Paris - The scene is reminiscent of the diplomatic confrontation that preceded the US invasion of Iraq. In a repeat of 2003, French President Jacques Chirac, who is fiercely interested in developments in Lebanon, is making a stand against George W Bush on the conflict. The 73-year-old is balking at the prospect of sending French troops under a UN flag into southERN Lebanon unless the weapons can be silenced and a political solution found. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy was saying Thursday that 'the ideal' for France would be be to proceed in three phases.
With the US and Britain envisaging a strong force to disarm Hezbollah, Paris is reluctant to impose such a move on the Lebanese government. The US view was 'contrary to our vision - we don't believe in a military solution, keeping Iraq in mind,' warned Douste- Blazy. Paris' desire to have Iran included in a solution has also irked the US. Chirac has been proclaiming the Lebanese death toll more and more loudly while his foreign minister has met with the Iranian Foreign Manuchehr Mottaki.Whatever happens, the French would not want to appear to be 'lackeys of the Americans, working for the Israeli generals' as one Parisian diplomat put it.
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