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Defiant Iraq spurns French 'alternative'
The Sunday Telegraph ^ | February 16, 2003 | David Chater and David Wastell

Posted on 02/15/2003 5:44:15 PM PST by MadIvan

Iraq's foreign minister, Naji Sabri, has rebuffed the controversial plan drawn up by France and Germany last week aimed at avoiding military action in the Gulf.

The peace proposal, which argued that extra time and resources should be given to the United Nations weapons inspectors, also called for the deployment of 1,000 armed UN peacekeeping troops.

While the plan was welcomed by Russia and deepened divisions within the UN Security Council, Mr Sabri flatly rejected any suggestion that blue-helmeted peacekeepers could operate in Iraq. "No Iraqi would accept the deployment of such a force," he told the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Hayat.

While he did not doubt the desire of some international parties to "face up to the logic of war and aggression", Mr Sabri claimed that any peace initiative that did not have Washington's backing was bound to fail.

Yesterday a leading Iraqi newspaper, the government-owned al-Jumhouriya, put a positive spin on the report given to the Security Council by the UN weapons inspectors, claiming that it had left the United States and Britain more isolated than ever in their efforts to sanction the use of force against Iraq.

On Friday Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei told the UN that they had discovered no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but accused Iraq of making omissions in its arms declaration.

As 3,000 Iraqis took part in a protest against the war in Baghdad, the inspectors visited nine sites, including a Baghdad facility that produces rocket parts, as their hunt for chemical, biological or nuclear weapons continued. An IAEA team also carried out an aerial survey of the Iraqi capital.

Iraq's readiness to comply with UN resolutions will be tested this week when Mr Blix orders Baghdad to destroy Iraq's al-Samoud missile system and 380 newly-imported engines.

Al-Samoud missiles can exceed the 150-kilometre limit set by the UN. Without them, the Iraqi army's ability to resist any invasion force would be severely handicapped.

In a separate development, Nato ambassadors are expected to meet today in an effort to find common ground on planned military support for Turkey against possible attack by Iraq. Mr Blix's report did little to break the damaging deadlock on the issue and talks scheduled for yesterday were postponed to give more time for informal discussions.

Lord Robertson, Nato's Secretary General, is now expected to bypass the alliance's North Atlantic Council, at which all 19 members are represented, and convene a meeting of its Military Policy Committee, from which France is excluded because of its unique arm's-length relationship with Nato's military structures.

France, Germany and Belgium have blocked Nato's plans to send Awacs surveillance aircraft, Patriot missile batteries and specialist equipment to protect Turkey against chemical, biological and nuclear attack. They argue that this would wrongly signal that war with Iraq was inevitable. The row over the Turkish request has further poisoned relations between Paris, Berlin and Washington.

While diplomats said that there was now no prospect of ending French opposition to military support from Nato for Turkey's defences, they believe that Germany and Belgium, which have so far backed France, may be wavering.

The countries have faced fierce criticism from Nato's 16 other members and have also come under fire from the seven nations recently invited to join the alliance, who accuse them of a "breach of faith" for refusing to grant Turkey's request for help.

"If Germany can be won over," said a senior Nato diplomat, "it's unlikely that Belgium will want to be isolated as the only one of 18 full military members holding out against aid to Turkey."

In the meantime, Bulgaria has vowed to resist French attempts to bully it into withdrawing support for America's plans to disarm Iraq. Last week the French ambassador to Sofia warned Bulgaria that its pro-American stance could jeopardise its efforts to join the European Union.

"Bulgaria has to consider carefully where its long-term interests lie," Jean Loup Kuhn-Delforge said last week. "When people live in Europe they should express solidarity and think European-style."

Solomon Pasi, Bulgaria's foreign minister, condemned the French as neo-appeasers. "We all remember the hesitancy of the Allies, who weren't sure whether to attack Hitler. They could have prevented so much," he said.

"We're in a situation where we have a moral imperative to act and act now."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Germany; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: blair; blix; bulgargia; bush; chirac; france; iraq; saddam; uk; un; us; warlist; weasels
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To: McGavin999
Now Sadaam is in trouble. He just bent over, pulled down his trousers, spread his cheeks and watched France kiss his a$$. Now he turns around and demands they pucker up and swallow (please excuse my French). Why that's enough to outrage even the most pacifist Frenchman. If Sadaam doesn't watch out they may insist that the word "very" preceeds "disappointed" in their proposed language for the 18th UN resolution.
21 posted on 02/15/2003 6:19:42 PM PST by Steven W.
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Here's to you:
Republic of Bulgaria


22 posted on 02/15/2003 6:19:55 PM PST by unspun (anti-war/anti-gun protesters: Masses of Weaponless Destruction)
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To: Diddle E. Squat
Not so stupid if you are producing and hiding WMD's all over the place. Inviting 1000 blue helmets in is as good as a breach.

Saddam wants to stall for time, not surrender to the UN....LOL
23 posted on 02/15/2003 6:22:53 PM PST by Rain-maker
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To: MadIvan
Not to worry. France surrenders.
24 posted on 02/15/2003 6:23:14 PM PST by tomahawk
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To: MadIvan
Iraq's foreign minister, Naji Sabri, has rebuffed the controversial plan drawn up by France and Germany last week aimed at avoiding military action in the Gulf.

Shrug. Why shouldn't he? Why should Iraq pay France and Germany for their squandered virtue when they gave it to him freely?

