French Defense Minister Chides Rumsfeld

AP | 6/14/03

[kattracks]

PARIS June 14 —

France's defense minister criticized her American counterpart, Donald Rumsfeld, in an interview published Saturday as someone who considers the United States the world's only military, economic and financial power.

Michele Alliot-Marie also accused American industry of waging "economic war" by trying to "take over the capital" of European defense-related industries. Europeans must regroup to resist, she said, according to the interview in the daily newspaper Le Monde.

Alliot-Marie's blunt remarks recalled the bad blood between Paris and Washington over France's leading role in opposing the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Rumsfeld's January dig at France and Germany as being part of "Old Europe" epitomized the problem that both Paris and Washington have been working to repair.

"The American defense secretary believes that the United States is the world's only military, economic and financial power," Alliot-Marie told Le Monde. "We do not share this vision."

Alliot-Marie also said Rumsfeld's thinking seems to be out of line with that of the U.S. military and intelligence services.

"During the period of Franco-American tension, relations between our intelligence services remained perfect," she said.

The article was reread and "amended" by her, which is a relatively common practice here, Le Monde noted.

Alliot-Marie's comments were geared to the opening of the Paris Air Show, the largest display of aeronautical technology and might in the world which is held every two years.

However, this year's show, which French President Jacques Chirac and Alliot-Marie visited Saturday, is a scaled-back affair, with no U.S. flyovers and the number of attending U.S. aircraft reduced from 11 to six.

The Pentagon's decision to trim its presence was widely seen as a snub of France because of its opposition to the U.S.-led war to remove Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The French minister voiced concern over U.S. industrial might and tactics she said were akin to "economic war." She called on Europeans to "regroup" to better withstand the competition.

"American industry is in a logic of economic war," she said in Le Monde. "This attitude is not connected to the Iraqi episode. European industry must regroup to be in a position to resist them."

Alliot-Marie said she was "truly concerned" by efforts of some American companies to "take over the capital" of defense-related European enterprises and said she has asked for a study of the situation. She was not more specific.

"We must be vigilant and better foresee risks and dependencies ...," the minister said.

[kattracks]

Tell it to Woody Allen.

[AM2000]

"The American defense secretary believes that the United States is the world's only military, economic and financial power," Alliot-Marie told Le Monde. "We do not share this vision."

Non? *smirk*

[DAnconia55]

I guess you have a woman defense minister after years of all the men running away from battle....

[dozer7]

"France's defense minister"

And this minister defends what? Are they under attack? Jeez

the dozer

[Pharmboy]

"And if you don't do what I say, I will taunt you again."

[Clara Lou]

Yosemite Sam: "'Em frenchies is soooooooo stoopid!" BWA HAHAHA!!

[Redwood71]

Defense Minister? We bailed them out of WWI, we bailed them out of WWII, we had to take over for them in Vietnam because they withdrew and ran away. The only defense minister they have had has been in the United States for almost 90 years. Get a life France! As a matter of fact, you have a life because of the United States. If we hadn't been around, you'd be eating schnitzel and brewing beer instead of wine. And if we are not the only financial power in the world, then pay us back the money you owe us from the last world war. Then you can say something. Otherwise, shut up!

[Batrachian]

Tell it to Uncle Joe when you join him.

[What Is Ain't]

Quite right. French bravery is legendary.

[Bubba_Leroy]

And we should give a flying f#ck what France's defense minister has to say about anything because ...?

[Kaslin]

Why was my thread pulled? Before posting it I checked and did not see it posted. I checked for the exact title which was French Defense Minister Takes Swipe at Rumsfeld's World View and did not find it. This is the second time this has happened to me.

[Redwood71]

If you think that their efforts during a war 250 years ago, is going to offset their efforts to try to protect a man that within the last 30 years, has been responsible for the deaths of more people that any other dictator since Christ, then you must have a very forgiving soul. If this was within our laws in our country, it would be called an accessary and they would be put in jail. Have you forgotten that they had been shipping anthrax to Iraq as late as 1985, and were supplying passports post Iraqi Freedom to fleeing Iraq scientists so they wouldn't be found and questioned to try to find where the missing, known weapons that can kill millions, are or where they went? You are truly a forgiving person. But if you are forgiving France for these last actions, you qualify for diety.

[Consort]

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

France has a female defense secretary?

LOLOLOLOL

[KantianBurke]

welcome to FR newbie.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Yes, but they gave us life! THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION!

Then was then. (Besides you overlooked their interference in the French-Indian War) We've already paid their piddly contribution many times over. I wouldn't mind them so much or their objection to the Iraq war if they weren't so bloody underhanded about it.

Besides, French bashing is a great sport. They've bashed us for years. What are they going to do? Not buy our products - yeah, like that would make a dent in our economy. Not buying theirs is a lot more fun. Even more fun when they whine about it. They've never wanted our friendship, just our money. Now they've got neither.