If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
"Christians for Cheeseburgers." wrote in message . net...
"Michael Petukhov" wrote in message m... French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41] Sooner or later there will need to be some serious payback for France and Germany. Not while US forces in Iraq are still dying and the new election year is looming ahead. President Bush has recently praised German forces for their participation in Afghanistan and their evolving role in the region. Berlin for its part would be willing to send German troops to Iraq should the US properly cede military and political control of that nation over to the UN. The US could still have the biggest piece of the peace dividend/restoration contracts... but Berlin wants a share plus the reestablishment of its business contracts and monies owed. Sounds fair enough to me. But then again, we live in the US and consume an awful lot of gas. Iraq currently holds the second largest oil reserves and when its industry and resources are properly developed will surpass Saudi Arabia. For the US to relinquish control of such a strategic asset now in the midst of unprecedented international terrorism and national vunerability makes that proposal unlikely. Despite the rising death toll we will still probably arrogantly refuse to budge until Bush's numbers start to seriously fall or another conflict breaks out that requires calling up all the reserves. US troops are already grumbling and we still have no exit strategy. This can't go on forever with Bush merely asking Congress for ever-increasing funds for a failed mission. We can't go it alone no matter how powerful we are and we look foolish on the international scene with the conspicuous absence of any WMD proof or link of Saddam to 9/11. Simply waving a flag and invoking 9/11 memories won't last forever. The US is still vunerable, our missions in Afghanistan and Iraq are failures (no Osama, no Saddam, no WMDs, no restoration), Saudi Arabia is not our friend and seeking nukes now, Iran is right next door to our forces and has a nuclear weapons program, and the DPRK situation remains unresolved... not to mention the Mideast roadmap is in ruins. So when do you propose payback on France and Germany? And why? Shouldn't we be striking Syria, Iran, and the DPRK first? Shouldn't we find Osama and Saddam? And shouldn't we stop meddling in Israel, allow them to rid themselves of Yasser, and sit down with a real Palestinian PM candidate willing to disarm Hamas and accept reasonable terms with Israel that guarnatees them a state and Israel security? I think you have your priorities mixed up. Rob |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Tarver Engineering wrote:
"Pooh Bear" wrote in message ... Tarver Engineering wrote: "Peter Kemp" peter_n_kempathotmaildotcom wrote in message ... 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. If the UK public were to boycott French products like the American People have, the French People would riot. If the French really want to irritate the UK they just get their farmers / truck drivers / fishermen / ATC / whatever to go on strike. If you're not familiar with the effect, I'd be glad to explain further. Is ther an odor? I think I see where you're coming from. :-) Actually the main effect is to block main traffic routes to the European mainland.- whether they be by air , sea, or road ( via any means of crossing the Channel ) . I'm not sure if Eurotunnel operatives have done it too - in which case possibly by rail too. Sometimes being an island has its disadvantages. Graham |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
"Tarver Engineering" wrote in message
... If the UK public were to boycott French products like the American People have, the French People would riot. That's not likely to happen so long as the British public have a more grown-up attitude to politics than a class of first-graders. Si |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
"Tarver Engineering" wrote in message ...
"Peter Kemp" peter_n_kempathotmaildotcom wrote in message ... 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. If the UK public were to boycott French products like the American People have, the French People would riot. Interestingly enough the French usually reserve their riots for their own government and have a pretty good record of making their government change it's policy this way. Shades of the revolution and all that. Peter |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
"Tarver Engineering" wrote in message ... If the UK public were to boycott French products like the American People have, the French People would riot. I wish they would The price of champagne and decent cheese would drop even lower. Or do you prefer freedom fries and coke? -- William Black ------------------ On time, on budget, or works; Pick any two from three |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
"Peter McLelland" wrote in message om... "Tarver Engineering" wrote in message ... "Peter Kemp" peter_n_kempathotmaildotcom wrote in message ... 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. If the UK public were to boycott French products like the American People have, the French People would riot. Interestingly enough the French usually reserve their riots for their own government and have a pretty good record of making their government change it's policy this way. I wasn't thinking the anger of the French people would be directed at the UK. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
"William Black" wrote in message ... "Tarver Engineering" wrote in message ... If the UK public were to boycott French products like the American People have, the French People would riot. I wish they would The price of champagne and decent cheese would drop even lower. French wine is all from California vines and we can't buy French cheese. |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
|
#20
|
|||
|
|||
"Tarver Engineering" bellowed:
France seems intent on isolating herself from the civilized world. Oh the irony. Exquisite! Grantland |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Stupid Americans! -- Stupid... Stupid... STUPID!!! __________-+__ ihuvpe | Chris | Instrument Flight Rules | 43 | December 19th 04 09:40 PM |