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Leader of Chirac's party calls Blair a hero.
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
TONY BLAIR was hailed a hero for his war leadership yesterday by the French.
Top newspapers in Paris made an astonishing U-turn and saluted his “determination and courage.”
After months of anti-war protests, they admitted their president Jacques Chirac was WRONG to oppose the action.
The humiliating rebuff for the president came as Mr Blair turned down an invite to talks with the war-wobbler in Russia today.
French politicians fear Chirac — dubbed “Le Worm” — could even be toppled after his bad call over the war. They say he faces an uphill struggle to put their country back on the world map.
MP Jacques Barrot, leader of the president’s ruling UMP party, said: “He must face up to the fact that the courage of British and American forces has ended Saddam Hussein’s regime.”
While French commentators turned on their leader, they also heaped praise on Britain and Mr Blair.
Top newspapers in Paris made an astonishing U-turn and saluted his “determination and courage.”
After months of anti-war protests, they admitted their president Jacques Chirac was WRONG to oppose the action.
The humiliating rebuff for the president came as Mr Blair turned down an invite to talks with the war-wobbler in Russia today.
French politicians fear Chirac — dubbed “Le Worm” — could even be toppled after his bad call over the war. They say he faces an uphill struggle to put their country back on the world map.
MP Jacques Barrot, leader of the president’s ruling UMP party, said: “He must face up to the fact that the courage of British and American forces has ended Saddam Hussein’s regime.”
While French commentators turned on their leader, they also heaped praise on Britain and Mr Blair.
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Comments
An English PM of France. That would be novel!
But I thought he was going to be the first European President Clandestine?
On an unrelated point is it just me that's noticed that it only seems to be Tories who praise Blair now? Does anyone actually know why Blair joined the Labour Party, he doesn't seem to possess any socialist characteristics!
Rant over!
I agree with what you said about Blair in the Labour party. I believe him when he said to the House of Commons: "what drives me to war is fear..."(of an event much worst than 911).
So maybe protecting the country isn't a liberal or conservative thing...but just the right thing. *smirk*
I appreciate how you guys don't wing out on me...too much.:p
LOL
Have you been paying any attention at all during the last few months?
And there is no way France or Germany would of surrendered control of the EU to any Brittish government minister for that dual presidency bull that they proposed.
[EDIT: For Naughty Language
Iraq debacle - the way the war on Iraq has damaged Britain's relations with Europe and split the country down the middle.
Blair doesn't belong in the Labour Party IMO. I think he'd be happier in the Conservatives - I know I would be happier if he was in the Conservatives! (As a Labour supporter). I think Blair is letting his religion interfere with politics, I think he genuinely believes that he is on some sort of mission to cure all the ills in the world - very admirable to be sure but I disapprove of sending British troops to sort out every little problem in the world, as I believe troops should only be used when our nation is at risk of attack by another country.
Protecting your country is always the right thing - but theres a difference between being defensive and offensive (aggressive). I'd only go to war when Britain was directly threatened which means in the last century I'd only have got involved with World War Two and maybe the Falklands but a diplomatic agreement could have been reached there. (But a diplomatic agreement wouldn't have led to a Conservative landslide in the 1983 general election - cynical moi?
I don't wing out at you PNJ, I see it as correcting you where your information is wrong and then engaging in a bit of a debate - all good fun!
I'm talking about the German proposals to have a directly elected EU President chosen by the citizens of Europe, Blair was believed to be one of the front runners for that before Iraq.
Yes I do believe Iraq was a debacle, certainly politically, it has split the government, the Labour Party and the country and badly damaged our relations with our EU partners.
Considering your position would you really have gone to war in WW2 at the stage we did, as Germany didn't attack us and wasn't even threatenting us and for much of the time wanted peace between us.
Maybe the Falklands - I'd say something but im flabbergasted lol
What would your position be if Spain try to forcefully take control of Gibraltar?
