Biden Says France Seeks Two NATO Commands

[Khephra]

Biden Says France Seeks Two NATO Commands
Thu December 4, 2003 08:09 AM ET

By Paul Taylor
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - France, keen to heal a deep rift with the United States over the Iraq war, has asked to take over two NATO commands in a signal of willingness to work more closely with Washington on international security, a senior U.S. senator said on Thursday.

Senator Joseph Biden, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters President Jacques Chirac had raised the issue during a lengthy meeting with him on Wednesday, and he would pass on his thoughts to President Bush.

Biden said France wanted to head a new NATO Reaction Force (NRF), inaugurated in October to meet post-September 11 security threats by providing rapidly deployable combat troops for long-range missions in crises. He did not say what the other command was.

"I for one hope there is no trouble about the two brigadiers-general the French are requesting," the senator said. "This is a time to be grown-up, show a little sophistication."

more..........

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3937622

[La_Serpiente]

1. Notice how France

is more willing to talk to someone less hostile.

[Paschall]

2. Interesting, but I don't see Bush accepting this

<snip> Biden said the conditions for NATO involvement were that an Iraqi government was in place and a U.N.-mandated high commissioner replaced the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, which is running the civilian side of the occupation. </snip>