On 17 Sep 2003 04:17:05 -0700, (Michael
Petukhov) wrote:

French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41]


The French government has told an airline that it is not to ferry
British troops to Basra, a ban that will be seen as reflecting Paris's
opposition to the occupation of Iraq.

Corsair, which has been chartered numerous times to transport UK
forces around the world, pulled out of a contract to fly
reinforcements to Basra at the weekend.

Good planning by the French.

Net effect of the move - Corsair loses the various UK charter
contracts to another, probably non-French firm, and generates some
anti French feeling in the UK. Oops.

Peter Kemp