The Lowdown on the Showdown

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks for the *pinG*, I'm including a picture of another famous "not a war council" meeting.

Please note that the French are not there either.

[Utah Girl]

Excellent analysis.

[Maeve]

I believe John Howard is being kept well apprised of these events. From what my sister-in-law in Australia e-mails me, she wouldn't be surprised if this summit in the Açores will be followed be a similar summit in the Pacific involving Australia, and Japan with the USA. In any event I think this augurs well for new strategic aliiances for the US.

I don't know if EnZed can be thought of as a solid ally of the US. Their governments have a tendency to dither or follow a drumbeat no one else hears.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

When that photo was taken there was no France, just occupied territory. They didn't accept war as legitimate then, either.

[woodyinscc]

IIRC didn't we have to fight against the French, when our forces landed in North Africa?

[ken5050]

Blair has a built in excuse domestically for not going to the UN for a 2nd resolution - the fact that France announced in advance that it would veto anything that was offered...Chirac made one mistake, a big one....yes, many Brits, especially Labour may hate Blair now, but the hate the French far more.....Blair will "run" against Chirac and the French..and it'll be a landslide..he's a master politician..

[Dolphy]

France has enjoyed the benefits of playing off the US with the Arab countries.

A sort of Cold War strategy that has left me to think of them as near enemies.

As for Iran, the idea of the US military being next door in large numbers cannot be welcome news. I wonder how this might "empower" the resistance there.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Other than French constabulary or mercenaries (who were cooperating with Germany at the time), I don't think so. If there were any, they were small scale units under German command. The Brits, however, did sink a French battleship in the Mediterranean (in port), for fear of it falling into German hands when France fell.

[ken5050]

Don't forget, it was just last year that Spain and GB were almost at blows over some little rock near Gilbratar.....I wonder if the price of Spain's support is the Blair sells out the Gibraltans and returns them to Spainish soverignity....

[FreeReign]

GLDNGUN -- It appears that the only question remaining for the "Big 3" is under what authority they will claim is the basis for their action. There obviously will be a "coalition of the willing" whether it is made an "official organization" remains to be seen.

SauronOfMordor -- What the US will need to do, in furtherence of its long-term interests, is kill the idea of legitimacy flowing from numbers. If I decide to mug you, does my having 10 of my friends approve of my actions make it right? How about a hundred? At what point does the "magic" come in?

If you decide to mug me and if I call in ten of my friends to help in my defense, my actions of calling to my frieds has NOTHING to do with legitimizing my defense and EVERYTHING to do with making it easier to defend myself.

One fundamental right is the right of self-defense, from which follows the right to take out a clear and present danger to your security.

To create an authority that is a "coalition of the willing" is exactly an authority that protects the unalienable right of self-defense.

Websters -- willing adj. 1. consenting; inclined: willing to go along.

[Edmund Burke]

After the victory over Iraq in a few weeks, Blair should have the Queen dissolve Parliament and set new elections. He'll win big and have 5 more years.

[FreeReign]

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

Well, I'm glad to see I've been living a French-free life all along. Thanks for the list.

[Grampa Dave]

Actually we have bought in the past a lot of these products which have been good product.

That was in the past!

[ken5050]

The Labour party is as schizophrenic as the Dem party here is...the anti-war, pacifist block is dominant...that's how the Dems got McGovern, and why Dean gets standing ovations today....Blair has more support among the Tories....

[ken5050]

It was more than one BB..it was the whole French fleet...I think 4-5 BB's were badly damaged..out of action for the entire war...

[ken5050]

French's mustard.....

French dressing....

[woodyinscc]

I did a google search and came up with this!


http://www.internet-esq.com/ussaugusta/diary/1142.htm#November%208,%201942

[FreeReign]

French's mustard..... French dressing....

...Sabastian Cabot(Mr. French)...

[swheats]

"coalition of the willing" Bump

[ken5050]

LOL....I remember..didn't the little girl die later of a drug overdose?.......

and what about French kissing?