France takes swipe at Rumsfeld

BBC ^ | June 15, 2003

[Gorilla44]

French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has sharply criticised her US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld's view of the world.

In a newspaper interview coinciding with the opening of the 45th annual Paris air show, Mrs Alliot-Marie said Mr Rumsfeld espoused a US-centred vision.

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

Her comments came after news that the American defence department - along with many US aerospace firms - had reduced its participation in this year's show in apparent retaliation for French opposition to the war in Iraq.

The Paris show is being attended by nearly 40 countries, displaying about 200 aircraft.

In the interview, Mrs Alliot-Marie suggests Mr Rumsfeld appears to be at loggerheads with his own uniformed services, arguing that these services "themselves find it to their advantage to share tasks between allies".

"They recognise the job that has been done by the French military in certain theatres of operation, for instance by our airmen in Afghanistan," she said.

The French minister said US companies followed "the logic of economic warfare" and expressed "true preoccupation" of attempts by US companies to take over European defence concerns.

Mrs Alliot-Marie's comments were dismissed by the Pentagon.

"The French minister is entitled to her own opinion," said a spokesman.

"However, her opinion does not accurately characterise the policy or position of the secretary of defence or the position of the US Government."

Concorde homage

At the air show on Saturday, French President Jacques Chirac paid tribute to the retiring supersonic passenger plane Concorde.

The president, along with hundreds of spectators, applauded as one of Air France's Concordes performed a flight of honour over Le Bourget airport, before landing and taking its place at the nearby Air and Space Museum.

Air France retired its fleet in May, and in June donated the oldest of its five Concorde aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

British Airways is to taking its Concordes out of service by October.

[cyberjet31]

"They recognise the job that has been done by the French military in certain theatres of operation, for instance by our airmen in Afghanistan," she said

They did not Arrive in AFGHANISTAN until a few WEEKS AGO! the MAJORITY of the fighting was over MONTHS AGO!!! Just like the french to come in after all the hard work is done.

[McLynnan]

"The American defence secretary believes the United States is the only military, economic and financial power in the world. We do not share this vision,"

She's delusional if she thinks France is a world military, economic or financial power. The French are second only to the Clintons in their inflated opinion of their significance to the rest of the planet.

[Norse]

Well, relative to the rest of the world's 200+ countries, France IS a world military, economic, and political power. It has the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world, a top five military power, and still has one helluva lot of influence, as recent months have shown.

[facedown]

In the interview, Mrs Alliot-Marie suggests Mr Rumsfeld appears to be at loggerheads with his own uniformed services, arguing that these services "themselves find it to their advantage to share tasks between allies".

How would she know?

[JeepInMazar]

I saw the French military in Kabul in March 2002 and I'm sure they were there long before I went.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

How exactly have they shown their influence over the past several months?

[Norse]

By polarizing much of the world against the U.S., forcing the U.S. to create its own coalition against the U.N. and traditional NATO allies

[GregB]

Bring Our Boys home from France......

[illiac]

All this from a country that is suppporting the UN's view to denegrate the US. Just read in Newsmax latest issue where the UN is basically trying to force the US to comply with several resoltuions which would dilute the US's power and financial strength in the world.

[KC_Conspirator]

Yes, France is influential in spreading hate and envy, but they still have a pathetic military, double digit unemployment, a static economy, and a leftist government totally bereft of morality in comparison to the USA.

[river rat]

France is in irreversable decline...

France has become the cradle and voice of Islam in Europe.
The Islamic "cradle", filled by a birth rate that is multiples of the European birth rate -- will change the face and heart of France in our lifetime....

Spain learned in the 15th century what France may learn in the 21st century..... Perhaps...

Semper Fi

[Norse]

You are right and wrong - yes, France is nothing compared to the U.S.A., their economy is in shambles, but relative to the rest of the world, other than more powerful nations like the U.S. and Japan, it is extremely superior.

Their military is stronger than you think - their equipment is up to date, they are extremely picky about who they allow in, focusing on quality, not quantity. Their ground forces are extremely good, but their Navy isn't. Their aircraft carrier is a joke, although at the same time France is one of two other nations that actually has one other than the U.S.

[G.Mason]

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

Not to worry French bimbette!

Many go through life not seeing what is right in front of their noses.

Keep digging that hole froggy, the drought will be severe.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

LOL. They didn't poloarize the world against the U.S. they just helped bring it to light. Forcing the U.S. to create its own coalition against the U.N. and the Old Europe NATO allies? All I can say is that after the Iraq war a huge number of people in Britain and the U.S. changed their opinions on the U.N. and now see the U.N. in a negative light. Frankly, I don't give a damn what a U.N. bureaucrat thinks, and the same can be said for the average emasculated European. good day.

[Norse]

It can't be disputed that the opposition to the Iraqi war would not have been as strong as it was if France did not lead it. I agree with you that they helped bring anti-U.S. sentiment to light, but in the process they helped to polarize much of the world against the U.S.

Yes, I realize that after the Iraq war, many people changed their opinions on the U.N. I don't remember saying or even suggesting otherwise.

The subject is France's political power, not opinions of people in the U.S. and Britain. And relative to the rest of the world's nations, France still possesses a large amount of power.

I don't care what UN bureaucrats think either, but many people do, thus giving them power.

I posted my response that France is indeed a powerful nation in the world because it was stated that they had no power, which is completely untrue.

I am not defending France, but it seems as if you think I was.

You are a reactionary, and in the process you misunderstood everything that I was saying

I suggest you get your mind out of your little rut

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Ok.

[tlb]

"Air France retired its fleet in May, and in June donated the oldest of its five Concorde aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington"

Regardless of any other disputes between the US and France, that contribution to the Smithsonian was thoughtful and should be appreciated. The Concorde besides being a significant piece of aviation history, is also simply one of the prettiest machines ever built. It will be a fine addition to the national collection.

[cars for sale]

sounds like the classic Napolean syndrome

[dennisw]

Hmmmmmm..... These Euro-degenerates have a female defence minister who is slamming Rumsfeld. How crazy is this?