President Jacques Chirac says US evidence on Iraq not enough to change French position

The Jerusalem Post ^ | Feb. 6, 2003 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[yonif]

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac said Thursday the evidence against Iraq presented by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to the UN Security Council was not enough to change France's anti-war stance.

"We refuse to think that war is inevitable," Chirac said.

The evidence furnished by Powell "justifies continued work by the United Nations weapons inspectors. Iraq must answer their questions and cooperate more actively," Chirac said through a spokeswoman.

Chirac spoke by telephone Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mexican President Vicente Fox, Syrian President Bashar Assad and several other leaders to defend France's position.

Chirac appeared to be reversing a course taken earlier in the day by Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, who suggest time was running out for Iraq to comply with weapons inspectors.

"We ask Saddam Hussein to respond rapidly to the demands of the international community," Dominique de Villepin told Europe-1 radio on his return flight to France after hearing Powell give evidence to the Security Council claiming Iraq was blocking weapons inspections.

"There is an Iraqi risk and we are waiting for Iraq to provide clear responses about the substance (of its alleged weapons), and in particular on chemical and biological weapons," de Villepin said.

De Villepin said France's view on war against Iraq was unchanged, reiterating that "force can only be a last resort, but we do not exclude any possibility, including that of force."

The French minister said it was important that Iraq "accept and submit to the demands of the international community" by allowing scientists to be interviewed without Iraqi government "minders" and letting American U-2 reconnaissance planes fly over Iraq as part of the mission by UN weapons inspectors.

In New York on Wednesday, Powell presented the Security Council with satellite images, intercepted phone conversations and other evidence which he said supported Washington's claim that Baghdad was hiding mass destruction weapons.

French Defense Ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau said Thursday that French intelligence backed up parts of Powell's presentation.

"There are a certain number of questions evoked by Mr. Powell that we had information on. Others, perhaps less," Bureau said. He did not elaborate.

In a speech following Powell's presentation, de Villepin suggested that the number of weapons inspectors be doubled or tripled and that a full-time monitor be placed in Baghdad to oversee the process.

De Villepin also said France was ready to contribute Mirage-IV surveillance planes, which are fitted with sophisticated cameras, to help inspectors in Iraq with intelligence gathering.

France has led calls for a slower approach on Iraq and has insisted that the decision on whether to go to war rests with the Security Council - not the United States.

[yonif]

What will it take? For France to go up in Flames?? Damn Appeasers. Didn't they learn anything in World War II?

[You Dirty Rats]

I'd like to see the French try to stop us once we go.

[Tacis]

Would a million dollars in unmarked, used bills do it? I think it would.

[Zeko]

"We refuse to think that war is inevitable," Chirac said.

I can at least agree with the first four words . . .

[Barney Gumble]

No amount of evidence will be enough to satisfy France. They're objecting because, among other reasons, they want to be different than US and "flex their muscle as a power."

I say, we stop humoring them. Either start bombing Iraq or quickly draft a new resolution and put it to vote immediately . I want to see if France has the gaulle to "veto" a resolution or whether they are just trying to seem important and then they'll go along because they fear vetoing the resolution, having us ignore it, and then they'll find out how little of a power they really are.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Shellac's plan will work, I've read the whole thing and it looks good. Pooting also has some excellent ideas and co- authored the plan. I better run now the mothership is calling me and we're due back in boy's town by midnight two weeks ago.

[NorCoGOP]

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac said Thursday the evidence against Iraq presented by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to the UN Security Council was not enough to change France's anti-war stance.

Standing in the crater that once was the Eiffel Tower, Chirac was still not convinced that the missile tracked coming from outside Baghdad was launched by Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

"Since there is no debris left from the missile, we can't conclude this is a 'smoking gun'", Chirac yelled, struggling to be heard above the drone of Iraqi tanks entering the once-beautiful city of Paris...

"Since no shots have been fired, we are not convinced at this point that Saddam's intentions are hostile, nor a direct threat to the country of France," Chirac continued, in a reference to the apparent ease the Iraqi army had in their spearheaded advance, in lieue of the mass surrendering of French troops along the route.

"We are indeed surprised," the General of the Republican Guard stated. "Usually, our experience from the Gulf War was that we were to be the first to surrender..."

[gaspar]

It should be the task of every American to read "The Camp of the Saints".

[bayareablues]

Okay, fine. I REALLY hope we remember this when they want to start collecting the money they're owed from the new Iraqi government.

[Mustang]

I'm waiting for some FReeper to post that photo of some "frog" with its head up its ass.

That has always been the French position.

Mustang sends.

[CWOJackson]

Isn't Ron Paul a representative of one of the southern districts of France?

[Political Junkie Too]

...I want to see if France has the gaulle to "veto" a resolution ...

Cute. (was it intentional?)

-PJ

[Gritty]

In a way, you really can't blame the French for their appalling appeasement.

After all, about 10% of their population is Muslim and seethes with discontent, radicalism and crime. Their huge numbers threaten entire cities which they inhabit in their impenetrable ghettos. It wouldn't take much to unleash this murderous rabble on the old French society and cause a nationwide bloodbath in the name of Allah.

The French have made their bed, and now they are going to lie in it - alongside their huge Muslim fifth column!

[VOA]

In a way, you really can't blame the French for their appalling appeasement.
After all, about 10% of their population is Muslim and seethes with discontent, radicalism and crime.

Thanks for putting things so well.
I used to defend the country formerly known as France when some of my fellow Freepers
would get in a "cheese-eating surrender monkey" mood...

But now I just say that it's not France anymore.

It's just part of "Eurabia".
Some commentator, whose name I can't recall, said that France, Germany and some other
European countries (Belgium, Austria?) are so over-run by Muslims that they effectively are
now part of extended Arabia...
hence the term "Eurabia".

[mewzilla]

AXIS OF WEASELS ALERT.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Powell fails to make case
By Katrina vanden Heuvel (editor of the Nation):

"But [Powell] failed to make a compelling case.

"Powell's multimedia presentation contained many specific allegations but little new information or proof of the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There was no smoking gun. Instead, nearly all of the evidence was largely circumstantial or speculative.

"The fact that Iraq is not yet fully cooperating with U.N. inspectors should not be the basis for war.

"Iraq poses no clear or present danger to the international community or to the United States..." (USA Today)


The French aren't the only idiots who can't see the plain truth. Officially, now, the leaders of France & Germany, Hollyweird losers, university professors, and leftists everywhere are now the new O.J. jury.

Criminy, people, how many bloody gloves and bloody shoe prints, how much DNA evidence do you need to convict? Same thing with Saddam. He's guilty. Throw the switch. Light him up.

[LexBaird]

Chirac...Chirac. Oh, yes, now I remember. Isn't he the Top Quisling of the Second Vichy Republique (aka Northern Algeria)?

Now if I could only understand why anyone cares what his agenda-driven opinion is.

[Gritty]

But now I just say that it's not France anymore.

It's just part of "Eurabia".

I've never heard the term, but it seems to fit!

[LexBaird]

Katrina vanden Heuvel: "There was no smoking gun."

Some people need to be taken physically to Iraq and have their noses rubbed in anthrax. Literally.