French Ship Sale To Russia A Bad Idea All Around

So the French apparently still think it's a good idea to sell a ship to the Russians.

When the French navy's 23,700-ton Mistral-class amphibious assault ship dropped anchor in St. Petersburg's frigid harbor Nov. 23, it was doing more than paying a friendly visit to the Russians.

The boxy 600-foot vessel -- an advanced helicopter carrier, command center and hospital built for power projection and landing operations -- was also advertising its many high-tech virtues with an eye on selling a copy to the Russian navy for about $750 million.

Such a deal, which the French Defense Ministry said is under negotiation, would mark the Russian military's first major arms purchase abroad in modern history. It would also be a seminal moment for France and the West. The sale would be the largest and most sophisticated by a NATO country to Russia and would dramatize the evolving role of an alliance conceived to counter Soviet military power.

The Obama administration has remained silent on the matter, in public at least, as part of an effort to improve relations with Moscow. But six Republican senators, including John McCain (Ariz.), wrote a letter in December to the French ambassador in Washington, Pierre Vimont, complaining that the sale would be inappropriate because it would suggest that France approves of Russia's conduct, which the letter called increasingly aggressive and illegal.

In particular, the letter cited Russia's refusal to adhere to all the terms of a cease-fire negotiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the summer of 2008 to end the brief war with Georgia. Despite promises to the contrary, some Russian troops have remained in territory recognized as Georgian by most nations.

Lessee -
The NATO partners in the Baltic region are going to wonder why another NATO member is arming their biggest threat.
The Russian shipbuilders have to be wondering how they got beaten out by the French on this one.
The Chinese - who bought an aircraft carrier from the Russians - have to be wondering what kind of crap they've been handed.
The Georgians can't be thrilled that the guy who brokered a bullshit cease fire in the 2008 shooting war is now arming their enemy.

By: Brant