Chirac to resist control of postwar Iraq by US allies

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1045511980804&p=1012571727085 ^ | March 21, 2003 | George Parker, Krishna Guha and Judy Dempsey

[PresidentFelon]

Chirac to resist control of postwar Iraq by US allies By George Parker, Krishna Guha and Judy Dempsey in Brussels Published: March 21 2003 22:21 | Last Updated: March 21 2003 22:21

Jacques Chirac, French president, on Friday ended the fragile truce at the European Union summit in Brussels with a strong attack on the "illegal" US-British attack on Iraq.

Mr Chirac signalled that France would campaign through the United Nations to keep any American or British involvement in the running of postwar Iraq to a minimum.

Just hours after Tony Blair, British prime minister, called for a new UN resolution on the reconstruction of Iraq, Mr Chirac said France would not accept a dominant US and British role in such efforts.

"France will not accept a resolution that would legitimise military intervention and give the US and British the powers of administration in Iraq," he said.

Mr Chirac, in his end-of-summit press conference, also toughened his rhetoric against the war allies, claiming their action "breached international legality".

His words reflect a French determination that having failed to stop the war, it will attempt to set the terms of the peace through the UN.

However, British officials played down the significance of Mr Chirac's rhetoric, insisting the French president was prepared to look beyond the crisis towards the postwar future of Iraq.

All 15 EU leaders agreed a communique on Friday calling for the UN to have "a central role" once the war ends, a view endorsed by the British prime minister.

British officials said Mr Chirac's words left "plenty of room for negotiation" over the precise roles for the UN, the US and other countries in administering Iraq.

Speaking in Brussels at his first press conference since the outbreak of war, Mr Blair said Britain and the US were discussing with each other and other EU states "exactly how that process takes place."

But he added: "There is a common view now, not just among the Europeans but with the US, that we have a new UN resolution that authorises, that governs, not merely the humanitarian situation but also the post- Saddam civil authority in Iraq."

Britain will "continue to press the case for further Security Council resolutions, first on the continuation of the oil-for-food programme . . . and secondly on the establishment of a post-Saddam administration".

Mr Blair's remarks are likely to cause consternation among those US hawks who do not want Iraq under UN administration.

Given the divisions over the war, Mr Blair said the summit communique on Iraq was "a good deal more positive than might have been expected".

Mr Chirac had earlier spoken privately to Mr Blair for 10 minutes, expressing his displeasure at recent attacks by British ministers on France.

[expatpat]

We can't trust them, as they've very clearly shown. THey will just stir up trouble for us if we let them in.

[Windcatcher]

This just in. The U.S. Ambassador to Germany has delivered a formal apology to the German government for wresting control of France away from her during World War II. While the current position of the United States is still that Nazi Germany should have been defeated, the letter expresses deep regret that Germany wasn't allowed to retain possession of France. The letter goes on to state that the United States, after delivering such wholesale destruction to the German people, was humanely irresponsible in not providing at least some relief for the innocent victims of both the Nazi regime and Allied action. France is stated as having been the least the United States could provide. Rumors are circulating that, should the Federal Republic of Germany seek to reclaim France as recompense, the United States will not stand in her way. Rumors further suggest that a similar letter may be forthcoming from the Britsh Embassy as well.

(sarcasm off) :)

[stripes1776]

With Jacque's John out of town, I don't think he will be getting any business.

[inquest]

I don't trust Chirac either, but we don't have to trust him. Once Iraq is stripped of the Baath Party and the WMD, we can just let France have it to themselves. It'll be their problem.

I'd certainly agree that we shouldn't be working WITH the French or the UN on this. But I'd be more than happy to stick'em with the problem once we've met our military objectives. Then Jacko will have no one to snivel at but himself.

[The Wizard]

there is nothing he can do about it, and his actions are that of an enemy

[Stultis]

Best strategery now is to ignore Chiraq as much as possible, and/or respond to his vituperative and outrageous bluster with indulgent (and subtely patronizing) assurances that the U.S. will reach out to the French and work with them (whenever they manage to get over their hissy-fits long enough). IOW the same strategy Dubya used on the Dems. It will only piss them off all them more and drive the frogs on in their determined campaign of self-marginalization.

[Red6]

Of course he's against US involvement afterward!

Ever heard of these?

Shell
TotalFinaElf
Lukoil
ENI

They are the big oil companies there, would suck if they get cut out of the after war equation.

The French operate under the theory that the whole world is subservient to them and there should be no negative consequences from any of their decisions. We'll sick it in your rear in the UN out of self-serving interests, won't participate in the war nor carry the risks/consequences. But don't dare cut our 3.3 billion dollar annual business interests out of Iraq after the war.

The only thing that would piss me off is if we don’t stick it to them afterward. No way in hell should the French profit from the food from oil program, oppose the enforcement of 1441 (which obviously was violated) out of profit driven motivation, and then be allowed to continue to profit from Iraq after the conflict in which they contributed nothing. No matter how much those weasels cry, no matter how much they try to apply pressure by “forming a French German Belgian” alliance should they be permitted in Iraq. They should not profit from our actions after hindering us. It is unreal that they have the audacity to try to strong-arm us into allowing them to keep their business interests after the war!

[The Wizard]

"France will not accept a resolution that would legitimise military intervention and give the US and British the powers of administration in Iraq",

What this poor old fool asshole doesn't understand is that we don't give a damn about any UN resolution, and he and his sorry assed friends made the UN un F'ing important.

The french have been relegated to the dust bin

[Tom Thomson]

Chirac apparently has the same mental condition as the democrats... He can't comprehend that he lost!

[Stultis]

With Jacque's John out of town, I don't think he will be getting any business.

That is a GREAT cartoon! For the United States, the patronizing of friendly dictators has been a difficult choice between evils (but often a correct one - see, e.g.: Iran) and an agonizing compromise of our principles necessitated by our struggle with the USSR. Now that the Cold War is over we are, cautiously but clearly, moving beyond such compromise.

OTOH, these global shifts are making it increasingly apparent that the cultivation of dictators and other brutal regimes is not, and never has been, a compromise for the French. It is not a regrettable violation of their principles but rather a reflection of them.

[gitmo]

If we find French weapons, parts, or evidence of French arms sales we should ban France from ever doing business with Free Iraq.

[Davis]

Cartoon-"Crybabies"

[mikeIII]

I wonder if UN's charter allows for stripping a country's (France's) membership of the security council. This piddling country doesn't deserve this status, no matter how little we care for the UN.

[lavrenti]

I would go a step further. Remind them of what happened in Baghdad today.

The last 48 hours have proved that there is very little anyone can do in relation to our power.

France has nukes? Well, they mean nothing if their command-and-control is vaporized in five minutes.

America = SHAKANAWE!

[HapaxLegamenon]

Bump

[Ima Lurker]

Sorry Snakes, I know you are busy today, but you have just got to see post #7. It is the funniest thing I have seen in a long time.

[Mia T]

_{La décapitation}^BUMP!