[evolved_rage]

And they can't even cut down on their use of soap to save money..tsk..tsk...

[Mamzelle]

Thanks for the encouraging news. On a day like today, I could use a French cur handy for a good kicking. Tell me that the Vichy Chicks are having to hock their instruments and I might actually smile...

[EaglesUpForever]

Are they joking? The economic effects have yet to hit.

[KansasCanadian]

Yeah, France's source of extra funds was suddenly cut off last Wednesday night, when the arms shipments were delayed by the liberation of Iraq

[Polybius]

The "War" will not create any economic problems for France.

Chirac's anti-American crusade most certainly will.

[Free Vulcan]

Translation: The US focus on Iraq made it too diffcult to sell WMD manufacturing equipment to them, effectively cutting off our gravy train.

[Ron H.]

.... but the main part of the negative consequences from the Iraqi crisis is behind us,'' he said. ....

Sounds more like wishful thinking than a sober analysis our once froggy friend.

[Wissa]

``In the last year, or rather in the last six months, I think the Iraqi events have already created negative consequences that France regrets now,'' Francis Mer told LCI television and RTL radio. ``I'm not saying that to deny the intensity of the Iraqi problems, but the main part of the negative consequences from the Iraqi crisis is behind us,'' he said.

We shall see, Francis. We shall see.

[DannyTN]

That sounds like a lot of wishful thinking. It didn't work with Iraq, and it won't work with their economy.

My guess is they are just starting to see the economic fallout and this was a feeble attempt to put some confidence back into their economy.

Lots of luck.

[The Great Satan]

France: War Has Led to Economic Fallout

Somebody froze Jacques' Swiss bank account?

[Drango]

The economy minister said Sunday that he believes the worst French economic fallout from the war in Iraq had already taken place.

Dream on Frog face. Next time you go to the grocery store. be PRO-ACTIVE. Ask to see the store manager and then request that they not purchase/stock any French items.

[tet68]

They ain't seen nothing yet!

[Pushi]

Not so. I have been needing Coivossier (my French ain't too good) for several weeks. Not going to buy any. My freeloading friends are just going to have to lump it.

[hedgetrimmer]

March 23, 2003
Nigerian Oil Facilities Threatened
By REUTERS


Filed at 7:08 a.m. ET

WARRI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Militant Ijaw youths threatened on Sunday to blow up oil facilities in the Niger Delta as troops battled to quell tribal warfare that has shut down 16 percent of oil-dependent Nigeria's total ouput.

Ethnic Ijaw warriors who are at war with their Itsekiri rivals said they will blow up crude oil pipelines, flow stations and target the key Escravos terminal if the army deployed to end the violence continued to raze their villages.

FRENCH TotalFinaElf said on Saturday it had shut operations and evacuated staff from its Upomami OML 57 facility with a production capacity of 7,500 bpd because of worsening violence in the oil rich but impoverished western delta.

The Niger Delta, which accounts for most of Nigeria's crude output of around two million bpd, has been on the boil for years, with oil multinationals getting caught in a deadly struggle for oil benefits by local ethnic groups.

More than a dozen security forces have also been killed in the bloodbath, which industry sources have warned could push Nigeria's oil industry to the brink of total shutdown.

Could this be why France is so worried about losing Iraqi oil?

[thinking]

maybe they can get some of the unemployed to clean up the dog poo that covers the streets....

[Mark]

Speaking of enemies of America, these opinions are at N.Y. Post site:

DASCHLE'S POLITICAL DUPLICITY: A DISGRACE TO ALL

March 23, 2003 -- Sen. Tom Daschle sickens me to the core ("Aid & Comfort," Editorial, March 19). I have never heard anyone criticize so blindly along party lines. I hope that the American public takes notice of this guy and never votes someone like him into office again.

Michael Moat

Ridgefield, N.J.

Daschle should resign. He and others of his ilk have used this war to attempt to further their political ambitions, and it's disgusting. And please, Sen. Daschle, don't tell me how you once served in the military and that you are backing the military. If you were in the military, you would have silenced your ambitions and allowed our men and women to go into battle without giving them more cause to think that our country is divided.

Bart Palamaro

Westlake Village, Calif.

For someone who didn't want to politicize the war when his precious protege Sen. Tim Johnson was up for re-election, I find it shocking that Daschle would make such comments when American troops are in harm's way.

Stephen Sulecki

Manhattan

Tony Blair, who is not even American, is risking his job to help the United States. Daschle, who was elected to serve the people, turns around and bashes his own government. Though I'm a registered Democrat, I will never vote for another Democrat again.

R.E. Domingo

Elmhurst

That Daschle is titled a leader - minority or otherwise - is pitiful. This man speaks out of both sides of his mouth. He needs to duct tape one side shut.

Anthony Bonanza

Raleigh, N.C.

[teletech]

If France thinks their economic woes are over, the are even more deluded than I thought. They are FAR from over!

[gitmo]

Wait till Jaques Chiracstrap tries to renew those oil deals with New Iraq. Or they get placed on the Federal list of unfriendlies.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

``I'm not saying that to deny the intensity of the Iraqi problems, but the main part of the negative consequences from the Iraqi crisis is behind us,''

If I, and 260 million very pissed Americans have anything to say about it your problems are only beginning buck-o.

[madison10]

Those twits! This is not economic fall-out from the war...it's economic fall-out from France not JOINING the war. Vive le Boycott!