Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

France and Germany seek full UN control over Iraq
The Guardian ^ | 9/10/03 | Patrick Wintour

Posted on 09/10/2003 5:50:29 AM PDT by truthandlife

France and Germany will back the new UN resolution on Iraq sought by President George Bush only if the proposal gives the UN full political rule over the country. The countries have also demanded a clear programme for returning power to Iraqis.

The high price sought by the French suggests that Mr Bush is going to struggle to win UN agreement ahead of his planned speech to the security council on September 24. Foreign ministers of the five permanent members are due to meet the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, in Geneva this weekend to try to find common ground.

Paris wants the UN to run Iraq temporarily on the model of Afghanistan, but insists its proposals do not represent an attempt to settle scores over the unilateral action by the US and Britain in Iraq.

France and Germany will accept the authority of the 25-strong governing council of Iraq, even though its membership was largely handpicked by the Anglo-US provisional authority. France believes the handover needs to be quick since many Iraqis fail to distinguish between US and UN control of the country.

Mr Bush has already tabled a draft resolution to leave US in full control of the coalition military, and give the UN only limited authority.

French sources insist they will approach the talks constructively, and not attempt to humiliate the US over its inability to restore order after the invasion.

The French remain surprised at the lack of planning for postwar reconstruction, and of any apparent serious thought about the prospect of conflict between the Shia and Sunni groups. France doubts a solution lies in extra troops, but says the governing council needs to be given a clear impression of a timetable leading to democratic elections and a constitutional assembly.

Both Britain and the US have suggested elections are held within a year, but they have failed to put this timetable into the draft. France is not insisting on a specific timetable, since such dates might not be met, which could lead to a more general loss of momentum.

It remains sceptical of the idea that Britain is wielding significant influence over the new conservative mood in Washington. It has been suggested that No 10 saw the draft US resolution only a couple of days before it was circulated to security council members.

France is also seeking greater UN control of Iraqi oil revenues.

· Mr Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, appeared to admit yesterday that the US government had failed to appreciate the scale of the reconstruction job in Iraq. She blamed a lack of information under the rule of Saddam Hussein, which meant any underestimate of the size of the task "was not at all surprising".

However, according to the Washington Post, violent resistance to US forces in Iraq was predicted by intelligence agencies, whose warnings may have been ignored by the White House. An unnamed senior administration official told the paper: "Intelligence reports told them at some length about possibilities for unpleasantness."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: france; germany; iraq; un
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
To: truthandlife
Are the Frenchies bringing their little white handkerchiefs?
41 posted on 09/10/2003 9:23:18 AM PDT by 38special
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #42 Removed by Moderator

To: Michael81Dus
lol.

US should ask Germany and France to pay for the balkans mess 100% first before discussing Iraq, dont you agree?


43 posted on 09/10/2003 9:27:12 AM PDT by WOSG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Jeepguy281713
France and Germany will back the new UN resolution on Iraq sought by President George Bush only if the proposal gives the UN full political rule over the country. I am not cruel enough to do that to the Iraqis.

Great answer!

44 posted on 09/10/2003 9:28:57 AM PDT by WOSG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Michael81Dus
last i heard german troops,such as they are, are sitting in Kabul..
45 posted on 09/10/2003 9:31:08 AM PDT by rrrod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: All
France and Germany 'sold' tons of weapons to Saddam, on the promise of rights to the oil fields in Northern Iraq as soon as the UN Resolution prohibiting sale of those lands was over.

Only by getting US out of the way, and having the UN take complete control of Iraq, can they hope to get through revocation of the former UN resolution and get that oil.
46 posted on 09/10/2003 9:31:42 AM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
true....and germany, france as well as others broke the wonderful UN embargo....the shame ...he he he..it is my understanding that there is a law, which has yet to be activated, that calls for some sort of penalties against co's and countries involved in trade with saddam...any one familuar with this?
47 posted on 09/10/2003 9:35:37 AM PDT by rrrod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: truthandlife
They just want to get their blood-sucking fangs into whatever sweatheart revenue deals they can with the new Iraq. Typical decadent socialists.

We should put them in charge of apologizing to every Iraqi that had to live under a dictatorship which was supported by their (France/Germany) governments.
48 posted on 09/10/2003 9:39:48 AM PDT by Constitutional Patriot (Socialism is the cancer of humanity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: truthandlife
Bush has played the UN like a fiddle before. I expect he is about to do the same.

Plus, what folks are missing is that the debate has changed from whether Bush did the right thing to "finally Bush is seeking UN help". The critics that are so quick to attack whatever Bush does haven't even realized he shifted the subject to one that is merely a difference of opinion on how to transfer power to the Iraq's.

