With the election of reformist President Hassan Rouhani and a strong diplomatic push, much of the world was looking toward a rapprochement with Iran, with many businesses looking to reap the benefits of reintegrating oil-rich Iran into the global economy. France apparently found a better deal.
Faced with rumors of an imminent Israeli attack on Iran, the Hollande government cynically took the opportunity to sabotage to talks so they could sell weapons to the Saudi government.
The Saudi government had repeatedly made it clear they opposed diplomacy with Iran, while playing up the idea that they wanted significant extra arms purchases in anticipation of having to defend their coast when the international community eventually attacks Iran outright.
The Saudis have deep pockets and have shown a willingness to openly try to “buy” influence in the past several months, going so far as to try to bribe Russia into dropping support for the Syrian government. That failed, much to the Saudis’ chagrin, but they seem to have found a willing partner in France.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France can certainly make a deal extremely difficult. At the same time, being so overtly mercenary seems destined to backfire, and far from succeeding in making France more influential across the Middle East, it might convince many they’re only valuable partners until the better deal comes along.
Click here to read more on the Geneva talks from Justin Raimondo.
It seems odd at first glance that France is so pro-Israel when the country is full of Moslems with more coming in all the time. I'm sure most French people don't like it any more than Americans do.
But I keep forgetting what most governments do is in exact opposition to what the ordinary people want. Former President Sarkozy was Jewish and France was the main supplier of Israel's military hardware until the 1960s when the US took over and France also provided technology and assistance for the Israeli nuclear program (what Israel didn't steal, of course) and helped build the Dimona reactor, so maybe not so odd after all.
France should be congratulated by all by single-handedly preventing a Breakout of Peace.
If there was no Western Europe and no invasion-colonizing of the American Continent, African Continent and Middle-East, would we not enjoy a peaceful heaven on earth? Not actually, but the simplicity of it is ever so pleasing to the intellect.
France, our world's newest lapdog for Israel. Sit up Hollande, roll over, play dead, bark, now here's a Saudi biscuit.
France, our world's newest lapdog for Israel. Sit up Hollande, roll over, play dead, bark, now here's a Saudi biscuit.
Is that his foot Holland has in his yap
Hollande is almost as evil as Obama.