Syria crisis: France is no longer shoulder-to-shoulder with US

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Independent

Syria crisis: France is no longer shoulder-to-shoulder with US

‘Cheese-eating surrender monkeys’ again risk American wrath as François Hollande steps back from air strikes

John Lichfield
Thursday 29 August 2013

François Hollande – who has to date found himself in the unusual position for a French president of being the staunchest backer of proposed American military action – appeared today to back away from immediate air strikes against Syria by talking of the importance of a “political solution” to the crisis.

After a meeting at the Elysée Palace with Ahmad al-Jarba, the leader of the Western-backed opposition group Syrian National Coalition, Mr Hollande also warned that peace would be impossible if the international community failed to “put an end” to “the escalation of violence” such as last week’s alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in a Damascus suburb.

Overall, however, Mr Hollande’s remarks were more cautious than his previous statement on Tuesday when he said that France was “ready to punish those who took the iniquitous decision to gas innocent people”. It appears that the President has been obliged to touch the brake to stay in line with hesitations in the United States and with the parliamentary procedure started in the UK.

“Everything must be done to find a political solution but it will not arrive unless the Coalition is capable of acting as an alternative (government),” he said. “We will not get there unless the international community puts an end to this escalation of violence of which this chemical massacre is only one example.”


Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/syria-crisis-france-is-no-longer-shouldertoshoulder-with-us-8790541.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Wow, this Syrian intervention is in danger of turning into a nothing-burger.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Good to hear he's put his brain in gear,

.

[pampango]

3. Good. Take a step back. Take a deep breath and wait for the UN. You'll be glad you did. n/t

[yoloisalie]

4. Still not convinced

appeared today to back away from immediate air strikes against Syria by talking of the importance of a “political solution” to the crisis.

He appears to back away could be a way to trick the French people into believing he is mulling over the decision. Remember how they went into Libyan war just to disable the govt's capability of attacking the people? before it turned into an around the clock Rebel air force.

I will believe it when it doesn't happen.

[leveymg]

5. ^This one^

[David__77]

6. Yeah I don't believe it either.

These warmaniacs will do as they will. The hope is to make it as costly to them as possible. They are maniacs, sure, but they still engage in some form of cost benefit analysis. Let's hope that the decision is not taken lightly, and their are significant consequences to the wrong decision.

[AllTooEasy]

7. What EXACTLY is the Political Solution?

I keep hearing calls for this thing, but no details what-so-ever. If one isn't made quickly WITH EXACT DETAILS, then the war solution with all of its battlefield details from the Joint Chiefs with be executed.

Let's get off the ball people! A Desire without a Plan is a Wish. Develope a measurable, step-by-step, accountable peaceful solution that Assad and the Rebels with embrace or the war option is going to be the only one left!

...and ofcourse the optioin of putting one's head in the sand.

[daleo]

8. What exactly is the war solution?

We tried the war solution in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. I wouldn't exactly call those successes.

[BillyRibs]

10. Your Mistaken,

You weren't told the real reason we got involved in the first place. They were a complete success, none of the countries involved in the Arab spring or any country we invaded will step away from the petro dollar. The bankers won.

[silvershadow]

9. I don't know, but if there is one it will come from within- if I have learned nothing else, I have

learned that we aren't very good at going in and imposing our will. And we aren't very good at assessing the situation on the ground, either. If we are going to be "liberators" or some such, we've got to start by being realistic. jmho.