49 posted on 09/10/2003 9:40:46 AM PDT by VRWC_minion (Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and most are right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rrrod
Then you re not well informed.
1. We´ve special forces fighting with yours side by side in the hills of Afghanistan.
2. The ISAF is patroling through Kabul.
3. Kabul Int is run by the German Air Force.
4. The area of Kundus will soon be controlled by German troops, making US soldiers available for Iraq.

50 posted on 09/10/2003 9:41:21 AM PDT by Michael81Dus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Michael81Dus
Sorry Mike. F only those against us in Germany and France. From your posts, you are definitely one of the good guys.
51 posted on 09/10/2003 9:41:28 AM PDT by ohioman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
Would you please post evidence that Germany has sold tons of weapons to Iraq? Would you furthermore please provide any source proving that German firms have made oil contracts with Iraq?

52 posted on 09/10/2003 9:43:07 AM PDT by Michael81Dus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: truthandlife
they ain't going to get it......

GWB said to the world how much he'd like to have outside help, and if they don't want to play by the rules, we'll do it ourselves......

GWB knew what the response would be, but he did it anyway so no one could say he didn't want outside help.....

Which we neither want or need

53 posted on 09/10/2003 9:44:32 AM PDT by The Wizard (Saddamocrats are enemies of America, treasonous everytime they speak)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Constitutional Patriot
it seems the average french and german citizen has more in common with saddam than the average iraqi...a relation of mine has just returned from germany and has told me of 9-11 partys being planned there...sad for him and us in the US that stood by them all these yrs...guess we were wrong to feed them, defend them, and reunite them...live and learn i guess...
54 posted on 09/10/2003 9:44:54 AM PDT by rrrod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: ohioman
Thanks. :-) Chances are not bad that our next president (only a representative office) could be a true friend of the US. Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) could replace the Socialist J. Rau. I´d love to see him on his first trip after swear-in-ceremony flying to Washington (instead of Paris or Moscow) to prove that people do care about our relations. That would be a strong symbol.
55 posted on 09/10/2003 9:46:23 AM PDT by Michael81Dus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: rrrod
There is no such thing like a 9-11-party planned.
56 posted on 09/10/2003 9:48:41 AM PDT by Michael81Dus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: rrrod
It will be interesting to see if any of these parties get mentioned by the media.

Germans (and French) were not always this way. Socialism has destroyed the people and the cultures of these countries
57 posted on 09/10/2003 9:54:43 AM PDT by Constitutional Patriot (Socialism is the cancer of humanity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Constitutional Patriot
rrod told you BS. There are no parties to celebrate 9-11. Noone here would never ever do that!! We (Euros) felt hurt by the attacks in 2001 like you.
58 posted on 09/10/2003 10:41:30 AM PDT by Michael81Dus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Michael81Dus
Would you please post evidence that Germany has sold tons of weapons to Iraq?

Germany (specifically companies in Germany), didn't sell completed weapons to Iraq. They sold parts for uranium enrichment, uranium processing/handling, biological containment, biological weapons handling, and biological warheads for missiles.

France sold the missiles and weapons to Iraq.

Saddam Hussein provided a letter of entitlement to the northern oil fields, to go to France and Germany, as soon as the UN resolution freezing all Iraqi assets was over. France and Germany are anxious for the UN and specifically Russia, to have control of Iraq, so they may exploit these resoures. Russia has promised to give those northern oil fields to France and Germany if they help stymie the efforts of the US through the UN. Russia doesn't care, as it has plans to take over Iraq itself later, in it's weakened state, and throw the Germans and French back out, garnering the oil for itself.

In all seriousness, Michael, I don't have documented proof, as this was illegal under the UN resolutions, therefore, was being conducted by the black market (organized crime,red mafia,call it whatever you want), and the only proof lies in the weapons stocks found in Iraq with French and German manufacturer's names on them. This still does not implicate the country in any wrongdoing, per se, but does not explain the reticence of France and Germany in supporting the United States via the UN.

Can you explain why France and Germany seem to be 180degrees out of sync with the US? AT EVERY STEP. And now that we have expended our money and American/Canadian/Australian/etc lives in liberating the people of Iraq, removing a despot, all of a sudden FRANCE and GERMANY think they should be put in charge?

59 posted on 09/10/2003 12:23:43 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Michael81Dus
Sorry, forgot this.

The above post is MY OPINION ONLY.

60 posted on 09/10/2003 12:24:54 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson