Author Topic: Will the French Veto? (Read 682 times)

Hangtime · « **on:** February 05, 2003, 11:14:06 PM »

My prediction?

No.

Why?

Oil and Money.

If they don't kick in and help when push comes to shove in Iraq, when it's over the lease deals they got goin on the Southern Basra Oil fields will dissapear with the old regime. France stands to lose a heluva lot more financially by supporting Hussein and getting frozen out after he's gone than they do by backing our play and thereby earning a place at the table when the shooting stops.

No tickee, no takee.

This afternnon, their aircraft carrier set sail for the eastern Med, and they put their troops on alert.

Ain't THAT interesting.

Toad · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2003, 11:24:03 PM »

Europeans Strive to Tighten Trade Ties with Iraq

Written Sept/02

Quote

Last year, France ranked No. 1 among European countries doing business with Iraq, with $1.5 billion in trade, followed by Italy, with $1 billion. Among the countries that trade with Iraq under the oil-for-food program, France ranked third, with $3.1 billion in trade since the program's start 1996. French trade under the program was surpassed only by Russia, with $4.3 billion, and Egypt, according to United Nations diplomats.

The French oil giant TotalFinaElf has the largest position in Iraq, with exclusive negotiating rights to develop Majnoon, a field on the Iranian border with estimated reserves of 10 billion barrels, and Bin Umar, with an estimated production potential of 440,000 barrels a day, according to oil industry executives.

The biggest deals after that were expected to go to ENI of Italy, to develop the Nassiriyah field at a cost of $1.9 billion. Moscow has a $3.5 billion, 23-year agreement with Baghdad to rehabilitate several Iraqi fields that would vastly benefit a Russian oil consortium led by LukOil, they said.

Hangtime · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2003, 11:31:16 PM »

Whelp.. the Italians hopped on board earlier this week.. and I suspect the Rooski's like the French will hem and haw for a few more days; then hop on board just like everybody else. Wouldn't do fer the froggies or the Ivans to be too damn quick to back our play.. don't play well in the circle of home opinion to be too quick to play ball with the americans. But back our play they will... or they'll not get any of the pie when it's over.

Muahahhahhaaa.. just grab 'em by the proverbial balls and their hearts and minds do follow.

Udie · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2003, 11:42:25 PM »

at this point they shouldn't even be invited. diddly em. They'd rather support a dictator than help free the Iraqi people. Feed em fish eggs.

Nash · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2003, 11:48:51 PM »

I highly doubt it.

They know the US is going in despite any veto they pull, and they're going to want a say in a post-war Iraq. Additionally, if the US invades without UN approval (which it would), it weakens the UN immensly and ultimately negates this special status France has as veto power. Then France, on the world stage, becomes.... what?

As much as I like thoughtful deliberation about the upcoming war, France is acting purely out of self interest imho... and it's also this self interest which will finally put them on the side of war.

mietla · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2003, 11:57:12 PM »

French wouldn't want to offend anyone. They just want to do what they do best.

UserName · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2003, 12:23:09 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Udie
at this point they shouldn't even be invited. diddly em. They'd rather support a dictator than help free the Iraqi people. Feed em fish eggs.

Awwww, isn't that nice.

You actually believe you're going in there to "free the Iraqi people."

Hangtime · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2003, 01:03:38 AM »

No, hell no. We're goin in there to do a lil self righteous indignant pissed off bellybutton kickin, change a regime, divvy up the spoils of pissin us off, stablize the region at the points of a toejam storm of sub launched tomahawks...

..and then we're gonna re-deploy to the pacific.

Moloch · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2003, 01:42:22 AM »

LOL... doesn't matter... This is Bush SR's war.. everything else is an excuse

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2003, 01:47:36 AM »

LOL mietla

That is so true!

Gh0stFT · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2003, 01:49:07 AM »

heh right Moloch, i still wondering why the US even care what French or Germany
is doing, at the end they will attack Iraq with the UN or without.
Happy war!

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2003, 08:13:10 AM »

Ive always found the French to be an arrogant people with not much to be arrogant about.

They also need a history lesson.

They will not veto.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2003, 08:19:29 AM »

French Gov't:

Dowding · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2003, 08:31:38 AM »

Saurdaukar - how many times have you been to France? I like both it and the French. They don't have bulllovely laws or HSE departments, and you don't get sued for stepping on someone's toes unlike the US and the UK. I've made some good friends there.

Their countryside is beautiful, their weather excellent and their wine probably the best in the world. Sure there are some arrogant fools, but you'll find that anywhere in the world.

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2003, 08:41:46 AM »

My comment describes most of the people of France (read - not all) - not the country itself. Quite frankly, Ive never seen such a beautiful country - and although not much of a wine drinker - I agree that French wine is generally considered the best by those in the know.