The Lowdown on the Showdown

[GLDNGUN]

While most are aware by now that President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will confer Sunday in the Azores, it seems just as many do not realize the weight of this meeting. This truly is a “war council”...

[Dog Gone]

New Zealand??

[Cap Huff]

"My question is why include Spain, and not Bulgaria? Both are on the Security Council, and Spain isn't sending troops (although it does have ships in the Gulf)."

IIRC Spain and the U.K. co-sponsored the 18th resolution. That would seem to be the reason for this mix of leaders.

My question, is Bulgaria sending troops? Not that I recall, but I think they may have offered some basing.

[Amelia]

Out of curiosity, has your little bird sung any Iranian tunes? Their relative silence leaves me curious as does their relationship with France.

You might wish to read this article on the situation from the Teheran Times.

[BunnySlippers]

•

[hoosiermama]

Thanks-for-the-ping-great-read-BUMP

[Dog Gone]

IIRC Spain and the U.K. co-sponsored the 18th resolution. That would seem to be the reason for this mix of leaders.

Yes, that makes sense.

Spain has certainly gained in international stature since 9/11, hasn't it? It wasn't that long ago that it was the forgotten man of Europe.

[MEG33]

Will revisit as things unfold.

[hoosiermama]

Have you seen this? IMO Good read to pass along.

[browardchad]

New Zealand??

If they are an ally, they've done a good job of concealing it, considering how Howard was greeted on his recent trip there. All things are possible, I guess, including even Canada's cooperation, as per the British opinion piece linked on Post #170:

"...a functioning successor military alliance (to NATO) has for some time been working quietly inside the dead structure: an "intelligence special relationship" coalition (Australia-Canada-New Zealand-UK-US) with occasional help from others."

These are head-spinning times.

[cactusSharp]

in post 104 I have made thse points in umptten threads
..no one, Rush,Fox or us freepers are bantering the
name MARC RICH enuf.....trust this ole dislocated Texan,Bill Hillary and Rich are running rough shod over this war.........

[kayak]

Thought you might find this thread of great interest.

[Amelia]

I've noticed that the First Cavalry and the 2nd Armored Cavarly Regiment both got their alert orders rather late in the game.

I don't think they're going to Central Command at all. I think that they're going to the Pacific coast for possible deployment to Korea.

You could be correct. They could also be the "mop-up" forces, but I don't think they were supposed to be part of the invasion force, or they'd have been there sooner.

[Cap Huff]

Absolutely. They have come a long way since Franco.

[Travis McGee]

It is my theory that Chiraqis entirely owned by Saddam, that his kickbacks for the breeder reactor deal were in the millions, and Saddam has the proof. (Film, Swiss accounts, etc.)

We know that Saddam routinely tries to bribe the inspectors and blackmail them, blackmail is just a tool in his thug's arsenal.

Look at the miraculous conversion of Scott Ritter. I would bet that films exist of Scott and some teenie boppers romping: the honey trap is just as useful as the cash kickback for blackmail purposes.

[Travis McGee]

Bingo. See my last.

[lavrenti]

Actually, Franco himself set all this motion with his relations regarding the UK and Churchill during the War.

It is a natural alliance. Both the UK and Spain have good relations with many of their former colonies and unlike the French, these nations are now more politically stable than what the Frogs left behind.

Spain has a strong sense of national pride, damaged by centuries of internal strife that only ended when Franco settled things once and for all. Unlike the French, who are obsessed with their reflection, Spain has slowly built its credibility over the decades.

Nothing is forever, and the UN lasted surprisingly long. However, the historical circumstances that underpin its foundations have shifted dramatically since 1991.

Time for a change.

[Cap Huff]

Re: Franco

What I meant was that during the time of Franco, Spain was considered to be less than respectable in the eyes of many people, particularly on the left. If in fact the subject of this thread is anywhere near what happens, Spain could be seen as increasing its stature within the international scene. Not bad to be one of the founding members of a new, and hopefully vital competitor to the old and irrelevant U.N. and its so-called "Security Council."

[justshe]

GLDNGUN: Thank you for this excellent analysis and your comments throughout the thread.

Bump...and pinging "the Republican List"--with apologies if you've already seen this thread.

A fascinating read...and one that needs to be kept bumped.

At the end of the summit, these announcements will be made and the “Big 3” will each give statements. The concerted message will be: Iraq has missed its last chance to be disarmed peacefully, the UN, especially the SC, has been so poisoned by the “charade” (look for Bush and Blair to both use that word for obvious reasons) that it is has NO legitimate role, a new organization has been formed of those that will participate in some fashion or another in the liberation and rebuilding of Iraq.

