Posted on 07/10/2011 3:15:27 PM PDT by tobyhill
A French minister said on Sunday it was time for Libya's rebels to negotiate with Muammar Gaddafi's government, but Washington said it stood firm in its belief that the Libyan leader cannot stay in power.
The diverging messages from two leading members of the Western coalition opposing Gaddafi hinted at the strain the alliance is under after more than three months of air strikes that have cost billions of dollars and failed to produce the swift outcome its backers had expected.
French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet signaled growing impatience with the progress of the conflict when he said the rebels should negotiate now with Gaddafi's government and not wait for his defeat.
The rebels have so far refused to hold talks as long as Gaddafi is still in power, a stance which before now none of NATO's major powers has publicly challenged.
"We have .... have asked them to speak to each other," Longuet, whose government has until now been among the most hawkish on Libya, said on French television station BFM TV.
"The position of the TNC (rebel Transitional National Council) is very far from other positions. Now, there will be a need to sit around a table," he said."
Asked if it was possible to hold talks if Gaddafi had not stepped down, Longuet said: "He will be in another room in his palace with another title."
Soon after, the State Department in Washington issued a message that gave no hint of compromise.
"The Libyan people will be the ones to decide how this transition takes place, but we stand firm in our belief that Gaddafi cannot remain in power," the department said in a written reply to a query.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Jug Ears couldnt find his ass with two hands and a map, and you are surprised...
1) Libyan oil production is redirected to China for purchase, and
2) Mo holds on to the Libyan gold in the treasury, denying it to the IMF.
If those events occur, Obummer has lost the war.
Additionally, if Qaddafi retains some sort of title and remains in Libya through a negotiated peace of any kind, then Zer0 will be perceived to have lost COMPLETELY, even if Mo gives up the oil income to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Liberals love illegal wars for oil.
Any oil removed from the world supply chain effects other distribution points as consumers look to make up the loss.
re: Oil is everything.
And there’s plenty of Brent light in the Gulf of Mexico, which we’re not allowed to get to...
You can’t negotiate or ‘talk to’ a madman dictator. Remember Saddam Hussein talked his sons-in-law, who’d challenged him, to return to Iraq with his daughters, all’s cool? He summarily executed them. Does anyone think Qaddafi is any different?
Looks like the French were pretty far off on this one!
There will always be Daffy Loyalist and now there will be civil war for decades.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.