Remember when France asked (begged) us to help in Kosovo - trying to force a regime change and get rid of Milosevic? I do.
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/19...022140550.html
My favorite parts...
The general singled out France, which, as he put it, "played the red flag" against targeting
several sites that the alliance's military leaders believed should have been destroyed. He
also complained that France flew less than 8 percent of the military strikes against Yugoslav
forces, and still had veto power over targets.
Short blamed the U.S. civilian leaders for not putting pressure on France to allow a tougher
military campaign. He said using such pressure is the responsibility of the United States
because it is the predominant NATO member.
"I understand how strongly the French feel their national positions, but I felt the United
States of America was in a position to leverage our being the 'big dog.' "
Clark agreed that strong U.S. pressure on its allies, plus a decisive use of military force
-- including the use of allied ground forces -- would have meant a shorter war that may have
driven Milosevic from power.
***
"I think one of the lessons that comes out of this is the need that once you cross the threshold, to move as rapidly as possible to the [most] decisive use of force as possible within the military feasibility and the political constraints which drive the war; and secondly, to use all of the elements of power, not just the military means, to secure your objectives."
***
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/grupb/bb1/arch...6041999-03.htm
My favorite part...
"The United States, Germany, Turkey, Norway, Greece and Canada have agreed to receive up to
120,000 Kosovo refugees, but France has so far refused to open its door to the refugees."[/url]