David Re...However, he appears to be conflicted as to the upcoming war himself, if not about the war then about the methodology. I admit my hesitancy at moments.
The problem is the strength of Frances opposition,. France of course has opposed the US quite often before, so who would have thought France would actually go all the way with its opposition. From Time .
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030317/story.html
De Villepin's statements, which were echoed by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, may have been just as significant for the four-letter word they pointedly avoided: veto. France and Russia could veto the second resolution if Washington strong-arms enough yes votes out of the six countries sitting on the fence, but the U.S. believes France and Russia can be stared down. Russia, in particular, is under intense U.S. pressure to keep its veto in its pocket. U.S. diplomats are trying to peel Russia away and isolate Paris, daring the French to veto the U.S. resolution on their own. At a closed-doors lunch after Friday's meeting, Powell made an emotional last appeal for support, telling the other ministers that the U.S. would never have come to the U.N. to begin with if it were hell-bent on war. Powell appeared to be personally hurt by French intransigence; it was France, after all, who in October demanded that the U.S. return to the Security Council for a second resolution before going to war. Powell's speech may have softened the hearts of wavering member states: one U.N. ambassador at the lunch called Powell's speech "inspirational."
France said the US should go to the UN for a second resolution, and then torpedoed it. Thanks a lot France. We will return the favor. |
