September 17, 2004
Still there to try and wreck your plans though
More from the spoilsport camp.
Speaking to reporters at the EU meeting, France's defense minister restated Paris' doubts about training Iraqis in Iraq.Posted by Carine at September 17, 2004 10:48 PM"We in France continue to believe that this training should be done outside Iraq," Michele Alliot-Marie said. "Iraq has to find its own sense of identity and I don't think the addition of more foreigners in uniform will help that."
If they were going in, the mission should remain "as low-profile as possible," she said.
Diplomats said French concerns focused on whether U.S. Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, who commands the American training operation in Iraq, also could head the NATO mission under a "double-hat" arrangement allowing him to report back to alliance headquarters.
French diplomats last week expressed concern about the alliance operation becoming "subservient" to the U.S.-led coalition.
Belgium mostly was concerned about how to share the costs of the mission, wanting more of the expenses to be covered by participating allies and not common NATO funds.
Belgium, France, Germany and Spain have said they will not send instructors into Iraq.
Why don't they train the minesweepers in Afghanistan? Germans French and I guess Spanish troops and advisors are already in that country. It's got land mines to practice on.
Besides an action today to cement bonds of the true democratic republics of the Middle East (ie Afghanistan and Iraq) is a good thing. Eventually they will be set adrift in that sea of dictatorships. Might as well have them looking out for each other early.
So... taking Iraqis out of Iraq to train in another country helps them find an Iraqi identity how, exactly?
Advice to Michele: if you find yourself talking simply to make noise, do shut up.
Posted by: Doug at September 18, 2004 03:56 PMWelcome back to E-nough! Carine, you were missed.
Posted by: Valerie, Texas at September 19, 2004 09:54 PMPT offers to marry you, but Val's the one who's sweet? Harumph.
Posted by: Doug at September 20, 2004 09:09 PMDoug,
Val has been playing the role of my mentor lately.
Alas, I'm afraid if PT had known I had no stock of Speculoos at home, he wouldn't have made the offer ;) I'm kidding. Yes, that was indeed sweet of him. You are right. I am sorry.
Posted by: Carine at September 20, 2004 09:48 PMNow I feel like a jerk for making you apologize for something silly. See what you've gone and done? ;)
Posted by: Doug at September 21, 2004 07:59 AMMen will be men ;)
Posted by: Carine at September 21, 2004 04:48 PMNo Specaloos?
Um...ya...about that marriage thing ...
I hear Mom calling me.
Gots to go.
(Feets don't fail me now)
Posted by: papertiger at September 22, 2004 02:39 AM
