France against publishing secret documents on Iraq's weapons programs

Agence France-Presse | 9/04/02

[kattracks]

France said it was against publishing top-secret evidence on Iraq's alleged development of weapons of mass destruction, saying the public arena was not the place to wage such a campaign.

"These are not issues which we can deal with publicly. This calls for serenity and seriousness, and we should therefore beware of any leaks and any saber-rattling proposals," Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told France Info radio.

On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he would in the coming weeks release damning information about Baghdad's alleged efforts to develop nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, to prove the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.

The foreign minister said that France and Britain had shared information on the proof of such a weapons program. and it "is out of the question to divulge these exchanges."

De Villepin said it was important to act responsibly in evaluating whether a "country could own chemical or biological weapons, and if it could turn into a threat."

He added it was important that France evaluate such risks together with its European partners.

"The international community is today very worried, which justifies our determination in the face of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

Washington on Wednesday stepped up its war rhetoric, with President George W. Bush calling Saddam Hussein a "serious threat" and saying he would take his case against Iraq to the United Nations next week.

De Villepin said "France, the world, cannot accommodate such a risk, and that is why we demand with insistance the return of the UN (weapons) inspectors to Iraq and that the country conforms with the demands of the international community."

If it did, he stressed, it was up to the UN Security Council to decide on any international action.

UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in 1998 in the face of an imminent US and British missile attack on Baghdad, and have since been barred from returning despite insistent UN demands.

[kattracks]

The foreign minister said that France and Britain had shared information on the proof of such a weapons program. and it "is out of the question to divulge these exchanges."

What did France know and when did they know it? And why are they afraid of the rest of the world being given this evidence?

[Constitution Day]

They only want to publish it AFTER they surrender!

[MadIvan]

What did France know and when did they know it? And why are they afraid of the rest of the world being given this evidence?

Because the French have historically been one of Iraq's biggest trading partners. Were I in Blair's shoes, I would use this information as a boot on Chirac's neck to get him to behave.

Regards, Ivan

[Catspaw]

France knows a lot--and have been feeding it to Iraq as part of their pre-surrender planning.

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

And why are they afraid of the rest of the world being given this evidence?

That would be because France knows that the damning information in this report will lead to a war. Kind of strange really - the reason the information is being made public is precisely because France refuses to believe it.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

There are French fingerprints all over Iraq's WMD program.

[Carry_Okie]

And why are they afraid of the rest of the world being given this evidence?

Because...

1. Releasing it would show how stupid, cowardly, and unjustified is their resistance to American action against Iraq?
2. Keeping it secret would tacitly allow us to go ahead unilaterally while permitting them to bash us for it?
3. Keeping it secret also lets them maintain their cushy relationships with Arab nations that include selling arms that we then have to deal with?

Our friends the French.

[pulaskibush]

More of the "we need more evidence lie".

We didn't need this much evidence when we saved France in two World Wars and protected them from the Iron Curtain.

Maybe if a mustard gas bomb, like the ones Saddam used on his own people, killed some frogs in Paris; they might have enough evidence then.

Give the "world community" the middle finger and start killing dictators.

[pfflier]

What did France know and when did they know it? And why are they afraid of the rest of the world being given this evidence

Because thay are sucking up to the bully. It is better for them to know the US is the target than to get Hussein out at the risk of their country becoming a terrorist target too. Part of the cheese eating surrender monkey Gallic approach to threats.

[RightWhale]

There are French fingerprints all over Iraq's WMD program.

Does France have a mutual protection pact with Iraq? Will France be forced into war, but on the losing side? Will the world finally be rid of that steel monstrosity that overshadows the Louvre?

[Shermy]

Absolutely Ivan. Chirac is saying it's dangerous for the public to know, because it would upset the status quo - which profits France.

I sure hope GWB has it arranged for some Russian troops to participate. It will be nice to see them to set up in areas of French energy leases - let's see the French get them out!

[Shermy]

"This calls for serenity and seriousness, and we should therefore beware of any leaks and any saber-rattling proposals,"

Is this one of those "Americans are unsophisticated" diatribes?

[MadIvan]

Absolutely Ivan. Chirac is saying it's dangerous for the public to know, because it would upset the status quo - which profits France.

I don't remember where I read it, but France does get a substantial chunk of the money Iraq uses to buy overseas goods in the "Oil for Food" programme. France is one of the few countries willing to sell.

Regards, Ivan

[Mo1]

The foreign minister said that France and Britain had shared information on the proof of such a weapons program. and it "is out of the question to divulge these exchanges."

France has this information .. Has known this information and YET tells the US we should sit on our hand and do NOTHING??

They Don't want this information known to the public .. why France .. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HIDE???

Hey France .. here is a suggestion ... Bit Me

[Dog]

The SOB's are about to get exposed as being the main party in selling the Iraqi's WMD.....

%$#@!(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[weegee]

A French architect designed Saddam's new billion dollar mosque.

Monumental ego: a model of Saddam's planned mosque. It will be the world's largest. Currently under construction. Total estimated cost exceeds One Billion dollars. The model itself fills a large meeting room at an estimated cost of $500,000.00. French architect, Jacques Barriere, has been commissioned to design the structure, which will cover an area near Baghdad the size of 12 football pitches. It will be surrounded by a moat in which the crowning touch will be an island formed in the shape of Saddam's thumb, with the ground contoured exactly to match the leader's fingerprint. "It is so that when God looks down on this mosque he will see Saddam too," said Soler.

[Dog]

Those damn frog eating cheese loving surrender monkeys are scared out of their wits ......we are about to expose their lies....

[Mo1]

we are about to expose their lies....

I sure as hell hope so .. those (#&*&$*(#()# pieces of ($#*&@#(#)(

Sorry for the language .. I am TICKED

[Carry_Okie]

Is this one of those "Americans are unsophisticated" diatribes?

Yeah, well, I guess; but only if you are willing to call a lack of appreciation for banal impregnation "unsophisticated."

Hmmmm.... do I have a spelling problem or, uh, well, um... Maybe I meant Brussles instead of Paris? Naw, it's both. have you ever been to Brussles? What an armpit! Oh yeah, I'm getting "off topic"... sorta.

Our friends the French.

There, I'm right back in line with the State Department. Thanks guys.

[witnesstothefall]

Forget Sadaam. Let's invade France.