on the need for more participation in security.
Peace can never be taken for granted, and the first responsibility of any government is security. That is why France wishes to contribute to a political structuring of the world that averts perils. It wishes to help in the exercise of shared responsibility within the framework of strong, legitimate and accepted international institutions, particularly through reforms of the UN and the security council. It is working to build a political Europe capable of meeting its international responsibilities in the service of peace.
Good idea, Jacques.
The threat of generalised war in Europe has disappeared
Uh . . .
The Europeans have relied on their American allies for too long. They have to shoulder their share of the burden by making a national defence effort commensurate with their ambitions for Nato and also for the EU. This is a mark of the solidarity which links the two sides of the Atlantic. This is what France, one of the leading contributors to the alliance, is doing through its Military Estimates Act. The aim is to ensure the ongoing modernisation of its strategic force – in compliance with the principle of strict sufficiency – as well as the equipment, rapid-response capability and deployability of French conventional forces.
Okay, sounds good. Can’t wait for the peace dividends.
Adapting the alliance also means enabling it to work smoothly and on an equal footing with other international organisations whose mission, sphere of competence and means are clearly established, without needless duplication.*
Adapting means providing a political framework. France welcomes in this regard the adoption of a global political directive which sets out the transformation for the next 10 to 15 years.**
*so, for instance, all Joint-Strike fighter planes will be built in France
**after which, it is hoped, everyone will think as though they’re French!
The same goes for operations the alliance is engaged in to further international peace and security. In Afghanistan, France has been present since 2001 and currently commands the Kabul region. To bring about the conditions for success, we must act in the framework of a comprehensive strategy, a reaffirmed political and economic process. The establishment of a contact group encompassing countries in the region, the principal countries involved and international organisations along the lines of what exists in Kosovo is, I think, necessary to give our forces the means to succeed in their mission in support of the Afghan authorities, and refocus the alliance on military operations.
We want to get out of Afghanistan.
Adapting means strengthening Nato’s capacity for joint action with other powers. But these expanded consultations in individual situations must not distract us from Nato’s central mission. Such dialogue must remain focused on situations that may require military intervention by the alliance and its partners. The UN must remain the sole political forum with universal authority.
And the will to act.
Adapting, lastly, means taking into account the new reality of the EU, most of whose members also belong to Nato. European defence has made greater progress since the St Malo summit than in the past 50 years. I am pleased that the Europeans are beginning to go for joint equipment such as the A400M and Tiger attack helicopter and that we are working with Britain on a joint aircraft-carrier project. There is progress in the pooling of our assets, particularly strategic transport and officer training. We must now think of giving a permanent dimension to our collective command and operations instruments through the Operations Centre set up in the EU.
This development is necessary because the EU’s involvement in peace support is growing. A stronger European defence, more effective and more certain of its assets, enhances alliance capability as a whole and contributes to global equilibrium. We are seeing European defence and Nato complementing each other to the benefit of both. Where Europe is better placed to act for geographical or historical reasons, or because of the nature of the action, the EU is taking on its share of the responsibilities as it should
Ah, so that’s what it is . . .
It is right that the EU should play a major role in the western Balkans, to which it has offered the prospect of membership. The EU also took over from Nato in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In Kosovo, it is preparing – as an initial step – to send a police mission that will constitute a key component in the international presence at a critical period, when the future of the province is at stake. In Lebanon, the Europeans, at the UN’s request, are the backbone of the new Unifil.
And a fine job they’re doing, I’m sure.
This development calls for a more substantive political and strategic dialogue between the US and the EU following on from the February 2005 Brussels summit. It probably also implies closer relations between Nato and the EU. France is naturally ready for this but wishes the EU’s voice to be heard within the alliance. That implies in particular the possibility of EU members consulting between themselves within the alliance. Such a development will contribute to an ever-stronger and mutually supportive alliance in which North American and European allies will be able to formulate their objectives together and continue to work, side by side, for international peace and security in accordance with the principles and objectives of the UN charter.
And France, naturally, is the leading force in the UN.
France? You got to be kidding me….
Unifil? You got to be kidding me….
So the cheese eaters, in line with their sneaky little deal to implant the U.N. as the ‘new world order’ and further the failed multiculti philosophy… Sounds like a winning plan to me (d’oh!).
