Just good natured debate.
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Originally posted by smsmith40
I think when you join up to a club you are obligated to play by its rules.
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Are you obligated even if the club doesn't enforce its own rules on other members?
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I'm not sure I know what a rube is but I'm guessing it ain't good. As I explained earlier France, Germany and now Russia believe in a system of international co-operation to address big issues such as WMD, Iraq, international terrorism etc. up until recently so did the US (bye and large). The current US government follows a different approach with which France fundamentally disagrees with. I really don't think it is anti-American to do so, or indeed is it anti-American to continue to push for the approach you believe in (general French arrogance admittedly doesn't help).[/b]
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I disagree with the assesment that France, Germany and Russia believe in a system of international co-operation to address the issue of Iraq. All three of them have been huge trading partners with Iraq since the end of the first Gulf war (three of the four largers, China being the other). I'm not sure how continuing to trade with a country such as Iraq, supplying it with chemicals and rocket fuel, in spite of UN sanctions against such actions, is part of their belief in international co-operation. It seems to me that they were more interested in their own personal economic interests in the situation.[/b][/quote]
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The fact of the matter is that France have been entirely consistent in their foreign policy approach and goals. It the US that has changed. [/b]
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That is quite debatable, and certainly not a fact. France has voted for UN resolution after resolution, but yet when it comes time to enforce the resolutions, they back away their support. Tell me how that is consistent?
I will agree that the US has changed its foreign policy since the first guld war. No one can debate that. We've had three different presidents since '91, so obviously our foreign policy changes. However, one thing that hasn't changed since then is that the US has held that Saddam needs to be held accountable for his actions, and now he has been.