WaPo: French Forces Almost Fired On Israeli Jets

[scarletwoman]

French Forces Almost Fired On Israeli Jets

F-15s Dived on Peacekeepers In Lebanon, Defense Official Says

By Molly Moore
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 10, 2006; Page A22

PARIS, Nov. 9 -- French peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon came within seconds of firing missiles at Israeli F-15 fighter jets that repeatedly dived on their positions last week, according to French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie.

Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy summoned Israel's ambassador to Paris to his office on Thursday to express "serious concern" about the incident and demand that Israel halt its flights over southern Lebanon.

"Our troops barely avoided a catastrophe," Alliot-Marie told the lower house of France's Parliament on Wednesday night in remarks broadcast Thursday. "In legitimate defense, our soldiers removed the covers from the missile battery and were two seconds away from firing at the planes that were threatening them."

<snip>

French officials said the warplanes dived toward the ground, then jerked skyward in maneuvers that could be used to drop bombs or fire on ground forces.

The planes were "clearly in attack position," the French defense minister said.

(rest of article at link)

sw

[xchrom]

1. oh no!!! that can't possibly be!!!

:eyes:

[On the Road]

2. My Concern About the Peacekeeping Force

was that it would be expected to shoot at Hezbollah forces but not at Israelis. It appears those concerns were misplaced.

[4dsc]

3. Why is Israel violating Lebanon airspace??

Why are the Israeli's allowed to continue to violate international law??

[Umbram]

4. Why should Israel follow international law?

International law doesn't apply when you have a nation willing to toss up a veto on your behalf in the security counsel.

Not to mention, any action by Israel is per se excusable. :sarcasm:

[scarletwoman]

6. Are those rhetorical questions? I'd say the answer is: because no one is going to stop them.

Really, who's going to stop them? Not the AIPAC-controlled U.S. government. Israel just laughs off the UN.

Israel will do whatever the hell it wants because the only country in the world with any possible leverage over it -- the U.S. -- will NEVER muster the political will to shut off the money and weapons spigot that sustains its existence.

sw

[depakid]

5. The French were certainly within their rights

to them down.

I don't think anyone could have faulted them. Had the shoe been on the other foot, I have little doubt that Israelis would have fired.

[zreosumgame]

8. my reaction as well

it's not like the IDF have not fired on and murdered peace keeping forces before...

[NuttyFluffers]

13. those pilots were playing a dangerous and unnecessary game

they are lucky to be alive. they should be thankful that the french decided to be more cautious and have a little chat about this afterward. it could have been far uglier and those pilots' lives could've been lost. i'm also impressed this is being handled more on the down low, because the french are also well within their rights to call more attention to this flagrant recklessness.

[Amused Musings]

7. I have a question

Has Lebanon been officially at war with Israel since 1948? Before this there some sort of Cold War era low simmer from the early 80's? Well I guess that is actually two questions

[scarletwoman]

9. I've edited my subject line because it was an inaccurate statement.

Here is some information on the so-called "May 17 Agreement" which was supposed to bring an end to the "state of war" between Israel and Lebanon:

http://www.answers.com/topic/may-17-agreement

In any case, whether or not Lebanon remains "officially" at war with Israel, it has a virtually powerless military -- that is, the state of Lebanon has no means to wage an "official" war.

sw

[Amused Musings]

11. Ah

Thank you, but I thought Lebanon attacked Israel in 1948?

[scarletwoman]

12. You're correct -- the armies of Egypt, Syria, Iraq & Lebanon attacked Israel

as soon as it was established in 1948. Except for Iraq, they all signed peace settlements in 1949 -- Egypt in February, Syria, Jordan & Lebanon in July. Iraq simply withrew its forces.

(source: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/israel_and_the_1948_war.htm )

My apologies for writing off-the-cuff in my earlier post -- I was not thinking about the earlier history.

sw

[partylessinOhio]

10. This is completely disgusting. The new Congress will do nothing to put

a halt to Israel's continual aggression. I wish that weren't true but it is.

[SOS]

14. German ship on October 25

Oct 25, 2006 — JERUSALEM (Reuters) -

"Israel denied a German newspaper report on Wednesday that two of its air force planes had fired twice as they flew over a German navy vessel patrolling the Lebanon coast.
The German daily Der Tagesspiegel quoted a German junior defense minister as telling a parliamentary committee two Israeli F-16 fighters had flown low over the ship, firing twice."

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2605423