[marron]

French President Jacques Chirac urged Libya on Saturday to reach a deal on a UTA payout or face the consequences.

I'm not sure how much leverage Chirac has once Libya has settled its conflict with the US. It seems to me that France's best shot at a big payout was when Libya had no friends. Now that we are prepared perhaps to let bygones be, I suspect its too late, the ship has left the pier.

The US is the power Khadafi has to deal with in Chad at least, not France. Furthermore, Libya and France are competitors in Africa, not allies. I think Chirac has nothing to threaten Libya with.

[Shermy]

The only big card Chirac had to play is that UN Veto power given to France in 1945.

Powell, or whomever (maybe the Libyans), deserve a lot of credit for maneuvering France not to exercise its veto on the recent security council vote to lift sanctions on Libya.