Iran is a significant, respected player in the Middle East which is playing a stabilizing role, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Monday, during a visit to Lebanon.
The article may be describing simple French perfidy - France pats the mullahs on the head in preparation for planting a knife in their backs. That would be a very natural and common action on the art of the French and no cause for concern. Except for the fact that France is blowing smoke about 'leading' the effort to keep southern Lebanon Hezziefree. The Foreign Minister's statement makes French commitment to that effort somewhat suspect.
I'd place the odds at 50/50 that France will run a "Have You Hugged Your Hezzie, Today?" campaign rather than a campaign to run them out of southern Lebanon. France only 'steps up to the plate' when it sees an opportunity to steal it and sell it for a profit.
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Let me elaborate on an earlier comment on another thread. I believe that in the short term France is extremely focused on dethroning the Anglo-Saxon nations (i.e., the United States) from their current hegemony. In France's view, France is the chosen country which should be running everything. Since it isn't, the fault must lie with those who are leading, i.e., the "Anglo-Saxon" countries. Hence, all efforts must be turned to destroying this hegemony, and the best means of doing this is to ally with the many disparate elements who are coagulating against us: China, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, etc.
In the long run, these vicious dictatorships will eat France's lunch. In the long run, when the real WW III breaks out, France will run with its tail between its legs back to its former allies, the Western democracies.
But right now France is not at all thinking about its long-term self-interest. The reason is that deep down, just like our own traitorous side, they don't believe we can lose.
We can.
The thing Iran has to remember about the French is that if she will cheat on us, she will cheat on them.
MHA:
We can lose, but can they win? Really? I doubt it.
Terrye,
If "they" includes China, then yep, you betcha, they can beat our pants off.
Well, I don't trust Jacques either. But between conjecture (some of mine from earlier) and rumor this is what it looks like he's doing: attempting to be a backchannel with Iran and Syria to work out some kind of deal where they would effectively disarm Hezbollah.
It seems Chirac is deeply involved in setting up the international force that will go into Lebanon and he doesn't want Hezbollah to be fighting that force but wants a pre-agreement that Hezbollah will be hogtied.
Hence all the compliments to Iran. That's how diplomats work. They lie while they're smiling and shaking hands.
Our worry, however, is what Chirac will try to offer Iran and Syria in return.
It won't be pretty and that's why I don't think it will work. I doubt whatever Jacques may come up with as incentives for Syria and Iran will be acceptable to America or Israel.
The force that goes in must have hefty ROE and expect to engage Hezbollah--if not next week, then next month, or next year. Jacques is going to have to realize that.
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