France left out of Iraq stability force

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 17, 2003 | Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

[MadIvan]

The Danes have been outstanding in this war. As for Chirac, one word applies - "Loser".

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[My2Cents]

Good! Why should France be included? As Dennis Miller said on Leno a few weeks back, "Look, Jacques, if you want to get involved here, if you want to get your hands dirty, you're going to have to run them through your own hair, my friend."

[Dog]

Condi Rice was quoted when asked what to do with the Axis of whiners....

"Punish France....ignore Germany....forgive Russia..."

Chirac is about to get his punishment..

[rickmichaels]

"I do not know anything about this proposal," he said...

Let's keep it that way.

[MEG33]

This sounds less ominous than an earlier report.The UN has not done well with reconstruction.

[livius]

What's even better is that Spain, always despised by France, has presided over the organizing meetings for this. I'm sure leaving them out was a great pleasure to Spain.

Way to go! Rub their little froggie noses in it!

[KeyWest]

The early report was started by Russia.

[No Truce With Kings]

What was it that Jed Babbin said about the involving the French in efforts that require guns? "It's like taking an accordian with you when you go deer hunting. You end up with a load of noisy useless baggage that makes it harder to accomplish your objective."

About sums it up.

[MEG33]

Our great friend,Russia.Hmmm

[Navy Patriot]

Before the EU summit, Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, warned France, Germany and Russia that the United Nations would be sidelined again if they refused to co-operate with the coalition.

Hopefully they will procrastinate long enough to enable this result.

[Owen]

YO Chirac!

You have been instructed. If you want to help, cancel the Iraqi debt. If you don't want to cancel the debt, you don't want to help. Period.

[expatpat]

At a brain-storming session on the new European constitution, most of the leaders backed the creation of a "foreign minister" to prevent a repetition of the humiliating cacophony over Iraq.

How's that going to help? He'll still be unable to get consensus from the Euros -- what's he going to do, make up his policy dictatorially?

[John Lenin]

France, that sh*ty little country ...

[Arkinsaw]

Mr Rasmussen said that Spain, Italy, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were ready to help and that others were coming around. Italy has approved the dispatch of 1,000 paramilitary policemen.

Humble thanks to all of the above.

[savedbygrace]

Denmark's staunchly pro-American prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said that Washington had asked him to put together a 3,000-strong stabilisation force as quickly as possible to patrol Iraqi cities.

Doncha love fresh Danish in the morning?

[okie01]

"He'll still be unable to get consensus from the Euros -- what's he going to do, make up his policy dictatorially?"

The French plan on his having the Quai d'Orsay on his speed dial...

[expatpat]

Yes, I bet -- or try to give the job to Villepin.

[Starstruck]

Allowing France to get involved in Iraq could possibly be the "Read my lips" for the younger Bush when it comes to the base. I hope he doesn't test this theory.

[mikenola]

The Danes are really cool folks. Alot of Danes love jazz and blues and America in general. I see lots of them come here to New Orleans.

To be sure there's a definite leftist element in the country, but they've always been fiercely independent, and sceptical about the EU. It took a couple of no votes before they joined EU and the common currency.