Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainbow Six
I would question your suggstion of a French move against the North Sea platforms though. In an earlier post you asked what would be the point in getting involved in a war with NATO...isn't there a risk that making a move against those fields might risk conflict with the British?
Whilst I think I've made it clear in previous posts that I envisage the French interfering in British affairs, with a view to keeping the UK destabilised for as long a time as possible, I do think that it would be important to the French that such interference would be subtle, covert, and most importantly deniable. I really don't see the French wanting to get involved in a shooting war with the UK, and I don't know if making a grab on some of our oil rigs might lead to that. Sure, you can argue that the French military would be far superior to the British in 2000, but we're still a nuclear power and could cause some hurt to France (as obviously they could to us - but who has the most to lose?)...that's partly why I think that whilst relations between France and the UK might be a little cool there would be a line that neither side would want to cross.
|
Very good points and I have to agree with them. I agree that seizing Dutch rigs is a better option. Still, talking of the line and cool relation there might be some ground for negociations that I totally overlooked. I can sea the French, despite their chilly relations with HMG negotiate several of these oil rigs in return for an access to a french refinery and for protection by the French military. I always had the idea of France doing its best to weaken UK just because the French are playing in its backyard. With what you pointed out I can see some serious reasons to negociate for both. For France it would be a less hazardous way to get British neutrality and for HMG it would be the best way to get the means to reconquer england quickly. Still Wales and Scotland can be part of a separate negociation. All that could lead to an interesting development and to a very bad news for the Dutch (much in the way of the Valladolid debate). Must be the wallon part of me thinking here
