Will we ever be able to work with the Euros again?

[UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 1 -- The United States and France introduced a Security Council resolution Wednesday demanding that 20,000 Syrian troops "withdraw without delay" from Lebanon and that Syria stop meddling in the country's November elections. It threatens to consider unspecified "additional measures" against Syria to ensure compliance.

The resolution reflects mounting frustration by Washington and Paris that Syria is seeking to rewrite Lebanon's constitution to guarantee that the country's pro-Syrian leader, President Emile Lahoud, can remain in power after his six-year term ends on Nov. 24.]

More foreign policy blundering by the Bushies.

RLTW

I expect the lynching of W at any moment by the lunatic right for working with old Europe on anything, especially France.  
   Why do we need to co-sponsor anything with the French, specially in the United Nations?  Both the French and the UN proved they are completely useless when they didn't worship Bush before the Iraq war.  
   Down with Bush for going to the UN and the French.  Throw him to the lions.  Hell with the resolution.  Resolutions don't work as Saddam was living proof.  W has insulted the history of the US by going to the French.  No more W ketchup on those freedom fries.  Coup I tell you, a coup is needed to overthwor W for sponsoring anything with those damn bri eating French pussies.  W is a coward for not unilaterally invading Syria.  
   On the other hand, I see the US is pissed off that Syria is taking foreign policy lessons from the US and Israel.  I always thought imitation was the sincerest form of flattery.  So why isn't the US flattered with Syria's imitation of US foreign policy??  

Remember now, the talking point is that Bush has destroyed our relations with the rest of the world, and no one will work with us anymore. You're making it sound the Bushies know what their doing!

RLTW

The test of this resolution will come if Syria does not comply with the UN resolution, if it passes.  Let's hope the "additional measures" involves tough sanctions on economic cooperation with Syria.  I do not think that the French will go for military action and I do not think that we can resource another war.  Even with sanctions, we have to hope that all nations that can trade with Syria comply with the sanctions.

Actually I'm quite sure others will work with us when it serves them as well.  

My anger is that I believe Bushie always planned to invade Iraq and used the WTC attacks as his excuse - So working with others was not in the plan and he did a poor job of feigning an effort (IMHO).

At this point I'm so jaded that I liken any positives, in this respect, to the drunk driver/drug abuser who has been born again/reformed and NOW proclaims they are taking those 12 steps to redeem themselves.  I'd like to have an open mind here but I would rather put my money on a seemingly lame donkey (I would even put my money on another elephant - but not a chimp).

Hmm. And so close to the election too.  This is only a problem FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS!

No-one ever said that the present Admin couldn't adopt a few good ideas from Kerry.  And the French were the old colonial power, so they have interests.  It's hardly a big initiative.

No, i think you miss the point.  Having done so much damage, the Bushies are repenting and crawling back to Europe begging  forgiveness. And are getting thrown a bone.  The silence you hear from European capitals is them waiting to see if the yanks are complete loons, ready to re-up with a moron for another round.

when they need something from us!

Just like always!  And just like always the french are our friend until we need them.  

It must be killing you that Tony Blair is going to win too!

The French see things differently from us when it come to fighting in Iraq. Do not know about Syria yet, only time will tell on that one.  The French are still by our side in Afganistan.
    The true test will come if sanctions are imposed on Syria by the UN.  The basic question will be whether all countries that can have impactful trade with Syria honor those sanctions.
    The Syrians would be silly to have any coalition arrayed against them in war, such an event would spell the end for that country's leadership.  I would guess that they would have at least a nominal interest in saving their hides.

Actually, I consider myself in a coalition LED by Tony Blair, whose situation I actually respect, although I too feel that he has been a bit too lap-doggish to Senor El Boosh.  At least Tony can speak his mother tongue!

And he may not have a working majority ( I KNOW your understanding of the Parliamentary system is spotty- as it was not born here).

And since you are so happily forgetting the fact that IT WAS THE FRENCH WHO WON US THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, I continue to think I really don't need to value your "contribution"  to the dialogue.

BTW- ONE COUNTRY with only one distant ally, has consistently KICKED Syria's ASS whenever it had to.  Does anyone remember the Bekaa Valley party the Israelis threw in the 80's?

And they are crumbling from within.  A little bit of chumming up to them would probably kill them even faster!  Carrot and stick used together.

Personally I think they are like Cuba- a bit of honey would kill them faster than the harsh treatment they recieve now.  I think that if the US lifted sanctions, the govt would fall inside of 5 years.  But that's me-  I see the failure of the last 50+ years of policy-  I guess our reactionary friends would crow over the isolation they created. As if that served our purposes more than ending the regime.

The problem is that Kerry is just as determined to maintain our current American policy of trying to police the entire world. If anyone here wants to end the otherwise ENDLESS war we will be involved in there is only ONE choice: www.badnarik.org  And by the way, he would eliminate all victomless crimes also!

You mean we will not be put in a cage if caught doing what we do?  Sound good to me.  Do you think this guy can pull it off, given that voters in states have their heads up their asses on this issue?  BTW, any change to prostitution laws will almost certainly require action by every state and every city or town in said states - I do not see that happening given the tendencies of the general public.  Also, do you think the wives and SOs of the married or attached guys here would tolerate legal encroachment on their franchises.