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| France calls for strong and united response to Syria chemical attack | France calls for strong and united response to Syria chemical attack |
| (7 months later) | |
| The French prime minister, Édouard Philippe, has called for a “strong, united and resolute” reaction from the international community to the chemical attack in Douma, a Syrian rebel-held town on the outskirts of Damascus. | The French prime minister, Édouard Philippe, has called for a “strong, united and resolute” reaction from the international community to the chemical attack in Douma, a Syrian rebel-held town on the outskirts of Damascus. |
| Philippe said Paris’s response to the attack – currently being decided – would define France as a nation. “The use of these weapons is not neutral; it says things about the regime and our reaction to the use of these weapons will say things about who we are,” he told parliament. | Philippe said Paris’s response to the attack – currently being decided – would define France as a nation. “The use of these weapons is not neutral; it says things about the regime and our reaction to the use of these weapons will say things about who we are,” he told parliament. |
| Philippe said allies of the Syrian regime bore “particular responsibility in this massacre”, alluding to Russia. | Philippe said allies of the Syrian regime bore “particular responsibility in this massacre”, alluding to Russia. |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has repeatedly promised that proven chemical weapons use is a “red line” that would prompt French strikes on Syrian government forces, and that Paris is prepared to act alone. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has repeatedly promised that proven chemical weapons use is a “red line” that would prompt French strikes on Syrian government forces, and that Paris is prepared to act alone. |
| Last summer, a freshly elected Macron sat on the sunny terrace of the Élysée Palace and told the Guardian: “When you fix red lines, if you don’t know how to make sure they are respected, you’re choosing to be weak. That’s not my choice.” | Last summer, a freshly elected Macron sat on the sunny terrace of the Élysée Palace and told the Guardian: “When you fix red lines, if you don’t know how to make sure they are respected, you’re choosing to be weak. That’s not my choice.” |
| He added: “If chemical weapons are used on the ground and we know how to find out their provenance, France will launch strikes to destroy the chemical weapons stocks.” | He added: “If chemical weapons are used on the ground and we know how to find out their provenance, France will launch strikes to destroy the chemical weapons stocks.” |
| Syria has provided Macron with his red line moment. Barack Obama’s red line over Syrian chemical weapons in 2013, and his lack of intervention, came at a time when France’s then president, the socialist François Hollande, had wanted to act but would not go it alone. | Syria has provided Macron with his red line moment. Barack Obama’s red line over Syrian chemical weapons in 2013, and his lack of intervention, came at a time when France’s then president, the socialist François Hollande, had wanted to act but would not go it alone. |
| Macron’s electorate has always seen his most positive quality as his perceived strength on the international stage. On the home front he is facing difficult strikes over a reshaping of the railways and the government has vowed to stand firm. Internationally, as he has often said, France cannot show weakness. | Macron’s electorate has always seen his most positive quality as his perceived strength on the international stage. On the home front he is facing difficult strikes over a reshaping of the railways and the government has vowed to stand firm. Internationally, as he has often said, France cannot show weakness. |
| Macron has been at pains to style himself as a man of his word. “On every issue, I do what I say, and that’s something new,” he promised this autumn, attempting to claim the moral high ground over career politicians’ doublespeak. | Macron has been at pains to style himself as a man of his word. “On every issue, I do what I say, and that’s something new,” he promised this autumn, attempting to claim the moral high ground over career politicians’ doublespeak. |
| A French military response would depend on its intelligence proving both the use of deadly chemical agents by the Syrian regime, and fatalities. Although France would be prepared to strike Syria alone – and recently defence sources said it was logistically possible – it is much more likely to act alongside the US and other international partners. Macron has previously said France would be “perfectly aligned with the US” on this issue and he has spoken to Donald Trump by phone every day recently. | A French military response would depend on its intelligence proving both the use of deadly chemical agents by the Syrian regime, and fatalities. Although France would be prepared to strike Syria alone – and recently defence sources said it was logistically possible – it is much more likely to act alongside the US and other international partners. Macron has previously said France would be “perfectly aligned with the US” on this issue and he has spoken to Donald Trump by phone every day recently. |
| But the pressing question for France is what form any military action might take: what kind of strikes are possible and with what long-term aim? Macron criticised the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s Libya intervention in 2011 and the mess it left. He has stressed he does not want a “failed state” or “neoconservative” interventions abroad. He has altered France’s conditions for talks on Syria’s future, saying the deposing of the president, Bashar al-Assad, is not a prerequisite, but the Syria question remains his toughest foreign policy challenge. | But the pressing question for France is what form any military action might take: what kind of strikes are possible and with what long-term aim? Macron criticised the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s Libya intervention in 2011 and the mess it left. He has stressed he does not want a “failed state” or “neoconservative” interventions abroad. He has altered France’s conditions for talks on Syria’s future, saying the deposing of the president, Bashar al-Assad, is not a prerequisite, but the Syria question remains his toughest foreign policy challenge. |
| French public opinion is already sensitive to airstrikes that could be perceived as making little difference. “We can no longer be content with symbolic strikes, there have to be efficient strikes that show not only our resolve but that the point of no return has been established,” Jean-Paul Paloméros, the former French air force chief of staff, said on Tuesday. | French public opinion is already sensitive to airstrikes that could be perceived as making little difference. “We can no longer be content with symbolic strikes, there have to be efficient strikes that show not only our resolve but that the point of no return has been established,” Jean-Paul Paloméros, the former French air force chief of staff, said on Tuesday. |
| The issue of airstrikes is more complex now than when France wanted to intervene with the US in 2013, because of Russia’s presence and Iran’s role. Paloméros said time was needed for careful strategising. He argued that France needed to plan how to “go far enough without going too far”. | The issue of airstrikes is more complex now than when France wanted to intervene with the US in 2013, because of Russia’s presence and Iran’s role. Paloméros said time was needed for careful strategising. He argued that France needed to plan how to “go far enough without going too far”. |
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