Posted on 01/29/2005 10:24:18 AM PST by kattracks
PARIS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has reiterated France's support for Iraqis to re-establish full independence with the pullout of foreign troops from the country, a Tunisian newspaper reported.Raffarin's comments, in an interview with the Tunisian newspaper Ach Chourouq to be published on Sunday, came on the eve of Iraq's first multi-party election in decades and amid growing domestic pressure in the United States to pull out its troops.
"The pullout of foreign troops is spelt out in (UN) resolution 1546. This departure is part of the political process backed by France," Raffarin said in the interview, a text of which was sent to Reuters ahead of publication.
"My country has always urged that Iraqis re-establish full control of their destiny, an effective sovereignty, something which can be achieved via the departure of foreign troops," added Raffarin, who is due to leave for Tunisia later on Saturday for a two-day trip.
Britain has 9,000 soldiers in Iraq. The United States has 150,000 and says it will keep at least 120,000 of them in Iraq for the next two years to train and fight with Iraqi forces against insurgents.
U.S. President George W. Bush said in a newspaper interview published on Friday that Iraq's new leaders would probably want U.S. troops to stay, but the forces would be pulled out if the new government asks.
Memo to le Frogs - we'll go when we're ready. Not a moment before.
France's last hurrah attempt to get us to pull out and let the Baathists sieze power and give France back all the oil contracts they lost.
Quote from article: "My country has always urged that Iraqis re-establish full control of their destiny, an effective sovereignty, something which can be achieved via the departure of foreign troops," added Raffarin, who is due to leave for Tunisia later on Saturday for a two-day trip."
* In the "MY country" part, excuse me, we liberated france from the Germans right? Well, actually it's 1/2 our country technically, if we want, we can take the whole damn thing back and destroy it, so STFU France ;)
The longer we stay, the more likely it is that we'll uncover evidence of France's complicity with Saddam's schemes.
As usual, it is much more sinister than that.
France doesn't care what happens to the Iraqis, The more die, the more they can blame the US.
Furthermore, without us there, they can persuade the government to grant them contracts and stab the US in the back as usual.
I can't trust les frogs.
They need to be liberated - from themselves.
"amid growing domestic pressure in the United States"
Some stupid, fat, old drunk rambling on is "growing domestic pressure?"
Their oil contracts with the previous government in Iraq must be hurting them.
Cut a frog off from his corrupt buddies and watch him bleed tears.
Hey France, END YOUR OCCUPATION OF THE IVORY COAST!
This departure is part of the political process backed by France
News flash France....when we need your opinions we will call you, otherwise keep your comments to yourself.
Bingo.
France who?
America repeats its answer.
Sir.....the foreign troops remain in Iraq to protect them from rapacious Euro neo colonialists. You have stolen all the money and oil from Iraq you are going to get.
I think they just want Iraq to fall so they can stand on their alleged moral high ground. Plundering an unstable Iraq would benefit them as well.
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