France terms Bush ulimatum "contrary" to U.N. will

Agencia EFE | 3/18/03

[kattracks]

Paris, Mar 18, 2003 (EFE via COMTEX) -- French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday described the U.S. ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as "contrary to the will of the U.N. Security Council and the international community."

A statement from Chirac's office also argued that only the Security Council was capable of legitimizing the use of force against Iraq.

The statement came after U.S. President George W. Bush announced in a televised speech to the nation that he was giving Saddam and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq or face a military attack.

Chirac's statement noted that the ultimatum was issued without consulting the Security Council of which France is a permanent member.

Over the past six months, Chirac has led diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to give U.N. inspectors in Iraq more time to search for the Baghdad regime's suspected weapons of mass destruction.

France threatened to veto a proposed second resolution sponsored by the United States, Britain and Spain which would have approved the use of force against Iraq.

Overiding "the legitimacy of the United Nations, to privilege force over law is taking on a heavy responsibility," the statement read, in reference to the United States.

Copyright (c) 2003. Agencia EFE S.A.

[First_Salute]

France has finally got it right.

[goldstategop]

LOL! Chiraq is pissed at being powerless. That's the best news I've heard in ages.

[U S Army EOD]

France has no will to do anything.

[USMMA_83]

Who gives a f*** what France thinks?!?

[Mad Dawgg]

"France terms Bush ulimatum "contrary" to U.N. will"

Well, DUH!

[ClancyJ]

Chirac must think HE is the U.N. He is the one that made all future discussion worthless because of his threat of veto - no matter what.

We are seeing the double-dealing, backstabbing that has been going on in the U.N. for some time against America. Now Powell and the world see it.

Chirac is powerful alright - he more than any other will bring down the U.N.

[John Valentine]

The United States is indeed "taking on a heavy responsibility".

We have done this before on occasions that demanded it, three times to France's great benefit. Once in 1914, once in 1941, and once in 1957.

The United States does not shirk or shrink from duty or responsibility.

We cannot say the same of France, and for that reason alone, France has relinquished it's right to speak further on this matter.

The adults have arrived, and the adults will control the conversation from here on out.

[dfwgator]

When France supported the murderous Hutus who were responsible for the Rwandan genocide, they lost any right to lecture us about anything.

[laz17]

Overiding "the legitimacy of the United Nations

Legitimacy? What legitimacy? Surely you jest, Monsewer ChIraq. The shenanigans of the past several weeks proves conclusively that the UN is utterly ineffective in fulfilling its duties and obligations. The UN has proven itself illegitimate, as well as irrelevant.

[Enemy Of The State]

UN opinion is worth about as much as France.

Never underestimate the power of idiots gathered in large numbers

[The Wizard]

can you spell g-e-t o-u-t in french

[Arpege92]

I'm sure President Bush is losing sleep over this remark! NOT!

[Leatherneck_MT]

It's interesting, he's finally doing to the UN what his country did to the original League of Nations.

Making it a laughing stock and irrelevant.

[texson66]

Well, the first mistake is to think that the UN could ever have a "will". Its the world's most messed up debating society and US funded global social aid org.

It's time the UN left the US and the US left the UN!

[Ole Okie]

Pssssst, Jacques, pssssssst.

The United Nations is SO over.

Pass it on.