I think we'd have enough evidence of Hitler's aggression by September 1939 to know that diplomacy wouldn't work by his overturning of the appeasement platform. Before anyone makes the comparison with Saddam invading Iran and Kuwait diplomacy was working and Saddam had been successfully contained after the Gulf War in 1991.
I'd negociate with Spain. I don't especially see the point in all these bits of rock leftover from British Empire days, either integrate them fully into the UK or get rid of them.
A German research company concluded that Saddam would have a nuclear warhead capable of reaching Europe by 2004. Others believe he'd have had one this year.
There's no deals with the US regarding Iraqis oil. France and Russia may not get paid for their oil deals. That will be up to the new government of Iraq. That's why the Iraqi exiles and Kurds don't want the UN to have anything to do with creating a new government for Iraq. Saddam had already canceled Russia's deal.
You would ignore the 98%+ of the population that voted to stay Brittish?
Which is why you flood the country with inspectors as the French and Germans were proposing to do, no innocent people die and you keep tabs on Iraq - as Hans Blix said just as the UN was making progress with Iraq co-operating the Americans went to war.
Yes there are PNJ, the American government has taken it upon themselves to award contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq and the running of the oil wells which coincidentally enough have seen most contracts go to American firms - funny that. France and Russia will be paid, the oil will be pumped by American firms who will take their cut, then the French and Russians will take their cut and whatever's left will go to the Iraqis. France and Russia have to be paid because a nation defaulting on billions of dollars of debt would cause an international crisis in the financial world.
The Kurds don't want anything to do with creating a new Iraqi government full stop, they want an independent Kurdistan and so are not that bothered about whether Iraq stays together - in fact they'd prefer an independent Kurdistan over that option. The Iraqi exiles have been out of the country for decades and are lined up to get the plum jobs in the US created administration so obviously they don't want the UN to come in and mess that up with heaven forbid a government actually voted in by the Iraqi people!
I wouldn't want to endanger any lives of either Gibraltarians or British servicemen for the sake of having a Union Jack fly on the Rock. Personally I don't see the point of all these little leftovers of the British Empire we've got lying around - give them independence or let them join another country if they wish. I'd do what we did in Hong Kong, offer all those who wanted it British citizenship and a passage to Britain.
I understood it that we had taken Hong Kong and the leasing of Hong Kong was only negociated in 1984 by Mrs Thatcher to appease the Chinese who had always wanted it back and in 1984 it was always in the agreement that Hong Kong would be handed back in 1997 - I could be wrong there and am happy to admit I may be but that was my understanding. Doesn't take away from my other points though!
Yes that's true.
I quote from there
Looks like Kevlar was right
It was done a year before I was born though :P
Would be interesting to find out what those in Hong Kong wanted at that point in time, ie Chinese/Brittish nationality.
I take the view that if they are born in a 'leftover of the Brittish empire' then they are Brittish and should get all the benefits (where ever it is the weather has got to be better than here :P) and rights that are entailed, including defence - especially in Gibraltars case where they are passionately Brittish.
You're an '85 baby too!
Not the case, there were lots of calls for a diplomatic meeting to negociate a settlement - even the Americans and the UN were encouraging a settlement. But no Mrs Thatcher wouldn't have it and invaded the Falklands. The fact that it boosted her poll ratings hugely and led to her 1983 election landslide are purely coincidental I'm sure
That link is entirely coincidental :P
And what type of settlement do you negotiate when a hostile sovereign country invades?
You take your bird down the pub, a mate of yours punches you, takes your bird and has his way...
Exscuse me mate anyway we could have joint soveriegnty of my find lady friend?
Maybe you have here Monday,Wednesday,Friday,Sundays and I'll take the others? That sound fair?
Better to lose "respect and standing" than lives in my opinion.
You can't compare an island to a girl, you wouldn't end up killing anyone over a girl in most circumstances. If I was in that position I'd question a) what sort of mate he was taking my bird b) what kind of girlfriend would go off with my best mate and come to the conclusion she wasn't worth the trouble. Besides I'd come up with a better settlement than him having four days and me three