LEBANON: PRODI, FRANCE?
FIRST MINIMALIST THEN CHANGED COURSE

ROME August 24, 2006 (AGI) - "We will have the information in a few hours; Chirac said that he will speak tonight." The President of the Council, Romano Prodi, was very prudent in responding to the question about the French commitment in the U.N. mission in Lebanon. "First it had chosen a minimalist strategy, now it seems that France has completely changed course, we have to wait a few hours and see," Prodi added for the microphones of Radiouno.

FRENCH TROOP SIZE SMALLER THAN EXPECTED
Soft Plastic, Several Poses

BATTLE TO LEAD UN FORCE AS CHIRAC OFFERS 2,000 TROOPS

PARIS August 25, 2006 (Times Online) - Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, will be asked today to decide whether France or Italy will command the expanded United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

Signor Prodi offered to take the lead in the force and won backing from other Western capitals. Yesterday he said that President Bush had taken a “positive” view of Italy’s offer to lead the force.

But Italy’s stance has ruffled feathers in France, the former colonial power that sees itself as the natural leader of the international community in Lebanon. Philippe Douste-Blazy,* the French Foreign Minister, said this week that France retained command of the UN force under existing arrangements until February.

EU foreign ministers are expected to tell Mr Annan today that they can provide several thousand troops to bolster the existing peacekeeping force, widely seen as toothless, in southern Lebanon. But the total may fall short of the 15,000 demanded by the UN. A French official put the figure at 8,000 to 9,000.

Now that France has come around, Italy, which stepped up when French leadership disappeared, which is providing 50% more troops than France -- 20% of the total force envisioned, compared to France's 13% -- which offered to lead the UN intervention in lieu of any other candidates, yes, well, Italy must now step aside. Thanks and all, but France has decided this is a French mission. And France is now ready to assume her natural position as boss nation. Just stand over there.

* The dimmest bulb in the dark Chirac marquee™.

PFFT (What is this?): Thank you and shut up 4 | Rayonnement français 0

Bonjour,

[M. AB/AY has tried a new trick, posting the same message six times. What a cute boy. Now all his messages are deleted. Donkey.

The Management]

Good luck to your country in Irak !!!!!!!!

Bonjour,

Votre système ne marchait pas...Sinon , je peux vous redire que votre réussite au Vietnam ou en Irak n'est pas des plus... concluantes.

Good luck to your country in Irak , dear Milton !

Two more French soldiers killed in Afghanistan, last Friday.

Happy celebration, Pave.