March 10, 2003
FRANCE UPHOLDING ITS PRINCIPLES ON IRAQ:
The Skeptician: France's PositionFrance's position is, therefore, quite clear.
- Opposition to inspections
- Opposition to ending inspections
- Opposition to continuing inspections
- Categorical opposition to military option
- Clear support for military option
- Opposition to sanctions
- Need for a timetable
- Refusal of any deadline
- Opposition to any Iraqi noncompliance
- Permission of various types of Iraqi noncompliance
I wonder if this whole U.N. thing isn't an elaborate sideshow designed by the Bush administration to distract attention from the military buildup around Iraq. People can't organize pressure against Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait et alia if they're raptly watching the magician's hands move at the U.N. If so, France is the best audience participant a wily magician could hope for. Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 10, 2003 11:22 AM
This is the great question. Could we have gone earlier or is this how long it was going to take to build up our forces, UN or no UN? If we could have gone earlier, we should have. If we couldn't, then this has been brilliant.
Posted by: David Cohen at March 10, 2003 11:39 AMI think it does take this long. To move military equipment to Kuwait, you have to first ship over the cranes that will take the vehicles and equipment out of the cargo ships. It's a totally unindustrialized country. Turkey is a little better, but they've had political issues. And the military only has a few ships -- 2-3 weeks across, unload, 2-3 weeks back, reload, it takes a while. They're getting close now though -- only the northern front to shape up.
Posted by: pj at March 10, 2003 11:51 AMTurkey is what is delaying the tactical situation now. The 101st Airborne is only now just finishing relocating all their assault helicopters to Kuwait. When ready they can paradrop a whole brigade into northern Iraq without any help from Turkey.
Posted by: Gideon at March 10, 2003 12:46 PM