France stance on Iraq hardens

BBC News ^ | February 14, 2003 | BBC News

[MadIvan]

De Villepin believes inspections should be continued

European nations who oppose a rush to military action against Iraq have responded confidently to a report by United Nations weapons inspectors to the Security Council.

In a speech which drew a rare show of applause from many in the chamber, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said that inspections were making progress and should be given more time to succeed.

Considering that the audience consisted of representatives of some of the foulest dictatorships on the face of the earth, that is hardly a ringing endorsement - Ivan

The option of inspections had not been taken to its conclusion, he said, adding that force could only be used as a last resort.

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also called for more time for inspections, saying that substantial progress had been made and this could not be discounted.

Mr Ivanov was also applauded, prompting council chairman Joschka Fischer to call the chamber to order.

Not in a timely fashion, one presumes - Ivan

The United Kingdom and Spain, who have backed United States calls for military action in the event of Iraqi non-compliance, said the threat of force was still necessary.

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the UN had to keep its nerve and ensure that Iraq fully complied with its obligations.

Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio made the point that the inspectors had not said Baghdad was co-operating fully and unconditionally.

The ministers' speeches followed reports by chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Authority chairman Mohammed ElBaradei.

Both reports mentioned developments which the inspectors say could indicate a more co-operative approach by Iraq.

Alternative to war

The BBC's John Sopel in Paris says Mr de Villepin was emboldened by the reports, and gave a carefully crafted speech designed to answer his critics head on.

"France believes ... the option of inspections has not been taken to the end," he said, "...and the use of force would be so fraught with risk that it could only be envisioned as a last resort."

"There is an alternative to war, disarming Iraq through inspections," he added.

This shows a fundamental and willful ignorance on the part of France - Iraq is already supposed to be disarmed. The inspectors are just supposed to verify this. Any breach in this, is an indication that Iraq has broken the terms by which the Gulf War was ended - Ivan

Mr de Villepin also described France as "an old country" from a continent which had known "wars, occupation and barbarity".

"It has never ceased to stand upright in the face of history and before mankind," he said. "It wishes resolutely to act with all the members of the international community."

The snickering about France "standing upright in the face of history" is still continuing, I take it. After all, they're playing the role of Saddam's favourite goat right now, all tarted up in garters - Ivan

His remarks were intended as a response to United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who described France and Germany as "the old Europe".

'Sufficient majority'

Earlier on Friday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder repeated his opposition to military action.

Mr Schroeder said the foreign ministers of France, Russia and Germany would present a common position after the reports were made.

Speaking after a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson, he said he hoped there would be a "sufficient majority" in support of the view.

The comments came as Austria, a neutral country which broadly supports the French and German position, withdrew permission for US troops and equipment to transit across its territory.

Austrian Defence Minister Herbert Scheibner said the ban would remain in force unless there is a second Security Council resolution on Iraq.

It means that US troops based in Germany will have to be taken to Italy for transfer to the Gulf region.

[XJarhead]

The only time France "hardens" is when they see a sheep in heat.

Or when they've got Germany or Belgium bending over in front of them.

[PoisedWoman]

I like your comments, Ivan.

I saw Henry Kissinger interviewed on Charlie Rose last night, and he was adamant that the time for war is NOW. Kissinger also explained that the French always oppose everything the US does until the last minute, and then gives in, but having Germany jump into this fray has made France's position difficult. He thinks we should just give up on Germany, but there is hope for France if they can figure out how to wiggle away from the "partnership" with Germany. What makes it difficut is that France and Germany hope to keep Franco-German power in the EU and don't want the other countries to gain ascendancy. New Europe vs Old Europe, as Rumsfeld so acerbically pointed out, is a, and perhaps the real issue here.

So the politicians maneuver while our troops wait it out in the desert as the weather gets hotter and hotter. Shut up, already, and let the men get this over before they have to endure 120-degree heat in Hazmat suits.

[razbinn]

Oh,come on....please,not Boddington's,when did they get acquired???

[Lee Heggy]

Exactly. Thanks for the link.

[defenderSD]

"France believes ... the option of inspections has not been taken to the end..."

OK fine, Mr. de Villepin, let's give Iraq 7 days to completely declare all their weapons, and if they don't provide a complete list then we declare that the inspections process has been "taken to the end." At this point the invasion begins in 24 hours. Why is this so complicated to you, mon idiot?

[Lael]

"There is an alternative to war, disarming Iraq through inspections,"

To be perfectly fair, "There WAS an alternative to war, disarming Iraq through inspections,"

In the beginning, the "Inspections" involved less inspections and more "Joint Cooperation" with UN-Iraqi teams actually destroying a "super gun" (aka a V3 device) as well as said stockpiles of Mustard, Sarin, and at least identifying Botulinum, Anthrax, Plague, etc., etc., etc., for later disposal, as soon as a safe way of completely destroying such Bio Stocks could be devised.

But somewhere along the way the emphasis shifted from "Destruction" (i.e. Disarmament) to "Inspection."

What happened???

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Did Chappaqua Bill see his shadow on Impeached President's Day ?? The "shadow president" as you so aptly put it-is desperately trying to undermine President Bush,by encouraging the French and Germans.His attempts at de facto foreign policy may well put our country and our troops, at risk.

[2Jedismom]

Spotted Dick Bump!

[whelanCCTimes]

Boycott France? Looking for Organizers.

I'm a business reporter at the Contra Costa Times, a Knight Ridder reporter that covers the east San Francisco Bay Area.

I'm doing a story on boycotts of French goods, and wanted to know if there are Free Republic readers out there organizing boycotts, especially in the East Bay area-- please get in touch with me.
David Whelan
dwhelan@cctimes.com
925 943 8263

Also, pls. feel free to post this request anywhere else you think it might get a response.

Thanks!

[monkeywrench]

"Funny, but isn't there a French carrier in the Eastern Med right now ??"

Really? Any other info on this? Thanks.

[chiefqc]

France's problem is that if we take iraq, then the world will discover how much information has come from france along with banned material>

It's all about secret deals anfd the money trail.

[bernie_g]

An interesting historical 'what if' for your consideration.

After conquering much of India and then beating Napoleons armies like a gong all the way from Portugal to the south of France, the Duke of Wellington was offered a choice of a diplomatic job or supreme command of the still smouldering and entirely pointless 'War of 1812' against the USA (The one where we burned down the White House)

He decided on the diplomatic job, which was probably a good thing because if he hadn't, he wouldn't have been present in Brussels when Napoleon got loose from Elba and came tearing up into Belgium with a huge army of his veterans.

At Waterloo, just outside Brussels, heavily outnumbered and outgunned. He beat the so called 'greatest military genius of the age' in a battle so terrible its like wasn't seen again until Gettysburg.

Wonder what would have happened if he'd taken the other job?

[ken5050]

Please see #49 this thread to me....I'm at the wrong end of the country..can you reply to him and call the other Cal Freepers......thanks....please let me know you got this..

[spokeshave]

there have been several posts regarding the so called aircraft carrier DeGaul and its numerous problems....sorry I didn't book mark them but a search in FRepublic should turn them up

[ken5050]

reply #49was about the reporter wanting info on the boycott....

[MarylandPines]

Call me crazy, but I think what we're seeing is the Left, not just in the States, but around the world on their heels and fighting back desperately.

One other thing: Just remember, the greatest Frenchman of all time, Joan d'Arc, was genuinely faithful AND patriotic. And look what they did to her....

[oyez]

What happened???

Eight years of Bill Clinton.