Tuesday, April 13, 2010

I Studied French But Him - Je Ne Comprends Pas

French President Nicolas Sarkozy addressed the possibility of a military conflict with Iran during an interview with CBS:

"I would not want the world to wake up to a conflict between Israel and Iran, quite simply because the international community has been incapable of acting," Sarkozy said, calling a possible Israeli strike against Iran "a disaster".

The French president added, "I consider the fact that Iran should get its hands on a nuclear weapon - a military nuclear weapon, together with the many statements made by Iranian leaders against the democracy that is Israel is dangerous and unacceptable."



[
Transcript


Couric: How concerned are you, Mister President, about a potential Israeli military strike against Iranian-- Iranian nuclear facility?

Sarkozy (translator): That would be disastrous. It would be a disaster. I don't even want to think it was possible. And the best way-- to avoid this disaster scenario is to take measures in order to get Israel to understand that we are determined to ensure its security. And Israel, furthermore, must equally make the necessary effort in order to bring about a fair and lasting peace with their Palestinian neighbors.

Couric: Do you think stronger sanctions will actually work? Because the Iranians seem very -- insistent upon building this nuclear capability.

Sarkozy (translator): I believe in the effect of sanctions, because I've been very impressed by the courage of the Iranian people. Those young kids, those women who went down into the streets of Tehran and major Iranian cities. What a fantastic example of courage they gave us. We cannot be-- we can't afford to be less courageous than they were. For once, but a man and woman in the street, the-- Iranian man and street pointed the way towards peace, towards peaceful resolution.
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This reminds me of something I once discussed in a parallel situation. It is a spin-off of the 'crazy state' paradigm. Then, I suggested that Israel make it clear to the United States that if Saudi Arabia became involved in hostilities against Israel, that her oil fields would become legitimate targets. And if that disrupted, even slightly, the supply of oil, well, so be it. Israel would not consider its existence, the security of its citizens and the welfare of its friends and allies to be less important than America's economy and the comfortable consumerism of Americans. We do have priorities.

The same now should be addressed to Sarkozy and to Obama.

A disaster. Disastrous? Maybe even dangerous?

It sure as hell will be. It will be very, very dangerous. For Iran. For the Middle East. For the Sunni nations. For the United States and even for Russia. A veritable disaster. But probably less than what it could potentially be for Israel and the Jews.

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