Posted on 01/21/2006 6:35:50 PM PST by voletti
PARIS: By warning that France could use nuclear weapons against state sponsors of terrorism, President Jacques Chirac is signalling that the United States does not have a monopoly on nuclear deterrence, analysts said.
French experts also agreed that Chirac’s speech on Thursday did not mark a fundamental policy shift but rather a refinement of current nuclear doctrine. Chirac’s unexpected warning to “rogue” states was intended to show that “one does not leave the monopoly of deterrence to the Americans”, argued Dominique Moisi, of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
“It was a Gaullist-inspired speech aimed at giving renewed legitimacy to France’s deterrent arsenal, within the context of Europe,” he said.
Jean-Pierre Maulny, deputy director of the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS), also saw the message as an assertion of nuclear independence from the United States, but one aimed at France’s European partners. “Jacques Chirac wants to give credibility to the European Union’s strategic autonomy,” Maulny said - despite the fact that, according to one military expert, most European nations wish to remain under the US nuclear umbrella.
France and Britain are the only EU nations to have nuclear arsenals. Asked whether Britain would consider using nuclear arms against state sponsors of terrorism, the British Foreign Office said its policy was not to give advance warning of its intended response to specific threats.
Meanwhile, Maulny questioned the strategic wisdom of Chirac’s decision to clarify French strategic doctrine in the face of emerging threats.
“Is this necessary? That’s not certain. Because the doctrine of deterrence is all the more effective when it stays vague. “Under (late presidents) De Gaulle and Mitterrand, the doctrine was simply to say: ‘I have nuclear weapons and I will not hesitate to use them.’“
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytimes.com.pk ...
First, Chirac was defending the nuclear deterrent from talk of budget cuts. Second, he wasn't warning America of anything but I'm sure they gave this explanation to appeal to anti-American Europeans. That crowd could never understand just threatening terrorists who would kill inoccent French citizens, but if it's to one up America, right on.
Hey Jacques first let's see you deal with teenagers using lighters, then we'll listen to your chest-beating about using your nukes.
More likely the latter- I think he's reminding Iran that France has its own nuclear umbrella and doesn't need to stand under Uncle Sam's.
FWIW France's Cold War doctrine made a lot of sense- have enough nukes to take out an area the size of France so that an attacker would gain nothing.
Jacques nuclear weapons are like balls, just because you have them doesn't mean you'll use them.
I'm thinking something is up.
Two tapes from the bad guys last week, we're attacking terrorists in Pakistan knowing we will certainly kill civilians and tick off the Pakis, the stock market goes down 200+ and now France says they'll respond in kind if they're hit.
I hope I'm wrong.
Plenty more dots to connect.
And it gets uglier each time. Wont be long now, i guess.
Muscle without will means nothing, old Europe is DEAD.
Agreed.
"they lost their national testicles at Dien Bien Phu...etc."
France lost it's alpha MANHOOD in WW I and let lesser beta males reproduce a generation after generation of whiny effeminate beta males.
Doubtful they will ever recover. Thus is the fate of empires.
I was anticipating that something would be up here in Canada. With Harper set to win on Monday, my fear was that they'd try to sway our election the way they did with Spain.
I just read on another threat that LEO's were sent a warning by Homeland Security last week.
Rubber saber rattling IMHO !
A crock of Chirac !
It couldn't hurt.
What he is really saying is that France won't jump up and down and make fools of themselves again if the US were to decide to go in and take care of Iran. He's not going to do anything.
The article states that France and the UK are the only EU states with Nukes. Israel is not an EU state
Very insightful. It makes sense since Chirac does not have as many sweetheart deals going with Iran as he did with Iraq.
Indeed. What kind of nutcase would think that the French telling everybody that they'd be first in line to nuke WMD terrorists (without asking the UN first - like they expect everybody else to), would be a problem for us? We'd be happy to hold their coat (or white flag) while they do so.
I think we'd say "Good friggin' morning, froggie. But don't just talk the talk. And don't think you're the only one that has that perogative."
Oh, but you got my agreement on that. It is axiomatic that the French weasels, along with their fellow rodent 'Rat cousins, are supremely self-centered sacks of sanctimonious shiite, that have no problems trampling on all the rules they so hypocritically foist on everybody else - when it suits their narrow interests.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.