French President Jacques Chirac says he is "not at all sure" the world has become safer with the removal from power of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Posted on 11/17/2004 2:50:45 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
French President Jacques Chirac says he is "not at all sure" the world has become safer with the removal from power of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
In a BBC interview Mr Chirac suggests the situation in Iraq has helped to prompt an increase in terrorism.
The interview, to be aired on BBC Two's Newsnight programme on Wednesday, comes ahead of his visit to the UK this week.
President Chirac also maintains that any intervention in Iraq should have been through the United Nations.
" There's no doubt that there has been an increase in terrorism and one of the origins of that has been the situation in Iraq "
French President Jacques Chirac
"To a certain extent Saddam Hussein's departure was a positive thing, " Mr Chirac says when asked if the world is safer now, as US President George W Bush has repeatedly stated.
"But it also provoked reactions, such as the mobilisation in a number of countries, of men and women of Islam, which has made the world more dangerous," Mr Chirac says.
"There's no doubt that there has been an increase in terrorism and one of the origins of that has been the situation in Iraq.
"I'm not at all sure that one can say that the world is safer," Mr Chirac says.
Return favours
He also signals that he believes Britain's support for the US-led war has brought few dividends.
In an earlier interview with British journalists, Mr Chirac said Prime Minister Tony Blair had received nothing in return for backing the Bush administration.
"I'm not sure it is in the nature of our American friends at the moment to return favours systematically," he said.
"I am not sure, with America as it is these days, that it would be easy for someone, even the British, to be an honest broker."
Mr Chirac said he had urged Mr Blair last year to press President Bush to restart the Middle East peace process in return for British support for the US-led war in Iraq.
Speaking in Washington on Monday, Mr Blair called for Europe and the US to bury their differences over Iraq.
"It is not a sensible or intelligent response for us in Europe to ridicule American arguments and parody their political leadership," he said.
The signs are that Mr Chirac and Mr Blair will again at best agree to disagree on the Iraq war when they meet on Thursday, says BBC World Affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge.
You can see the interview with President Chirac on Newsnight on BBC Two at 2230 GMT on Wednesday 17 November, or watch it on the Newsnight website
| Chirac Says Iraq War Created More Dangerous World |
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| Posted by iso On News/Activism 11/17/2004 4:08:47 AM CST · 42 replies · 481+ views |
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Time for regime change...Chirac next.
"To a certain extent Saddam Hussein's departure was a positive thing, " Mr Chirac says, “But it’s been a real bitch on my bank account. Kofi’s too.”
When does chIRAQ go up for reelection? He needs to go.
Methinks Chirac is nervous about the oil for food scandal and is striking out in the only way he can without drawing attention to the scandal.
Tell Chirac to stick a sock in it.
"When does chIRAQ go up for reelection? He needs to go."
Dunno, but I seem to recall that when he does eventually leave office he is likely to be tried and possibly imprisoned on fraud charges.
So....fingers crossed.
Chiraq is a sh&tty little leader.
not til 2007 unfortunately, hopefully, some french muslim will do us all a favor prior to that date.
Someone's afraid of the Oil For Suicide Bombers investigation it seems.
"Look George isn't that jacques something - remember he used to be relevant!".
"Mmmm.... no can't place him"
Frankly I don't give a rat's ass. Who the hell cares whether it's made "the world" safer? Since when is that the standard for anything?
The US government takes actions, or not, to make the US safer. (Or should.) I trust that the French government does the same. WTF does "the world" have to do with anything?
Why is there this double standard? So the US can't take actions unless they actually, measurably "make the world safer"? Why should I even bother entering into such a front-loaded dispute?
This is the European mind that people escaped to come take their chances of living a better life in America.
I have boycotted everthing French,give Oreilly credit for starting this very very successful boycott.
I am so sick of those phony French with their arrogance. Chirac says we don't give the French anything? for God's sake.....
LET'S GIVE HIM THE UN!!!!!
I've got a pair of French military trousers that belonged to a famous French general. The only thing worn out on these trousers is the knees. He spent his entire career begging others not to shoot.
I heard on a program last night that he wants to seek another 13 years -- in order to stay out of prison. Seems that office holders in France are exempt from being brought up on fraud charges but can be tried when they leave office. Surely the French are not so stupid as to re-elect this jerk. We need to step up boycotts of France so they squeal from the pain and rid themselves of the cause of their misery.
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