25 posted on 02/15/2003 6:24:32 PM PST by neutrino (1eV... and still able to zing along!)
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To: blam
"Bulgaria has to consider carefully where its long-term interests lie," Jean Loup Kuhn-Delforge said last week.

I cannot agree with him more !

26 posted on 02/15/2003 6:25:30 PM PST by RS
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To: MadIvan
*In the meantime, Bulgaria has vowed to resist French attempts to bully it into withdrawing support for America's plans to disarm Iraq*

Tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine Bulgaria!

*"Bulgaria has to consider carefully where its long-term interests lie," Jean Loup Kuhn-Delforge said last week*

Who's this clown, Chirac's "Enforcer"???

This is getting really really REALLY weird.
27 posted on 02/15/2003 6:26:46 PM PST by prairiebreeze (Who would have anticipated Germany and France to be the entity that is doing the de-stabilizing!?)
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To: MadIvan
You go, Bulgaria!! You tell 'em! We are proud of you, but, forget about European collectivism. It is not good for you.
28 posted on 02/15/2003 6:28:24 PM PST by whadizit
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To: MadIvan
Where do we send messages of support to Bulgaria???

Heck, let's just start a new strategic alliance to replace NATO... we'll start with the US, UK, and Bulgaria and work from there.

29 posted on 02/15/2003 6:34:39 PM PST by Teacher317
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To: MadIvan
claiming that it had left the United States and Britain more isolated than ever in their efforts to sanction the use of force against Iraq.

Are the U.S. Democrats giving Saddam his talking points? It's getting hard to tell whether the article is about Iraq or the anti-American Democrat socialist party.

30 posted on 02/15/2003 6:36:54 PM PST by concerned about politics (Stop Taxpayer Supported Socialist Indoctrinatin... Support School Choice ..Demand it.)
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To: Rain-maker
How titanically embarrassing to France and Germany...

OH... MY....

(Iraq): We'd rather have an honest invasion that to have you characters wondering around in your UN helmets....

31 posted on 02/15/2003 6:37:11 PM PST by unspun (anti-war/anti-gun protesters: Masses of Weaponless Destruction)
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To: MadIvan
Well, well, well! Isn't THIS an interesting development? Bulgaria should tell France where they can stuff their brie.

I, personally, would tell them they can escargot to Hades.
32 posted on 02/15/2003 6:37:30 PM PST by justshe (Eliminate Freepathons! Become a monthly donor. Only YOU can prevent Freepathons!)
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To: unspun
wondering = wandering (and wondering)
33 posted on 02/15/2003 6:38:30 PM PST by unspun (anti-war/anti-gun protesters: Masses of Weaponless Destruction)
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To: MadIvan
Ivan, why is it that the Germans and French are in a position of leadership in Europe apparently superceding the UK?
34 posted on 02/15/2003 6:45:16 PM PST by a_Turk (Ready? Set? Wait!!)
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To: MadIvan
Re #1

Even Iraqi regime has a low regard for France.

35 posted on 02/15/2003 6:49:17 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
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To: Constitution Day; Lee'sGhost; KOZ.; borntodiefree; azhenfud; mykdsmom
Ping! Congradulations today folks. Foxnews mentioned ya.(hee hee)
36 posted on 02/15/2003 6:51:00 PM PST by Madcelt (does anybody else forget to change these things other than me?)
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To: unspun
I was curious as to how well the Iraqi regime would accept the Franco-German "plan". I see some most profound flaws immediately - Just how are the UN "Peacekeeper" forces to be inserted into Iraq? And what countries will be contributing the manpower? Greeks, maybe? Certainly not the French, as they only propose, others dispose. The UN "Peacekeepers" would serve primarily as target practice for clandestine snipers for the Iraqi Republican Guard.

There is really only one answer for this cancer, it must be excised completely. The Saddam Hussein regime must be extirpated, eradicated, and destroyed root, branch, stem, flower, seed and down to the leaf-buds.
37 posted on 02/15/2003 7:01:55 PM PST by alloysteel
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To: MadIvan
Bulgaria BUMP! They told the French to stuff it!
France, Germany and Belgium have blocked Nato's plans to send Awacs surveillance aircraft, Patriot missile batteries and specialist equipment to protect Turkey against chemical, biological and nuclear attack. They argue that this would wrongly signal that war with Iraq was inevitable.
Heaven forbid that Turkey prepare to protect herself!
As the sign I saw today says:
FREE Iraq... Bomb France! :)
38 posted on 02/15/2003 7:03:20 PM PST by Libertina
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To: Teacher317
Where do we send messages of support to Bulgaria???

Email the Bulgarian Embassy in Wa.D.C.
Bulgarian Embassy Site

The Republic of Bulgaria, Council of Ministers

Office of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha
The Prime Minister's Email Address

Solomon Passy, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Email c/o Director of IPR Directorate: Eleonora Dimitrova tel. (+359 2) 737 997, 7143 2463; fax (+359 2) 703 041

If the links all don't work, please work around.

39 posted on 02/15/2003 7:07:10 PM PST by unspun (anti-war/anti-gun protesters: Masses of Weaponless Destruction)
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To: Madcelt
I will be quite shocked if Saddam lets those weapons be destroyed.
40 posted on 02/15/2003 7:09:22 PM PST by RummyChick
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