French fear U.S. reprisals over Iraq

UPI | 3/24/03 | ELIZABETH BRYANT

[Lanza]

Well, I have refrained from my favorite Beaujolais wine (forgive spelling).

I hope we don't become "good friends" with them again after all this is over.

[Dialup Llama]

>In France's famous Bordeaux wine region, chateaux owners fret about a further slump in foreign sales, already reeling from less expensive competition from Chile and elsewhere.

This one's easy. Buy Rioja from Spain rather than the Bordeaux.

[TexasNative2000]

Le paybaque c'est la bichet, n?

Hehehehehehe.......

[Focault's Pendulum]

I have decided to boycott all French products," wrote one, signed simply A.M

Damn...you're everywhere!

[asformeandformyhouse]

43-year old Kentucky resident Ron Gash

Please allow me to apoligize for the stupidty of my fellow Kentuckian. We did have a problem with close relations marrying in our past and Mr. Gash's family tree probably looks more like a bush.

[MeekMom]

Where is the barf alert on this one?
They'll feel it in their pocketbooks very soon and not down the road!

[Ajnin]

I wonder just how many people of France are opposed to the war. By all media accounts, the overwhelming majority of the population is anti-US. The government, by virture of it's actions is opposed to the US. I would like to see an accurate assessment of the opinion of the entirety of the population of France. I really don't think the mainstream media is a good source.

[hillsborofox]

I know that some on this forum deem boycotts to be wrong, petty and ineffectual. I don't agree and in fact find it deeply satisfying to speak with my checkbook. ((grins))

[geedee]

Why would anyone fear an inevitability?

[biblewonk]

Overall, the company's sales have plummeted 20 percent in recent months.

How much have their sales to the US dropped? I hope a lot more than 20 percent!

[Semper Vigilantis]

"Indeed, France reaped few business benefits from joining the first Gulf War in 1991, Parmentier noted. French firms captured only a tiny slice of postwar reconstruction contracts in Kuwait and other affected areas."

Gee, could this be because they aren't good for anything?
Obviously the Kuwaitis were on to them 12 years ago....

[asformeandformyhouse]

"My wife and I have decided to boycott all French products," wrote one, signed simply A.M.

I got so mad that I turned of a 'Pepe LePew' cartoon the other day.

[shezza]

France didn't just "sit out" the war. To the contrary; they were (are?) actively involved in arming, supporting, and advising our enemies--not to mention campaigning AGAINST the U.S. "As France sits out the war against Iraq..." -- yeah, right.

[Drango]

"After all, its hard to pass up a good bottle of wine, and a good cheese."

I didn't find it hard at all. While in Safeway this weekend, I asked to speak to the store manager. I politely pointed out to him that while we are at war, it would be better if they wouldn't purchase any French stuff.

He responded with a quick "S---- the French" type of quip, but he clearly didn't want to get in the middle of it and mumbled something about they stock what sells.

I asked him to do whatever he could, as I left with NO French products.

[js1138]

"In trade terms, the Americans would find it very difficult to boycott French products without damaging European products -- because so many companies are European, rather than merely French,"

And the downside of this is...?

[faithincowboys]

the french are dead to me!!!

[SC DOC]

However, it is EASY to pass up FRENCH wine and cheese.

Damn hard to give up Wild Turkey*, though.

*Owned by Pernod (France)

[TxBec]

Lots of great central Texas wines too :)

[BSunday]

The French don't produce anything of value anyway

[mwl1]

The real key is not the boycott -- although it is important -- but to make sure that no German or French contracts are awarded in the rebuilding of Iraq --- oil services, engineering and construction, technology, financial etc.

Hopefully GWB is sufficiently angry so that the provisional govt in Iraq will ensure no money for the French, Germans or Russians.