Anti-war trio fear potential isolation (EXCUSE ME? ALERT)

The Times ^ | April 12, 2003 | Robin Shepherd

[MadIvan]

THE leaders of Russia, France and Germany angrily denounced American policy in Iraq yesterday and called for the restoration of United Nations authority.

At the start of a summit in St Petersburg, President Putin criticised the United States and Britain and gave warning of the danger of the world sliding “into an endless series of conflicts”.

President Putin, President Chirac and Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, were the most vocal critics of the use of force against Iraq. Yesterday all three emphasised the centrality of the UN to the future of global conflict-resolution. “We have a joint view of the future of the world. We want a multipolar world,” President Chirac said. “Our conception naturally excludes unilateral approaches and that is why we want the UN to be the legal framework for peace and democracy.”

A senior Kremlin aide had said that the summit would look for “non-confrontational” ways of co-operating with Washington and London. But President Putin seemed in no mood for conciliation.

Almost gloatingly referring to the failure of the Allies to find weapons of mass destruction, he said: “Either they did not have them or they were in such a state they couldn’t use them. So why did we fight this war?” President Bush and Tony Blair said this week that the UN should have a “vital role” in postwar Iraq, but they were short on details, hinting that it could be confined to humanitarian assistance.

Western diplomats in Moscow said President Putin, Herr Schröder and President Chirac and were counting the diplomatic cost of opposing what looks increasingly like a successful operation. “The real risk here is that they get completely sidelined, made to look irrelevant,” one diplomat said.

Political analysts say that the three countries do have one card to play. At a time of economic weakness, Washington may be prepared to make concessions to the UN to avoid footing the entire bill for humanitarian assistance.

[MadIvan]

The Axis of Weasels is apparently trying to be the Axis of Bastards too.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

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[Registered]

[DannyTN]

To "Restore United Nations" authority, wouldn't the United Nations have needed to exorcise some authority in the first place?

[MinuteGal]

This unholy trio is getting mean.

Tough Irocks. Let the Iraqi oil pay for the humanitarian costs.

Leni

[Desecrated]

If we concede to the UN, I will never forgive this administration. Whatever the cost of reconstruction, we should float war bonds or whatever needs to be done to ensure these snakes never have a say in Iraq.

[EaglesUpForever]

“The real risk here is that they get completely sidelined, made to look irrelevant,” one diplomat said.

Risk? No, that's not called "risk," it's called "a good start." A thorough review of how these countries aided Saddam should additionally lead to further repercussions. How is a country like france, for example, entitled to a position on the Security Council???

[Zon]

“We have a joint view of the future of the world. We want a multipolar world,” President Chirac said. “Our conception naturally excludes unilateral approaches and that is why we want the UN to be the legal framework for peace and democracy.”

It seems their boys club is useless unless they can convince the big man on the block to join them. Been there, done that. Growing up has its advantages.

[Cachelot]

At the start of a summit in St Petersburg

Oh yes. And the little sc*mbags invited Blair, in the vain hope of a little "divide and conquer". Blair snubbed them :).

[goldstategop]

Lock them in the basement and don't let em out.

[Dog Gone]

Iraq's oil will pay for Iraq's recovery. This is a false worry.

[Cachelot]

Tough Irocks. Let the Iraqi oil pay for the humanitarian costs.

Of course. But the UN insists that the oil belongs to the UN until the oil-for-food sanction is lifted, which has to be done by the security council.

The UN is a crime syndicate and it's high time it gets raided.

[Starstruck]

How about the Coalition appointing some "Peace Inspectors" to try to find the "Peace" in Iraq prior to the U.N. invading. I think we could drag this out for about 12 years.

[CaptainJustice]

At the start of a summit in St Petersburg, President Putin criticised the United States and Britain and gave warning of the danger of the world sliding “into an endless series of conflicts”.

Uh... Hasn't it been this way since Cain and Abel? Newsflash Weasels: THERE. WILL. NEVER. BE. TOTAL. WORLD. PEACE.

There will always be conflict. We have to decide how to be on the winning side of each one.

[Navy Patriot]

The Axis of Weasels is apparently trying to be the Axis of Bastards too.

You are right , they made the cut.

Thanks for all the great posts from the U.K. front. FReegards NP

[CaptainJustice]

We have to decide how to be on the winning side of each one.

Let me qualify that statement: We have to decide to be on the RIGHT side of each conflict, and then make sure that side wins.

[MississippiMan]

If we concede to the UN, I will never forgive this administration. Whatever the cost of reconstruction, we should float war bonds or whatever needs to be done to ensure these snakes never have a say in Iraq.

I'm with you. Although the world will scream bloody murder—as they will no matter what we do or how we do it—it's absolutely fair for Iraqi oil to pay for the cost of reconstruction. They have plenty to do so and not even put a dent in the wealth of Iraqi oil.

These three countries are our mortal enemies, make no mistake about it. They are now pushing hard for their vision of the New World Order and this could get really ugly. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

MM

[demkicker]

Almost gloatingly referring to the failure of the Allies to find weapons of mass destruction, he said: “Either they did not have them or they were in such a state they couldn’t use them. So why did we fight this war?”

All three weasles are pathetic. We've seen only the tip of a mighty big WOMD iceburg. Putin and his foolish cohorts still haven't figured out that its not nice to back the US & Brits into a corner with such assinine challenges.

[Steven W.]

Why don't we let the Axis of Weasels turn their attention to the Congo, given their newfound sensitivity?