US plan to punish France

The Times ^ | April 24, 2003 | Elaine Monaghan

[MadIvan]

FRANCE may find itself shut out of US diplomatic business as a punishment for trying to derail the war in Iraq, despite offering a post-invasion olive branch this week, US officials said yesterday.

Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, and Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary, are eager to make France pay, but have yet to settle a row with the State Department about whether to do so, officials told The Times.

Although there is no suggestion of trade sanctions or other severe moves, one idea is to expand the “quad” — the informal forum grouping Britain, France, Germany and the United States, which meets in secret to hammer out common positions.

Countries that supported the war, such as Italy, Poland and Spain could be included in the forum, diluting the influence of France and Germany, which opposed the war. The quad is so powerful and so resented by other allies that it is a diplomatic taboo to mention its name.

The debate led to a Cabinet-level meeting being cancelled last Thursday, an official said. It was reconstituted as a meeting of deputies, but broke up without a decision. “However, there is agreement that they are going to punish France,” the official said.

France made an expression of support for suspend- ing “non-military” sanctions against Iraqi civilians, a step towards the US position.

Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, was asked on television yesterday if France would face consequences for “standing up to the United States like that”. He responded: “Yes.”

[MadIvan]

Good, make sure the weasels suffer appropriately for what they've done.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[My2Cents]

How about sponsoring a change to the UN charter to eliminate France as a permanent member of the Security Council?

[Incorrigible]

This one's for you Chirac!

 

[Dog Gone]

How about sponsoring a change to the UN charter to eliminate France as a permanent member of the Security Council?

What if France can veto that?

[Shermy]

The "Quad"

Why haven't we hear about that on Coast to Coast yet?

[mystery-ak]

revenge can be sweet...

[Nebullis]

The Quad traditionally included all G7 WTO partners.

[Conservababe]

Brit Hume just said that Powell's statement caused an uproar in the French press. Sanctions and even going to war with France were mentioned. Powell and the USA embassador to France had a good laugh before they called the French embassador.

Darn, where can I find the French newspapers? I would like to read of this hysteria. LOL

[tomahawk]

Punish, punish, and punish again.

[RightWhale]

What if France can veto that?

What if they are inexplicably absent that day?

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Better still, fire France and Germany, keep our great ally Britain, then add our great ally Australia, then Spain, Italy, and Poland and call it the Big Six.

[Freeper]

Does anyon agree with me that MadIvan is FAST (to post) and should DownSize his Flag?

[vpintheak]

You mean punish them for what they didn't do. Of course they tried to protect their oil interests, as well as other things, but as we all know failed miserably.

[Paleo Conservative]

How about sponsoring a change to the UN charter to eliminate France as a permanent member of the Security Council?

That has less chance of passing than a similar change to eliminate the US veto in the Security Council.

[Grampa Dave]

GW "Zot/Frying" Frog Legs, starting with ChIraq!

[BigLittle]

You did not play nice, zo no catsuop por vouz"

[prairiebreeze]

From what I've read, 99% of French newspapers never let the truth get in the way of a good story...

Prairie

[My2Cents]

You have a point. Frankly, I don't know how France could be kicked off the Security Council, but the fact they still have veto authority is more evidence that the way the UN functions and is organized, it's becoming more of an anachronistic hold-over of the post-WW2 world that is rapidly becoming irrelevant.

[thoughtomator]

If France fears we are about to go to war with them, that should secure their cooperation... er, collaboration.