We can all sleep more soundly now - France is on board (ish)

[PC Dave]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Despite French opposition to a war in Iraq, the French military could assist a U.S.-led coalition should Iraq use biological and chemical weapons against coalition forces, the French ambassador to the United States said Tuesday.

"If the war starts and if (President) Saddam Hussein uses chemical or biological weapons, it would change completely the situation for the French president and for the French government, and President (Jacques) Chirac will have to decide what we will do to help the American troops to confront this new situation.

"But I confirm it would change completely the perception and the situation for us," said Jean-David Levitte, who told CNN he hoped that biological and chemical weapons would not be used.

[DieselHead]

Kinda hypocritical of them, but I'm glad they acquiesced. About time. Hopefully Germany will follow, and Japan has agreed to help with the rebuilding. If enough people join on, China will too. Their politics are not ethically based.

Someone on this board posted a statement sometime ago referring to the fact that once the crap hits the fan lefrance will jump on board. Who was that?

[Diesel-Lover]

No one would have blinked an eye if Saddam had been sought and finished or thrown out. Now they all need a smoking gun to join the fray. I wish we would have cleaned out the cancer then. And the world has been asleep at the switch for the past dozen years.

The use of bio/chem would provide the necessary justification for most nations.

One must remember that when we as nations of the world empower autocratic and communistic nations through aid, grants, and favored trading partnerships. In this fashion we in essence sanction their ruling methodologies.

If somehow we could have gotten a quorum at the UN for this deadline etc Saddam may have folded and left the game but without that heavy hand he may want to stay in the game longer.

I hope and pray that he does not resort to bio/chem and terror but if he does not leave before the war escalates he may feel cornered and strike out without restraint bringing the whole thing crashing down on him.

[Piotr]

Hmm, isn't that funny that France send (unilaterally) troops to the Ivory Coast and that other republic completely bypassing UN. I Guess it was not in their interest...

BTW in case you wondered about why countries support US or France - Poland selected Lockheed (F-16) over French Dessault (Mirage 1A) to supply them with new fighter planes for $3.5 billion (after US gov. pledged $3.8 billions in loans and $9.2 billions in investing in the US bases to be moved to Poland from Germany (Yeah, baby! my motherland is officially the biggest new US ally in the NATO!!!!). Czech Republic and Hungary selected the French-sponsored Dessault. A representative from the Dessault angrily stated that Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe who selected Lockheed put a wedge in the EU. That Happened a year ago. Can you say "it's the economic war, stupid"? France and Germany want to lead Europe against the US - that's where the real war is. The problem, most of the Europe does not want to follow Iraq Chirac...

[Trelinski]

Piotr, I believe Hungary actually purchased the SAAB/BAE Gripen. I could be wrong though. Not that it makes much of a difference in this context.

The Mirage is actually a pretty inferior plane. France should have just put their resources to developing the Eurofighter instead. But their pride got in the way and now Europe has two expensive and inferior planes.

[73MB280SEL]

(Asking retorically) What makes anyone think we would want French military participation in this war? What advanced weaponry would France bring that wouldn't just be "in the way" on the battlefield.

You know the old joke: Go to yahoo and search for French military victory....

Whether you support the war or not (I can see the side that says the Arab people in the region won't take this lightly), one thing is for sure: We had absolute military superiority in the 1st war and we are light years ahead of that technology for this one.

Piotr, I agree 100% with you that the balance of power in Europe is shifting. The former Eastern Block counteries want two things from us: (1) Security--they want what Germany/Japan has had for 50+ years, our presence. Nobody has invaded Germany/Japan since we've been there and we have in no way interfered in their governments. (2) Economic trade relations--There's no reason that most of Eastern Europe can't offer alot of good products to the US. Poland, for instance, has always been a leading shipping manufacturer. They want to make sure that they have direct access to our markets to benefit in the way that Germany and Japan have since the end of WWII.

Just one American's opinion. I certainly don't have a degree in international relations or anything.

When I was in college, I had a friend (Stanislav Vasiliev) that was at the University of Oklahoma with me studying to get his PHd in math. He was Bulgarian and came here during Gorbachev's warmer relations. Stan, like most Eastern Europeans, did his duty in the Armed Services where he was posted in Eastern Germany on the other side of our lines. While he was in Germany (this must have been '84 or so), he knew then that his main goal in life was to come to the US, study, and make his mark. He already had all kinds of Americana: posters of Michael Jordon, t-shirts, etc.... Now he works for an investment house as a stock market analyst.

Just an interesting story I thought I'd share...

Sholin