U.S. Asks Allies for Iraq Occupation Help (France and Germany)

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030821/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_security&cid=542&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell is considering ways to bring more allies — including Iraq war opponents France and Germany — into the U.S.-dominated force now securing Iraq. One option is a U.N. Security Council resolution.

Powell was going to New York on Thursday to continue discussions with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.

Among the foreign ministers contacted by Powell this week were Jack Straw of Britain, Dominique de Villepin of France, Joschka Fischer of Germany and Franco Frattini of Italy.

A new resolution was one possibility, and Powell discussed that prospect with Annan and the foreign ministers, said the senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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[ixion]

1. that's funny

after all the French and German bashing the freepers have done.

[Larkspur]

2. Powell is being setup to get stabbed in the back by Cheney & Rummy

If this is Powell's initiative, it most likely will fail. France and Russia will want some tabs on Iraq's oil and Cheney & Haliburton don't want to share.

[Spentastic]

3. I Hope they tell him

to get bent.

[RedEarth]

4. I wonder how much this will cost the US taxpayers....

As I recall, the US is paying Poland $200,000,000 for them to send 2500 troops to Iraq. One billon dollars per week doesn't come close to what we have been spending or will be spending in the coming months or years. Our occupation of Iraq is not only costing American lifes but it is bankrupting our country....financially and morally.

We need to impeach bu..!!!!!!!

[indepat]

11. Are there even three Repubicans in the House of Repreentatives who

would vote to impeach, no matter how compelling a case for high crimes and misdemeanors might be made?

[cmd]

5. Turn the entire thing over to the UN now!

Get somebody in there that has some credibility in the world. God knows that is not the US. Someone has to pick up the pieces, but we should have to pay the bills. I'm so ashamed of this mess.

footnote: When I say WE, I really would like it to be all those idiots who rushed into this mess. Like most of you, I was standing out in the cold on Feb. 15. However, I know I have responsibilites as a citizen of the country to clean up the messes we leave behind. Damn!

[imax2268]

6. That's embarrassing...

First the Repukes scream..."Boycott France and Germany"...now BushCo want's their help...

It's like...hey...you are an asshole for not helping us...but...could you help us now...?

[Kellanved]

7. I'll try to sum up the current German position

1. The last attempt to get the UN in was seen as a final chance. As the US stopped that notion the "Afghanistan first" position has become official.

2. The Terrorist attack led to a new position: German and French soldiers might guard the UN and NGOs in Iraq - but will take no part in the occupation/peacekeeping efforts.

3. Medevac jets and hospital ships might be stationed in/near Iraq.

4. The superior military propaganda department might start to produce an Arab-language newspaper for Iraq (*rumor*). The Department had some huge successes with similar projects in Kosovo and Kabul.


Theory:
In the case that somehow the NATO (or the UN) gets in:
German military is maxed out - even if the Government and the Parliament would decide to support a participation the maximal number of troops would end up around 10000. And an extended role in Afghanistan is far more likely to pass those hurdles.

Special Forces and mobile Hospitals (ship and jet based) are the most likely form of participation in Iraq; no pull-out of US/UK forces will be accepted.

Germans are very unhappy with any role in an occupation; should it become impossible to sell it as a peacekeeping mission it will become politically impossible to participate in any way.

[NNN0LHI]

9. Thank you for this information. n/t

[Eloriel]

8. What, the message to the UN this time is

"Pony up with a new Resolution or we'll kill more of your people"?

I just can't imagine what other line of argument they can use.

I hate these people.

Eloriel

[ninkasi]

10. Would these be the same German and French...

who pPres Stupid was so childishly trying to punish for daring to question his insane point of view? The same countries which were demonized, ridiculed, and subjected to the right wing-nut's scorn?

These wingers are completely, without question, the most insane, vicious, destructive bunch of bullies and cowards I've ever seen.

[SidDithers]

12. What about the "Coalition of the Willing"?

From the BBC back on March 18, 2003
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm

The list was:
Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

Not much is now being made of the farce that the Coalition truly was.

Sid

[RedEarth]

13. Good point....

Some have referred to these countries as the "Coalition of the Unusual". With the exception of the UK, I would almost guarantee each of the other countries were given something(money, foreign aid, debt relief...) to join the coalition. They were the best we could buy.....pathetic.