French Reaction to Eastern Europe and Iraq

[Dave_7]

At this point, do we expect anything less from the French government?


French Reaction To Eastern Europe (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/18/international/europe/18CND-CHIRAC.html?ex=1046235600&en=56ec5be8a3d9fe41&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE)


Sounds like they were willing to split with NATO over Turkey and are throwing all their eggs in to the EU basket, where they (still) have some authority.






Dave.

[Cubsfan]

The French just keep digging at the bottom of that hole they're in, don't they?

[Dave_7]

It sure seems like it.




Dave.

[eSDee]

It looks like France wants to be the Big Daddy of Europe, and the only way it is going to establish that is if he beats a couple of behinds of its unruly children.

[Cantacuzene]

My prediction, we'll see if I am eventually proven right...

French and Germany will oppose the current US regime until the German elections. After Shroeder is re-elected he will fall in line, although he will make he "reservations" quite public.

Without German support the French will be alone and they too will fall in line. The French are only holding out because Germany is because together they are the most powerful in Europe.

[Dave_7]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
My prediction, we'll see if I am eventually proven right...

French and Germany will oppose the current US regime until the German elections. After Shroeder is re-elected he will fall in line, although he will make he "reservations" quite public.

Without German support the French will be alone and they too will fall in line. The French are only holding out because Germany is because together they are the most powerful in Europe.


That seems reasonable to assume (or anticipate).

Anyways... wasn't Shroeder just re-elected? I could be wrong.

But if we were betting... my $$$ would be with you on this one. It'd be awfully lonely on the soap-box if France was the only one holding out.




Dave.

[Butch]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
My prediction, we'll see if I am eventually proven right...

French and Germany will oppose the current US regime until the German elections. After Shroeder is re-elected he will fall in line, although he will make he "reservations" quite public.

Without German support the French will be alone and they too will fall in line. The French are only holding out because Germany is because together they are the most powerful in Europe.

Schroeder won his election several months ago. He is maintaining his opposition to the war because he basically won his VERY closely contested election as a result of that stand.

Chirac is being a jackass in this issue. The way he reprimanded the countries applying to the EU made me think of a frat boy reprimanding pledges for being frustrated with initiation. It showed a tremendous lack of understanding for foreign relations and global politics . . . tremendously shortsighted.

Anyway, France ultimately will agree to action because - as I see it - they are trying to "brand" themselves now as an alternative to the US in international mediation . . . although they do believe in the same ultimate end. For quite a while in this issue, France was seen as the voice of moderation . . . now, however, they have overstepped the bounds of moderation and they will come to that realization.

As for Germany, if I remember correctly, they already have more soldiers performing UN Peacekeeping duties than any other country. I can understand why their citizens might be frustrated with these actions . . . and given that they are not permanent members of the UN Security Council, they have extra frustration since they are not at the same table as everyone else. Ultimately, though, they will probably go along also.

To extend this a bit . . . China will go along for economic purposes . . . by the way, did anyone see that the Chinese Government allowed their first Class Action Lawsuit to go to trial?? Big test of their abilities to allow A) Groups to come together and challenge . . . and B) For regulatory systems to protect citizens.

Finally, the Russians will end up going along because they have their own "Muslim problem" with Chechnya . . . plus, they have the economic reason too.

Anyway . . . to sum . . . I think all the govs are doing a bit of grandstanding. Ultimately, they all know it is in their best interests if Hussein is out of power . . . they're just waiting for an opportune time to tell their public that it is in the public interest that Hussein is out of power. This is an issue that Bush has really neglected . . . I REALLY do not think he has made a good stance for why Hussein should be out of power . . . at least not one that should justify war in the eyes of the American people . . . especially when we have not yet taken care of Al Qaeda.

That said . . . I do not disagree with this war . . . I disagree with the priority on this war . . . But I do believe this is something that will need to be done eventually, so why not do it now if nothing else is going to be done. It is a better step forward than any other country is proposing.

[TofuNinja]

totally agree.

However I think Bushy is going to use this war to position himself to win reelection. He should have and could have invaded long before... now he is just twiddling his thumbs and making very dumb statements that all sound like this :If the UN doesn't strike Iraq and enforce what it said you are fools and the US will invade anyway."

Just do it...maybe the markets won't tank 4 days and rally on Friday.

[CornMonkey]

freaking frenchies.