Dean: Blocking France From Iraq Contracts Foolish

Dow Jones Newswire ^

[pixmo]

PARIS (AP)--U.S. President George W. Bush was "foolish" for shutting France out of lucrative contracts to rebuild Iraq, a French newspaper quoted presidential candidate Howard Dean as saying.

Dean, one of a handful of Democratic hopefuls for the 2004 election, told Sunday paper Le Journal du Dimanche, "We need French help in Iraq."

"It's natural that there's going to be a cooperation between the French and the Americans in Iraq, that the French business community would be able to compete just like everybody else," Dean said in the interview.

"The president is very foolish to take retaliatory trade actions against French companies," Dean was quoted as telling the paper, which released an English-language transcript of his remarks.

The Bush administration has barred opponents of the Iraq war from competing for $18.6 billion in U.S.-financed reconstruction contracts. French President Jacques Chirac was a leading voice against the war that toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Other U.S. allies affected by the decision include Germany and Canada.

[Pukin Dog]

There is only one question left: Will Dean win his home state? He sure as hell wont win any others.

[Ex-Dem]

Dean, in the pocket of the French.

[thesummerwind]

"We need French help in Iraq."

The Iraqis don't even want them there. They know what the French did with Sadam over the years.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Contracts do not equal help and, further, obtaining a piece of the $18 billion pie (to be spread among many countries) will not entice the Frenchies to commit troops and money for redevelopment.

Again, Dean demonstrates his dwarfitas.

[gatorbait]

Naw, you know Dean might get Massachusetts..

[thesummerwind]

"The president is very foolish to take retaliatory trade actions against French companies,"

Dean should go over to France and get a job as a ski instructor.

[Batrachian]

You've got to hand it to Dean. He's a keen one, tapping into that strong vein of love that Americans hold for France. I don't know how he does it.

Keep talking, pal. Keep talking.

[Torie]

What French "help" does Dean think France is reasonably calcuated to provide in Iraq? Just curious.

Having said that, if the US contracts out to eligible country firms, and an ineligible country firm could do it as well, cheaper, then that is a subsidy of the eligible country firm by US taxpayers. It does have a certain mercantilism odor that is not entirely pleasing to me. Having said that, I doubt that any French firm is around that can do it better and cheaper, so it is probably a moot point.

[squidly]

Will Dean win his home state? He sure as hell wont win any others.

If you believe half the posters on this site, he'll win by a landslide, since Dubya apparently isn't conservative enough to earn their vote.

[AmishDude]

There is only one question left: Will Dean win his home state? He sure as hell wont win any others.

It looks like he's got the French electoral votes sewn up.

[camas]

dean is dumb. that is our money. our taxes. the US should use it all or let friends help.

[bigfootbob]

"dwarfitas"

Good one!

[Ex-Dem]

France can have him. Him, along with other useless idiots like Johnny Depp.

[zebrahead]

First off, this isn't a trade issue at all so Dean is showing once again that he isn't ready for the prime time by claiming that it is. Secondly, these contracts are coming from U.S. tax dollars and as such, the interests of the tax payers should be taken into account first and foremost. I would be willing to wager that the average Amercian taxpayer would not support giving France, Germany, and Russia a dime of our money. They chose economic ties to a ruthless dictator over the country that bailed their butts out in WWII. I could care less about trying to foster goodwill in these countries. They must be taught that allies of the U.S. must show loyalty or else they won't be treated to all the perks that come with being our allies.

[pixmo]

I couldn't believe he said that. And they're pushing this guy?

[mystery-ak]

Hmmmm...I thought Kerry was the French candidate?

[Drango]

Then, at the French demands, Dean dropped trou and bent over the table....

[DeFault User]

Again, Dean demonstrates his dwarfitas.

Excellent. However, his mouth must be getting bigger as he keeps inserting his feet in it.

[Verginius Rufus]

Dean's remarks make sense--it's just a question of which "we" he is talking about. If he's thinking of the Democratic Party or of his campaign, the French could help create a quagmire in Iraq which can then be used against Bush in 2004.

How much of the money France owed us from WWI was never repaid?