kmcguffee 0 #1 August 15, 2003 I think the French are determined to sour relations even more with the UK and the US. They are throwing tantrums like a two year old that no one wants to play with. QuoteFrench hurdle in Lockerbie deal France wants compensation similar to that for the Lockerbie bombing France has indicated it will push for a settlement with Libya to equal that awarded to victims of the Lockerbie bombing this week. A French UTA airliner was blown up over Niger in 1989 with the loss of 170 lives. The compensation demand could mean Paris using its veto at the UN Security Council to stop the expected lifting of sanctions on Libya. US officials were quoted as saying on Thursday that Washington is furious with the French stance given that Paris had earlier reached a deal with Tripoli. COMPENSATION Lockerbie bombing: $2.7bn payout, formal confession of guilt expected Niger bombing: $34.3m paid and no admission of guilt Under that deal, 1,000 parties received compensation of between 3,000 and 30,000 euros each - a tiny fraction of the $2.7bn (£1.7bn) agreed this week for Lockerbie families. "We are determined to have the same equitable issue with this UTA aeroplane which has been bombed by the Libyans as the British and the Americans have reached with the Lockerbie case," Jacques Myard, an MP from French President Jacques Chirac's party, told the BBC on Thursday. "We are not going to accept, let's say, a different solution on both cases." Mr Myard added that talks were under way with Libya. Powell calls US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, phoned the French Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, on Wednesday in a call said to have centred on the Lockerbie attack, in which almost all the victims were Americans. This is nothing but sour grapes US official No details were available but US officials privately told reporters in Washington that there was little sympathy for the French case at the UN. Britain is expected to shortly submit a resolution to the Security Council calling for an end to sanctions on Libya. "Essentially they are protesting as unfair their [own] deal," one US official told Reuters news agency. "This is nothing but sour grapes," another told France's own AFP agency. "We're getting a better deal and they're upset." In France, the government is under pressure to push for greater compensation, correspondents say. "If there is a vote... we ask that France use its veto as long as we have not obtained full satisfaction," said Francoise Rudetzki, president of SOS-Attentats which represents families of the UTA victims. France's foreign ministry said last week it would not "waver" in its pursuit of equal compensation. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #2 August 15, 2003 Just further proof that France has no world influence and is trying to weild power through its role in the UN. The US isn't going to veto because we aren't lifting our sanctions and could care less what others do. Our sanctions have plenty of ramifications for Libya. However, France putting sanctions on them wouldn't be an issue. Very ironic that France wouldn't let us fly our bombers over their airspace when we attacked Libya but don't want to lift sanctions now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #3 August 15, 2003 France should know those will be 'heated' debates.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #4 August 15, 2003 Do the French really threaten anything besides the world's sense of smell? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #5 August 15, 2003 The Frenchies produce some cool people and some damned good engineering work, but sometimes they flabergast me. To my knowledge, they didn't put a damned bit of diplomatic effort into this Lockerbie deal and now they want $$?? WTFO? Now if they had been helping the entire time and put forth ANY EFFORT, perhaps. If they have done so, I haven't read about it. Screw them. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #6 August 15, 2003 QuoteScrew them.Ok... QuoteThe Frenchies produce some cool peopleexcept for the cool ones though right?... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #7 August 15, 2003 Quoteexcept for the cool ones though right? No.....except the ugly and or smelly ones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #8 August 15, 2003 So, France settles a deal, of their own making, then indicates they are going to reneg. Now, I'm no fan of Libya by any stretch, but I wouldn't be surprised if they told France to go pound sand. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/292565.stm The settlement for UTA flight 772 was closer to $5B. Ever weirder is that Libya and France are traditionally cordial to each other and despite some issues highlighted on the BBC article, as noted here: http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/990414/1999041424.html This is the legacy of French colonialism all over the region, and the world for that matter, whether from Cote d'Ivoire to Indo-China.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #9 August 15, 2003 Except fo the cool ones....screw them! Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phlip 0 #10 August 15, 2003 Just for the point : UN is here BECAUSE we are all different, have different backgrounds and different thoughts on things. UN is here BECAUSE eventhough we are different we share common interests. I am sick of those Frenchs who complain all the time and think they're better than everyone else and I am sick of those Americans who complain all the time and think they're better then everyone else. This is because we are different that there is a balance in the world. If we were all the same and I had to choose, I will have a hard time to pick between the skinny-ass-smelly-complaining-whothinktheyhavethebestculture French and the fat-ass-arogant-whothinksFrancehasnomicrowaves American. Flip ---I feel better thank you--- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phlip 0 #11 August 15, 2003 UN veto history - USSR/Russia: 120 vetoes. Only two vetoes since the collapse of the Soviet Union - US: 76 vetoes. Blocked 35 resolutions criticising Israel. - UK: 32 vetoes, 23 times with the US. All solo UK vetoes on Zimbabwe - France: 18 vetoes, 13 with the US and UK - China: 5 vetoes maths 101: 76>18 Flip Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #12 August 15, 2003 QuoteVery ironic that France wouldn't let us fly our bombers over their airspace when we attacked Libya but don't want to lift sanctions now. No different than when we saved them in ww2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #13 August 15, 2003 QuoteNo different than when we saved them in ww2 They wouldn't let us fly our bombers over France in WWII??? I don't get the connection. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #14 August 15, 2003 Quoteeventhough we are different we share common interests. I hate to break it to you, but the only common interest shared amongst the nations of the world is self-interest. The French are self-interested. The Americans are self-interested. Pragmatism. It's not just a way of thinking, it's a way of life. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phlip 0 #15 August 15, 2003 Yes I know... but in order to make money, Mc Donald's need to have restaurants in France too. We need eachother. Can you imagine: without the French there would be no more French Fries with your happymeal! How sad... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #16 August 15, 2003 Quotewithout the French there would be no more French Fries with your happymeal! How sad... No more overly priced mediocre to poor wine...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #17 August 15, 2003 I think France should put more effort into helping their citizens deal with the heat wave instead of letting them die in their homes. How many have died in France due to the heat? 3,000? How many died on that plane? Keep it in perspective France. Your people need you to focus on the real problems. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #18 August 15, 2003 QuoteI think France should put more effort into helping their citizens deal with the heat wave instead of letting them die in their homes. Yeah....they should have thought about keeping the Germans out of Paris as well...but ya know....they had other issues to deal with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #19 August 15, 2003 Witht he heat they've had in France this summer, expect the 2003 French wine season to be one of the all time greats! I'll bet the Italian wines, and even some of the German wines will also be fantastic. Just a couple more years... My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #20 August 15, 2003 >The Frenchies produce some cool people and some damned good engineering work . . . How do Europeans define heaven and hell? In heaven, the French are the cooks, the Germans are the engineers, and the British are the cops. In hell, the French are the engineers, the Germans are the cops, and the British are the cooks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #21 August 15, 2003 Quotethe French are the engineers, They get lucky now and again. Just ask the British about Super Etendard planes and Avocet missles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #22 August 15, 2003 QuoteHow do Europeans define heaven and hell? In heaven, the French are the cooks, the Germans are the engineers, and the British are the cops. In hell, the French are the engineers, the Germans are the cops, and the British are the cooks. I like it, thanks Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmcguffee 0 #23 August 16, 2003 QuoteUN veto history - USSR/Russia: 120 vetoes. Only two vetoes since the collapse of the Soviet Union - US: 76 vetoes. Blocked 35 resolutions criticising Israel. - UK: 32 vetoes, 23 times with the US. All solo UK vetoes on Zimbabwe - France: 18 vetoes, 13 with the US and UK - China: 5 vetoes maths 101: 76>18 The issue isn't the number of vetoes. The issue is them crying like my four year old when his brother gets more candy at Halloween. Maybe it is just a cry for attention. Should we sit down and play with them a little more? Maybe we could institute family (NATO) game night where no TV is allowed and everybody pays a lot of attention to France. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
