this war has in the USA down. Won't work. They are fools for trying. America has made up it's mind for good.

If one considers that the communists mustered about six million protestors in a Europe of over 700 million... their percentabe of protestors is actually less than one percent of the total population.. and all of them appear to be communists. roflmao... they are as bad as our democrats here are, now that they are out of power.

It is a bright day for freedom and democracy... and a really sucky day for the journalists who are trying to exaggerate the power and prestige of the anti war protestors and the now failed coupe d'etat attempted over l'otan, via the efforts of Jacque and Shredder...

France is toast. Regime change is imminent there too... just as it is within their ally, Iraq. losers.

[NormsRevenge]

French .. toast .. Ummmmm!

If one considers that the communists mustered about six million protestors in a Europe of over 700 million... their percentage of protestors is actually less than one percent of the total population.. and all of them appear to be communists. roflmao... they are as bad as our democrats here are, now that they are out of power.

They are all cut from the same bolt of fabric. IMO

[thinktwice]

I see behind this the communist party line -- an end to NATO, the embarassment of the United States, and a pre-eminence for an EU that will soon include Russia to the detriment of all those living on earth.

[fightinJAG]

Now, tell me again, how many divisions does de Villepin have?

[NormsRevenge]

Yeah, ya gotta wonder how and when the Beasts from the East take their places. Things are pretty stirred up right now, all over. There is a lot of change in the forecast for all of us. The birthing pains of a new monster, Eurasia, are evident in the wailings from our "allies".

[thinktwice]

Now, tell me again, how many divisions does de Villepin have?

Good question; it prompted me to pick up Les Miserables for this quote ... as advice to George Bush after his being backstabbed by a French UN official on Friday.

"To save yourself by means of what has ruined you, that is the masterpiece of great men." -- Les Misrerables, Penguin classics, page 1165

All Bush has to do is start quoting de Villepin's "it's too dangerous" line.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

"That is not acceptable, and above all, it's dangerous," he was quoted as saying.

Has France sent troops?

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

For the EU, the dispute over Iraq masks a more vital debate over its future identity and global role. France and Germany want a common foreign policy which, under their direction, will counter the United States on the world stage.

But many EU members refuse to give up control of their foreign policy and are determined to retain strong ties with the United States, which they see as essential to their security. A number of eastern European states preparing to join the EU were excluded from attending Monday's meeting because of their strong pro-U.S. stance.

France and Germany, which have long dominated the EU, are anxious to cement their claim to pre-eminence before the expansion of the union to 25 nations.

Some democracy!

Well, we see that the UN Stalemate is really not about IRAQ !

[NormsRevenge]

Is it? Sorry, Im taking more of a biblical approach to the signs of happenings. We may disagree about the mechanics. We'll see.

[M-cubed]

- Spain, Portugal, Italy, Britain, Hungary, Poland and Denmark and the Czech Republic - signed a letter expressing support for the United States. France, caught by surprise, was enraged, seeing it as a direct challenge.<<--...(memo to the French) Colin Powell #2.. Get mad, then get over it.





De Villepin urged Europe to unite on Iraq, suggesting the United States could not alone ensure global security<<<---But with the help of our "FRIENDS".....Spain, Portugal, Italy, Britain, Hungary, Poland and Denmark and the Czech Republic, we will defeat Iraq and maybe punish some of their sympathizers...(memo to the French) Colin Powell #5... Be careful what you choose. you may get it!