Francois Hollande: David Cameron committed 'schoolboy error' on Syria
David Cameron committed a "schoolboy error" in allowing himself to be beaten in a parliamentary vote over Syria and came out of it "weakened", Francois Hollande is reported to have said.
The French president, who unlike the British Prime Minister chose to forego seeking parliamentary approval for taking military action against Syria, is reported to have made the undiplomatic comments during a chat with French journalists, according to Le Canard Enchainé, the investigative and satirical weekly.
While the Socialist French leader "understands" Barack Obama's 'U-turn" on choosing to consult Congress over strikes against the regime of Bashar al-Assad (now postponed), Le Canard said he was far more disparaging when it came to Mr Cameron.
"He committed a schoolboy error," he is cited as telling journalists last week. "He overestimated his strength and didn't find a way of convincing his [parliamentary] majority as he lost by just five votes, with 30 abstentions and 30 votes against, with a dozen Conservatives failing to take part."
"Cameron comes out of this affair weakened," he is cited as saying. "And it's not good for Great Britain." France is the only other country other than the US to commit publicly to intervene militarily and Mr Hollande has been criticised by the opposition Right for allowing France to become diplomatically isolated.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10302082/Francois-Hollande-David-Cameron-committed-schoolboy-error-on-Syria.html
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