France Faces Isolation As Strains Show In Anti-War Axis

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 4-11-2003 | John Hooper/Nick Paton Walsh

[blam]

"Don't Mess With Texas"

(Screw France and Germany!)

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[Ruth A.]

But the diplomatic tensions over the role of the UN are sure to be reignited. Gerhard Schröder announced yesterday that Germany would only take part in the reconstruction if the operation were carried out under UN auspices.

Sounds like face saving strategy. Germany knows they are going to be out in the cold and are trying to say it is their choice to freeze.

[friendly]

The ones the French better worry about are the Iraqi people who are already ramshacking any thing French in Bagdad.

[scooby321]

Gerhard Schröder announced yesterday that Germany would only take part in the reconstruction if the operation were carried out under UN auspices.

Keep Your dead economy out if Iraq

[McGavin999]

Mr Schröder's setting out of conditions will also alarm German industrialists hoping for lucrative contracts in the aftermath of the conflict.

What lucrative contracts? Germany doesn't have a prayer, anymore than france does. Russia does have a chance provided they stop the dirty tricks immediately.

[BunnySlippers]

His ultimatum highlighted the point that Germany's position remains more uncompromising than that of France.

Yes, but the French are more obnoxious than the Germans.

[Torie]

I suspect Blair and Chirac really loathe each other. I think Blair believes that Chirac's main goal was to depose him as PM since Blair was an obstacle in Chirac's grand plan of creating a European counterweight to the US dominated by the Franco-German axis. Blair is a skillful infighter however in a way Bush is not (with Bush what you see is what you get; he tends to play his cards face up), and Blair will twist the knife into Chirac's corpus without leaving much in the way of fingerprints.

[lilylangtree]

The backpedaling by Chirac, Schroeder and Putin is disgraceful. All three want their perceived share of the spoils without lifting a finger. Hope Bush and Blair give all three the finger.

[ellery]

btttt

[skinkinthegrass]

All three want their perceived share of the spoils without lifting a finger. Hope Bush and Blair give all three the finger.ping... :)

[Terabitten]

Only yesterday, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, did Mr Chirac issue a comment. "France, like all democracies, rejoices," he said in a statement.

Just like the French. Always there for you when they need you.

[D Rider]

Yes, but the French are more obnoxious than the Germans.

And, of course, the Germans really do have good beer. While French wine is much over rated.

[lawgirl]

agreed.

[RJayneJ]

I can't believe how totally tone deaf this trio has been diplomatically. I don't think that I have ever seen anything to compare it to.

[timydnuc]

Didn't the french invent the douchebag? That's fitting.

[The FRugitive]

What I don't get is what did Chirac expect to happen? Did he really expect us to fail? I mean surely he knew Bush would do as he said, so I presume he expected us to fail?

Otherwise I don't understand his foolish behavior before the war.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Blair will twist the knife into Chirac's corpus without leaving much in the way of fingerprints.

I certainly hope you are right, Torie. You would know Blair's stratigy better than me, but do you think that the Belfast meeting was pure show? It had me, and still does, greatly disturbed that the UN was going to be involved in something other than food. I would consider that a defeat on par with not getting Saddam back in 91. Are you convinced this won't happen and this Weasel axis is making a fool of itself?

[LaGrone]

The Germans and French have already had their lucrative contracts, unfortunately it appears to have been for weapons for Iraq. Being the peace lovers they claim to be, the weapons and materials sales might be a wee bit contradictory.

They are beginning to understand there is no forgiveness on this side of the pond.

[Plutarch]

Today's St Petersburg meeting was planned before the fall of Baghdad and was intended to seal an anti-war alliance…

Hmmm, Germany & Russia [and later Vichy France] getting together to for an “anti-war alliance”. How does this sound familiar…?

Treaty of Nonaggression Between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

The Government of the German Reich and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics desirous of strengthening the cause of peace between Germany and the U.S.S.R and proceeding from the fundamental provisions of the Neutrality Agreement concluded in April 1926 between Germany and the U.S.S.R., have reached the following agreement:

ARTICLE I

Both High Contracting Parties obligate, themselves to desist from any act of violence, any aggressive action, and any attack on each other, either individually or jointly with other powers.

ARTICLE II

Should one of the High Contracting Parties become the object of belligerent action by a third power, the other High Contracting Party shall in no manner lend its support to this third power.

ARTICLE III

The Governments of the two High Contracting Parties shall in the future maintain continual contact with one another for the purpose of consultation in order to exchange information on problems affecting their common interests.

ARTICLE IV

Neither of the two High Contracting Parties shall participate in any grouping of powers whatsoever that is directly or indirectly aimed at the other party.

ARTICLE V

Should disputes or conflicts arise between the High Contracting Parties over problems of one kind or another, both parties shall settle these disputes or conflicts exclusively through friendly exchange of opinion or, if necessary, through the establishment of arbitration commissions.

ARTICLE VI

The present treaty is concluded for a period of ten years, with the provision that, in so far as one of the High Contracting Parties does not denounce it one year prior to the expiration of this period, the validity of this treaty shall automatically be extended for another five years.

ARTICLE VI

The present treaty shall be ratified within the shortest possible time. The ratifications shall be exchanged in Berlin. The agreement shall enter into force as soon as it is signed. Done in duplicate, in the German and Russian languages.

MOSCOW, August 23, 1939.

For the Government of the German Reich:

V. RIBBENTROP

With full power of the Government of the U.S.S.R.:

V. MOLOTOV