French PM: U.S. Made Triple Mistake Starting Iraq War

Reuters ^ | Thu Apr 3, 2003 | Jon Boyle

[Pharmboy]

PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on Thursday the United States had made a moral, political and strategic mistake by launching war in Iraq (news - web sites), risking further damage to already strained ties with Washington.

Raffarin told France 3 television that Paris wanted U.S. and British forces to prevail but offered blunt criticism of the U.S. policies that led to the conflict.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House.

"The Americans made a triple mistake: first of all a moral mistake, and I think we have to say this: there was an alternative to war. We could have disarmed Iraq differently."

That was clear by Washington's failure to secure a U.N. resolution authorizing military action should Iraq fail to destroy its alleged weapons of mass destruction, he said.

"Also, (they made) a political mistake, because we know very well the difficulties of this region of the world," he added. "We see how serious the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is, and at any moment it can set the world ablaze. It's a serious political error to start trouble in this region.

"And then, there is a strategic mistake: that today one country can lead the world," he said, arguing that Europe should be one of the major poles of influence in the world.

Raffarin's blunt assessment of U.S. policy appeared at odds with efforts earlier in the week to play down differences with the United States. The French authorities had expressed concern over the anti-U.S. tone of protests against the Iraq war.

On Monday Raffarin urged the nation to remember the United States was a long-standing ally and that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was a dictator.

"Just because we're against this war doesn't mean we want dictatorship to defeat democracy," he said then. "We are in the democratic camp. The Americans are not enemies."

In Thursday's interview the French prime minister, who traditionally leaves major foreign policy issues to President Jacques Chirac, dismissed suggestions France wanted anything other than a victory of U.S.-British forces.

"I say clearly, there can be no hesitation for France. We cannot be on the side of dictators....We are obviously not in favor of a victory of a dictatorship."

After being savaged as "surrender monkeys" by parts of the U.S. media, and vague threats of a U.S. consumer boycott of French goods, Paris has launched a determined campaign to avoid portrayal as a Saddam sympathizer.

Last week the foreign ministry protested loudly over reports in some British and U.S. media that French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin had refused to publicly state Paris wished a victory of Anglo-American forces fighting in Iraq.

Chirac on Thursday also sought to ease strains caused by France's opposition to the war being fought by British and U.S. troops in Iraq.

He sent a letter of apology to Britain's Queen Elizabeth over the defacing last week of British World War One military graves in northern France with anti-British slogans linked to the fighting in Iraq.

"Know that at a time when your soldiers are engaged in combat, the thoughts of the French are naturally with them," he said. The gesture was welcomed by Downing Street.

[rolling_stone]

France sounds just like a yappin french poodle nipping at its masters ankles all it does is make some noise and if it doesn't shut up soon it will get kicked straight across the room to run and hide as always...

[JoJo Gunn]

Dear Prime Minstrel Ratferal:

As far as I'm concerned, America shouldn't give you the sweat off our....

[Taffini]

The French are INSANE

[dinok]

great pic...it should be a post card to all frenchies

[Drango]

It's wrong to be French.

[conservativecorner]

[Wyatt's Torch]

Just watched Frontline entitled "Blair's War" about the PM attempting to bridge the gap between the Bush Doctrine and the Europeans who now believe that there is no legitimate reason for the use of military action. Actually a fascinating piece. The piece atempted to show that the US will begin to decline as a power. The reason behind this though was that the US respect would decline "in the eyes of the world". The point they missed was, we don't care. The Bush Doctrine of pre-emption to ensure our security, as a direct result of attacks on our soil, has and will fundamentally change the face of the world. Leadership takes courage of conviction to do the right thing no matter what the consequences. The Europeans have never understood this concept. Their "go along to get along" attitude has launced the two greatest war in world history as well as launching two of the most murderous and evil regime's in history. The US and Great Brittain are now saying, we will not let this happen again. Looking back in history, I wonder if the French would like to retroactively apply the Bush Doctrine of pre-emption to Hitler Germany in 1936?

9/11, George W. Bush and Tony Blair have fundamentally changed the state of the world and how to deal with potential threats. Thank God for them.

[laz17]

FRANCE=THE FEDAYEEN CHIRAC

[skr]

French morality, politics and strategy...oxymorons all.

[Pharmboy]

I saw that picture posted on FR before, and I love it (for several reasons). Thanks for posting...

[dogbyte12]

Ok... just suppose that in 12 more years of inspections, the UN takes away the SCUDS, the VX, the Sarin, etc... what exactly are the Iraqi people doing during this time?

Living under more sanctions? Worrying about some of Uday's henchmen knocking on their doors? Screw that. Screw the french too while I am at it.

[wcbtinman]

"And then there is a strategic mistake: that today one country can lead the world."Raffarin

One country does lead the world. Look around moron.

And I for one, am proud that it is the US, and I hope it stays that way.

Would anyone like to be lead by a bunch of surrender monkeys?

[laz17]

The French are INSANE

And evil to the core as well. Utterly corrupt and depraved.

[Free Vulcan]

Translation: Oh, sh**, they're going to find some of our stuff there, I know it, I know it, I just know it! Then we'll be exposed for the greedy, exploitative letches we are!

[XEHRpa]

U.S. Made Triple Mistake Starting Iraq War

Does that mean "double secret probation" for us?

[ALS]

Maybe he meant Triple Fudge...

[Radix]

What is right is right.

The Coalition number 49 is BS.

Why the eff is everyone afraid of doing the right thing?

We, Americans, along with the British, are doing the right thing.

I am sick of the BS.

[Radix]

What is right is right.

The Coalition number 49 is BS.

Why the eff is everyone afraid of doing the right thing?

We, Americans, along with the British, are doing the right thing.

I am sick of the BS.

[Radix]

Right!

How about a nice cup of shut the F*ck up?

[laz17]

It's a serious political error to start trouble in this region.

It's a serious political error to piss off the United States, which you frogs have accomplished masterfully. And it's also a serious political error to be on the wrong side of history, which the cesspool known as France shall forever be.