[Maeve]

I will keep saying prayers over all of this -- as well as a prayer for God's blessings on you.

[Grampa Dave]

Excellent article. The war to free Iraqis started in earnest last month. We as American consumers have our own war to wage. We need to buycott every product service made by the French.

Just $crew the Frogs with buycotts for the rest of this decade. Here is a simple list of products not to buy:

A little list of French companies and their products to avoid for the rest of this decade"

*New additions to the list thanks to Freepers. If you have an addition, Freepmail me with the URL showing French ownership.

Air France
Air Liquide
Airbus
Alcatel - Based in Paris France
Allegra (Allergy Medication) - Produced by Aventis Pharmaceuticals based in Strasbourg, France
Aqualung (Including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest)
AXA Advisors
Bank of the West - Owned by BNP Paribas
Beneteau (boats)
BF Goodrich - Owned by Michelin
BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters) - Started in 1945 by Marcel Bich. Originally based just outside of Paris. Began trading on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. 40.5% Publicly traded. Bich family still owns 33.5%.
Biotherm (Cosmetics)
Black Bush
Bollinger (Champagne)
Car & Driver Magazine
Cartier
Chanel
Chivas Regal (Scotch)
Christian Dior
Club Med (Vacations) - Owned in part by Paris based CDC (Caisse des Dépôts
et Consignations)
Culligan (owned by Vivendi)
Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)
DKNY - LVMH acquired 100% of Gabrielle Studio Inc., the privately owned licenser of Donna Karan trademarks back in 2001.
Dom Perignon
Durand Crystal
Elle Magazine
Essilor Optical Products
Evian
Fina Gas Stations
Fina Oil - Billions invested in Iraqi Oil fields
First Hawaiian Bank
George Magazine
Givenchy
*Guerlain Fragrances
*Grey Goose Vodka
Hennessy
Houghton Mifflin (books)
International Herald Tribune - 181 ave Charles-de-Gaulle - F-92521 Neuilly - FRSource:World Business Council for Sustainable Development '00 [Domain Registration], [Corporate Profile]
Jacobs Creek - Owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989
Jameson (wiskey)
Jerry Springer (talk show)
Krups (coffee and cappaccino makers)
Lancome
Le Creuset (Cookware)
L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)
Louis Vuitton
Marie Claire
Martel Cognac
Maybelline
Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)
Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts) - Their phone number is: (33) 1 45 66 15 53 in France
Mikasa Crystal and Glass (purchased by ARC int'l in 2001)
Moet (Champagne)
Motel 6 - 33, Avenue du Maine- 75755 Paris Cedex 15 France
Motown Records
MP3.com
Mumms (Champagne)
Nissan (Cars) - Majority owned by Renault
Nivea
Normany Butter
Parents Magazine
Peugeot (Automobiles) - Pronounced "Pooh Joe", must be French
Pierre Cardin
Playstation Magazine
ProScan - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France
Publicis Group (Including: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising)
RCA (televisions & electronics) - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France
Red Magazine
Red Roof Inns - Owned by the Accor group based in France
Renault (Automobiles)
Road & Track Magazine
Roquefort Cheese - All Roquefort cheese is made in France
Rowenta (Toasters, Irons, Coffee makers, etc)
Royal Canadian
Salomon (Skis)
Seagram's Gin
Sierra Software and Computer Games
Smart & Final
Sofitel (Hotels) - Owned by the Accor group based in France
Sparkletts (Water) - Owned by Danone, based in France
Spencer Gifts
Sundance Channel
Taylor Made (Golf)
Technicolor
T-Fal (Kitchenware)
The Glenlivet (Scotch
Total Gas Stations
UbiSoft (Computer Games)
Uniroyal
Uniroyal Tires - Owned by Michelin
Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) - Universal Studios is owned by Vivendi-Universal, headquartered in Paris France
USFilter
Veritas Group
Veuve Clicquot Champagne
Vittel
Vivendi - Vivendi Headquarters, Paris France
Wild Turkey (bourbon)
Woman's Day Magazine
Yoplait - France-based Sodiaal owns a 50% stake of Yoplait
Yves Saint Laurent
Zodiac Inflatable Boats

*New additions to the list thanks to Freepers. If you have an addition, Freepmail me with the URL showing French ownership.