Posted on 03/13/2003 6:16:56 PM PST by MadIvan
Tony Blair declared diplomatic war on France yesterday, accusing President Chirac of trying to destroy his efforts to win majority support in the United Nations for war on Iraq.
In an extraordinary move that risks inflicting long-term damage on Anglo-French relations, Downing Street accused the French of "poisoning" the entire diplomatic process with its pledge to veto a second UN resolution.
Last night, after France had come under sustained attack from London and Washington, Dominique de Villepin, the French foreign minister, attempted to cool the row, insisting that his country wanted to achieve a consensus in the Security Council.
Sounding more emollient and conciliatory, he said: "Everything should be done to preserve the unity of the council, and that is what we are working toward. France confirms its openness to seize all opportunities." But there was no indication that Paris would lift its threat to wield its Security Council veto.
The decision by Downing Street to mount a concerted anti-French assault formed part of a desperate attempt by Mr Blair to rally support for his strategy in the Labour Party, the country and the UN.
The idea was to portray its leaders as bent on wrecking a deal that Downing Street says could well have won the backing of most members of the Security Council.
While the anti-French offensive was applauded by many MPs, its long-term implications were not lost on British diplomats who feared that permanent harm could be done to the Prime Minister's efforts to place Britain alongside France and Germany as a lead player in the EU.
One Labour MP said yesterday that Mr Blair was personally spreading his anti-Chirac message in meetings with his own backbenchers.
"The strategy is to target bomb the French," said one MP "telling everyone that without them he would have got the second resolution. His message is that we would have had 10 countries [a majority of the UN Security Council] without the French.
"This approach also helps him counter the impression that he is just an American poodle, following Bush to war while most of the rest of the UN is opposed."
The Prime Minister's official spokesman used unusually tough language to denounce M Chirac's stance.
"I don't think anyone is under any illusion that if you inject into the diplomatic bloodstream a strategic, in principle veto then that's going to poison the system and present very real difficulties," he said.
Britain's plan that Saddam Hussein should have to pass six tests to show full compliance had been rejected out of hand by Paris even before Iraq had denounced it.
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said he found France's behaviour "extraordinary". He added: "Whatever the difficulties we face - and particularly the kind of statements which we are hearing from across the Channel - we will continue to work for this peaceful end."
Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, said France's pledge to veto represented "an unreasonable blockage on the course of international agreement". Similar efforts to isolate the French were being made in Washington.
One ally of the Prime Minister admitted that if he remained in Downing Street after the crisis he would face a huge task in rebuilding relations not just with Paris but the EU as a whole.
In particular, he said, the row could seriously affect Mr Blair's willingness to do deals with the French on the convention on the future of Europe, being chaired by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president.
Similarly, British diplomats are worried that a deep rift with Paris may cause severe difficulties to future efforts by Mr Blair to take Britain into the European single currency.
Paris would have a big say over the terms of British entry, including the question of whether it would have to serve a two-year period inside the Exchange Rate Mechanism beforehand, as required under the Maastricht Treaty.
It is possible to create a European Union that does not include Chirac's France or Schroeder's Germany. Perhaps UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Baltic countries and others could form a union of their own sans la France und ohne Deutschland.
Neither the yanks nor the French care what the UN thinks.
Maybe Blair should join this select group, do what he wants and then deal with the mob.
The mob doesn't seem to be bothering either Bush or Chirac
But they think they are so chic! Smart move by Blair - his speeches have been a marvel and his strength to be admired. Kudos to him.
Their country is being undermined by the French!
France can adopt the Dixie Chicks, like they adopted Jerry Lewis, and no one will have any need for any of them ;)
Except Ivory Coast. Remember how they protested saying Chirac was a terrorist and asked for President Bush to help them.
Regards, Ivan
The French are disgusting weasels.
Will anyone hold them accountable, or will we all forgive and forget like Clinton's pardons and the theft of property and desecration of White House on their departure?
Anyone care to weigh in?
Will people uphold the ridicule, derision and boycott of all things French for all time?
Regards, Ivan
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