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April 24 2005
Vichy France 2000
Analysis by Mark Radulich
France is playing with fire which may ultimately end up burning both
Europe and America. I've been saying in the last couple of posts that
the US needs to understand that world is slouching toward
multi-polarity whether we like it or not and it would be advantageous
to start strategizing with that in mind. I think we have begun to
pass the "Unipolar moment" and now the US needs to configure its new
role in the world. However, that goes doubly so for France, which has
a different problem. Their collective approach to world affairs is to
do what strictly benefits the French surpassing the US as global
leaders. Chirac and company are no more multi-polarist than the
neo-cons in Washington. Unfortunately, as I've stated above, their
Napoleonic quest to return to great at the cost of the US will most
likely result in tragedy for both our countries.
First there's this from an April 13th Reuters story: "French
President Jacques Chirac has been pushing the EU to drop its refusal
to consider letting Iran enrich uranium, despite U.S. and European
fears Iran could use enrichment technology for weapons, EU diplomats
say...the talks took a new turn last month when negotiators from the
EU's "big three" (EU3) and the office of EU foreign policy chief
Javier Solana agreed in Paris to consider an Iranian proposal that it
keep a small-scale enrichment programme that would be closely
monitored by the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Several diplomats said this shift -- which came just after Washington
bolstered the EU position by offering its own incentives if Tehran
scrapped enrichment -- was mainly the result of pressure by Chirac,
who pushed the French Foreign Ministry to drop its refusal to
consider Iran's plan.
"Jacques Chirac ... is the one who's taking the Iranian proposal
under consideration," said an EU3 diplomat, adding the French
president had the final say on foreign policy matters."
So while Chirac is apparently attempting to play the Iranians against
us as a check, the French as a whole are showing their true racist
yet globally inept colors by voting "no" on the EU constitution
citing Turkey as the problem.
This from Zaman.com: "While the French have been intensively
discussing the constitution, which they want to be in line with their
traditions, one of the most important matters of debate is Turkey's
possible future EU membership. Several French politicians from right
to left on the political spectrum link Turkey's membership with the
constitution and are calling on the French public to vote "no" on May
29th. It is an exaggeration to say that French people will vote "no"
on the constitution only because of Turkey. As a matter of fact,
French people also complain about the EU's moving away from the
concept of enlargement and the understanding of a social state. One
of the most controversial issues, however, is Turkey. Some French
citizens, despite the fact that they would probably vote "yes" to
Turkey's membership in a referendum that will be held after 10 or 15
years if Turkey completes EU negotiations with success, are asking
"Why do we wait for 15 years? Let's say "no" to Turkey as of now."
Turning the so-called Armenian "genocide" allegations into a
principle in the world for the first time, France has a public, which
has the deepest objection to Turkey's EU membership. Th?s attitude in
France is hypocritical. As a matter of fact, Turkey's "tough"
secularism, administrative system and linguistic borrowings when it
encountered with the modern West are all from France. ?n short,
France has parallels with Turkey. Despite this fact, Turks are
anxious this time that their march towards Europe will be blocked in
Paris. It is rumored that French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier
said: "Forget about negotiations on October 3rd." if the French would
vote "no" on the Constitution in the referendum on May 29th."
Just so we all understand, then French are stroking the Iranians
while attempting to alienate Turkey. While I continue to believe the
French are not our enemy per se, I do believe their rather acute way
of dealing with international politics is an accident waiting to
happen.
Mark Radulich blogs at Progressive Conservatism.
http://www.legendgames.net/showstory.asp?page=blognews/stories/WN0000108.txt
April 24 2005
Vichy France 2000
Analysis by Mark Radulich
France is playing with fire which may ultimately end up burning both
Europe and America. I've been saying in the last couple of posts that
the US needs to understand that world is slouching toward
multi-polarity whether we like it or not and it would be advantageous
to start strategizing with that in mind. I think we have begun to
pass the "Unipolar moment" and now the US needs to configure its new
role in the world. However, that goes doubly so for France, which has
a different problem. Their collective approach to world affairs is to
do what strictly benefits the French surpassing the US as global
leaders. Chirac and company are no more multi-polarist than the
neo-cons in Washington. Unfortunately, as I've stated above, their
Napoleonic quest to return to great at the cost of the US will most
likely result in tragedy for both our countries.
First there's this from an April 13th Reuters story: "French
President Jacques Chirac has been pushing the EU to drop its refusal
to consider letting Iran enrich uranium, despite U.S. and European
fears Iran could use enrichment technology for weapons, EU diplomats
say...the talks took a new turn last month when negotiators from the
EU's "big three" (EU3) and the office of EU foreign policy chief
Javier Solana agreed in Paris to consider an Iranian proposal that it
keep a small-scale enrichment programme that would be closely
monitored by the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Several diplomats said this shift -- which came just after Washington
bolstered the EU position by offering its own incentives if Tehran
scrapped enrichment -- was mainly the result of pressure by Chirac,
who pushed the French Foreign Ministry to drop its refusal to
consider Iran's plan.
"Jacques Chirac ... is the one who's taking the Iranian proposal
under consideration," said an EU3 diplomat, adding the French
president had the final say on foreign policy matters."
So while Chirac is apparently attempting to play the Iranians against
us as a check, the French as a whole are showing their true racist
yet globally inept colors by voting "no" on the EU constitution
citing Turkey as the problem.
This from Zaman.com: "While the French have been intensively
discussing the constitution, which they want to be in line with their
traditions, one of the most important matters of debate is Turkey's
possible future EU membership. Several French politicians from right
to left on the political spectrum link Turkey's membership with the
constitution and are calling on the French public to vote "no" on May
29th. It is an exaggeration to say that French people will vote "no"
on the constitution only because of Turkey. As a matter of fact,
French people also complain about the EU's moving away from the
concept of enlargement and the understanding of a social state. One
of the most controversial issues, however, is Turkey. Some French
citizens, despite the fact that they would probably vote "yes" to
Turkey's membership in a referendum that will be held after 10 or 15
years if Turkey completes EU negotiations with success, are asking
"Why do we wait for 15 years? Let's say "no" to Turkey as of now."
Turning the so-called Armenian "genocide" allegations into a
principle in the world for the first time, France has a public, which
has the deepest objection to Turkey's EU membership. Th?s attitude in
France is hypocritical. As a matter of fact, Turkey's "tough"
secularism, administrative system and linguistic borrowings when it
encountered with the modern West are all from France. ?n short,
France has parallels with Turkey. Despite this fact, Turks are
anxious this time that their march towards Europe will be blocked in
Paris. It is rumored that French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier
said: "Forget about negotiations on October 3rd." if the French would
vote "no" on the Constitution in the referendum on May 29th."
Just so we all understand, then French are stroking the Iranians
while attempting to alienate Turkey. While I continue to believe the
French are not our enemy per se, I do believe their rather acute way
of dealing with international politics is an accident waiting to
happen.
Mark Radulich blogs at Progressive Conservatism.
http://www.legendgames.net/showstory.asp?page=blognews/stories/WN0000108.txt