France Threatens Military Action Against Syria over Lebanon

[ECH1969]

France has reportedly warned the Assad regime against playing procrastination games to sabotage the process of change in Lebanon, saying "otherwise, all doors will be flung open for all eventualities against Syria," including military action. The London-based Asharq Al Awsat on Saturday quoted a French official as saying the report of the U.N. fact-finding mission on ex-Premier Hariri's assassination "is the message we wanted to address to Syria to refrain from preventing the change in Lebanon."

The newspaper quoted the French official as saying in a harsh language that reflects a French ultimatum: "France has long resisted calls for directly attacking Syria. So do not push us into a situation where we have to change our stance."

"If the Syrians fail to understand this or if they try to manipulate and procrastinate, they will lose their last chance" the French official said, according to the Saudi-owned newspaper.

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/Newsdesk.nsf/Story/CCA1B20FF465EB02C2256FD0003A070F?OpenDocument&PRINT

[acmavm]

1. Oh no, now France has the war bug. And who will suffer the most? The

civilians who have nothing to do with the government or who's in power.

Oh hell, maybe it's become the thing to do. Bomb everybody, be fashionable.

[bemildred]

2. I guess Dien Bien Phu was too long ago to remember now. nt

[HereSince1628]

3. And their war with Algiers

France has historic interests in the Lebanon and Syria.

[bemildred]

4. Yeah, I know the colonial history somewhat.

But the Syrians have a "historical interest" in Syria too.
It is hard for me to see how a French intervention in Syria
could come out well.

I suspect that Chirac is just playing "Jingo Bells" on his kazoo
right not for political reasons,

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. LOL..can you see it now?

" I knew Charles De Gaulle, and you, sir, are no Charles De Gaulle!"

[bemildred]

7. No, he sure is not.

"Life is like good oatmeal, it has lumps in it."
:hi:

[Frederik]

6. Weird

Did he strike some kind of deal with Shrub during his visit to Europe?

[Wright Patman]

8. It seems to me France

is not threatening military action of its own. It's just saying it will not vehemently object to U.S. action, as it did before the Iraq war.

It appears to me that all but about four or five countries on this planet now have sense enough not to waste their scarce economic resources on perpetual wars or war-planning.

[Javaman]

9. It's no longer freedom fries, we're back to French fries, okay?

Just making sure everyone got the memo.

US minus France against Iraq = bad

US plus France against Syria = good

So it's a love/hate thing we have going on, okay, just trying to get it straight for my soap opera script.

[NNN0LHI]

10. What about all those soldiers France has occupying Ivory Coast?

Oh, thats right. They have to protect their chocolate industry. The phony SOB's. Freedom fries anyone?

Don

[Leafy Geneva]

13. Exactly !

And let's not forget that France participated in the criminal overthrow of the democratically elected President Aristide of Haiti.

[Flagg]

11. AMENEZ LES !!!!!!!!!! (bring 'em on).

LOL

[seriousstan]

12. France Threatens Military Action?

Stop, PLEASE, my ribs are hurting.

[kokofitz]

14. What? Did Syria raise the wine tariff?