Is France Shifting it’s Stance on the Iraq War?
According to this acticle from iht.com, France may be shifting it’s stance on the Iraq war. Now with president Nicolas Sarkozy replacing Jacques Chirac it seems as though France is more willing to take an active role. Not militarily but possibly diplomatically. Jacques Chirac’s policy was to oppose the United States at every opportunity, now the new president seems to be more willing to work with us.
After years of shunning involvement in a war it said was wrong, France now believes it may hold the key to peace in Iraq, proposing itself as an “honest broker” between the Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish factions.
The shift was one of the most concrete consequences yet of the thaw in French-American relations following the election in May of President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose administration no longer feels bound by the adamant refusal to take a role in Iraq that characterized the reign of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
Perhaps Sarkozy understands the threat in his country better than his predecessor did. The recent disaffected youth riots should have taught France a lesson. The media called them disaffected youths but in reality they were Muslims who were rioting.
“This is about having an opinion and knowing what positive things one can do and what role France can play in this region,” he said, adding that Iraq was “expecting something” from France.
The United States broadly welcomed Kouchner’s visit to Baghdad this week, saying it was evidence that the world was increasingly intent on bringing stability to Iraq. British and German diplomats also hailed greater French involvement in the country.
A senior official close to Kouchner explained that the French sought a role in political mediation in Iraq, and had no intention to enter the military conflict.
Now that France has a president that wasn’t in bed with Saddam, they will be able to start to work with us. This is positive news from a country that has opposed us during this time. Maybe it is time for me to give France another chance.
America's Watchtower 
So obvious that you have never been to France. You should try to understand something a bit more realistically before publishing. France hasn’t changed anything but its president. I am glad, Sarko is and always has been more open. The French people aren’t as repugnant as American media has portrayed them. (Same as the Americans not being as idiotic as the French media leads to believe.)
If you understand a bit about France’s history, you won’t connect such events as the CPE student protests, because they REALLY have nothing NOTHING to do with Iraq. In France it’s fashionable to protest, and who digs fashion more than teens? Plus they got to skip school !
I believe France and the US are on their way to a better understanding, but we can all help out by LISTENING a bit more than coming to obtuse conclusions.
LikeLike
First:
You said France hasn’t changed anything but its president. If the people voted for a candidate that supports the USA then yes, the France people must have shifted positions, why else would the vote for Nicolas Sarkozy if his position is different from Chirac?
Second:
I wasn’t making the connection between the Irag war and the recent riots. I was merely trying to illustrate that France faces a threat by Muslims who have moved into their country and are unwilling to accept France’s culture.
I agree with you that France and the US appear to be on the road to better understanding, and that has to be a good thing.
LikeLike
OK so I was grumpy an on a please stop bashing France day. I hate it just as much when the French bash American. (Whuch is happening less, I admit).
As far as France changing its president is concerned, the voting system here is so screwy that you can make too much out of that either.
The French people, just as Americans have many differing opinions, and it isn’t always parallel to what the media (suprise !) would like us to believe.
There is strong support for Nicolas Sarkozy, as there is strong opposition. He is a president that createds controversy. He scares some people and gives hope to others.
There is, however, a strong undercurrent of support for his direction regarding Iraq. For the moment. But we can’t read into that and say the French have changed their position on the war. The minister who was sent to Iraq is also the founder of Doctors without Borders. I believe France will take a role in Iraq of trying to put some pieces together. France does not support the war, but I believe we will begin to see it supporting the Iraqi people.
The riots in France had nothing to do with Islam either, but that’s a whole other can of worms…
LikeLike