Maybe if the French truely desired to foster more ‘peace’ internationally, they might consider cessation of selling Iran nuclear technology…And backing sanctions against them…
I can just see the fruit of a French plan to be the majordomo of the world peace plan…
They’ll probably unmothball the Maginot Line…
Because it was so effective, and all…..
TW: front66, code word for the ‘new’ maginot line, capable of surrendering on 66 fronts at the same time!
I would like the french to step up and shoulder some responsibility.
I remain uncomforted.
I would like France to quit propping up that twatwaffle Amhenididididididid<THWAK!>idjihad, then whining about what that frootloop does with the crap they sold him.
I can dream, can’t I?
Oh, he’s probably just pissed that Paul Kagame of Rwanda kicked France out of his country this weekend. The French are abject cowards who only likes to kill the defenseless black and brown people in their former colonies. They’d grab their ankles for an Islamist.
The pigs.
No, ahem. You have to practice a little more at interpreting the French dialect of Eurospeak.
What Chirac said was, “European nations need bigger military forces, which France will naturally lead, and other nations will pay for. The best way to organize them is for NATO members to make side agreements, then present them to SACEUR for rubberstamping as ‘NATO initiatives’.”
There was only one Richelieu. Unfortunately the wannabees are legion.
Regards,
Ric
To do all that the Euros are going to need:
1. Lift (they don’t have any).
2. A willingness to get shot at. Apart from the Brits and the small allies–they don’t want to do that (see, Kabul, German Army confined thereto).
3. Money. Heh.
4. A willingness to recognize threats before they, to use a historical example, invade Poland.
The correct spelling is “Ahmanishitajihadi.”
Cut the guy some slack…. the Israeli overflights of the French positions in Lebanon are very worrisome. Surrendering on the ground to Hezbollah is one thing, but surrendering to an F-16 on a flyover is unseemly even for the French.
And as Chirac spoke, 25 more cars went up in flames. Good luck with that Jacques. Oh yeah, and with all the corruption charges once your withered ass leaves office.
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Reading that from the British perspective, I would translate it as follows:
You must buy our aircraft, not American ones.
You must buy our helicopters, not American ones.
You must allow us to posture as a credible military force even if we send less than 2 rifle companies to keep the peace in our former colony and creation, Lebanon.
We are ok with being in Afghanistan so long as we don’t have to fight.
We are the alternative political and moral voice in the world against the horrid Anglo Saxons.
Please buy our aircraft not American ones.
French films are better than American films, which is why everyone watches them.
Hmmm.
1.
I prefer to remember it as:
Ahem-in-a-dinna-jacket
2. So. Chirac is now saying America can leave Europe?
Well well well. I’m in favor of this.
To which the answer must ever be, you and what army, M. Chirac?
To which the usual answer is, “Moi et la legion etrangere”, oddly enough.
By the way, the spelling “Chirac” is too French. I will hereafter spell it as “Shrack.”
– So he’s been forced to the fall back position of shilling for his aerospace buds, now that the Food for Oil scam has been deep sixed, and he’s lost Hussein as a customer. I can’t wait for a few years down the road, when Fwance is forced to come running to the US for a show of friendship, and renewed foreign aid for our “friend” and ally, pointing out that “…Just because we’ve come under Sharia’ law, is no reason for our American friends to turn their backs on us…” unquote…..Or more concisely:
“Vous pouvez toujours dépendre de la fidélité française quand ils ont besoin de quelque chose.”
Europe is giving up on the future. Civilizational fatigue has reached the point of no return there. Look at the cartoon of Chirac.
Jacques Chirac, a friend indeed! This fellow was
a fine friend of Saddam Hussein, when he accepted
those Oil Vouchers in exchange for the OSIRIS Nuke
Reactor south of Bagdad in 1975. Fortunately, the Israeli Jets fried it in 1981 just before it went
‘On Line’. We can’t imagine why the Jews did that!
Now our friend Jacques says that “Iran may prove to be the stabilizing force in the Middle East”.
Next he will demand a Braided Islamic Prayer Rug Exclusive for all EU be awarded to LaFrance Mills!
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